In Maps: Tracking the War with Russia

As of late February 2026, the Russia-Ukraine war remains a grinding conflict with incremental advances, fierce defenses, and shifting fronts visualized through interactive maps from sources like the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and ACLED. These tools reveal Ukrainian counteroffensives reclaiming territory in key areas like Donetsk and Kharkiv Oblasts, while Russian forces push without major breakthroughs.[1][2][8]

The Power of Maps in Wartime Analysis

Maps have become indispensable for tracking the Russo-Ukrainian war, transforming raw geolocated footage, satellite imagery, and frontline reports into clear strategic overviews. ISW’s interactive time-lapse maps, accessible via their archive, layer daily assessments to show control of terrain evolving from Kupyansk in the northeast to Kherson in the south.[12] Similarly, ACLED’s Ukraine Conflict Monitor provides real-time updates on events like intensified cross-border attacks in Sumy and Kharkiv, which doubled in January 2026 amid stalled Russian offensives elsewhere.[11] These visualizations counter Kremlin narratives, such as General Sergei Rudskoy’s claim of capturing 900 square kilometers and hundreds of settlements since January—claims ISW disputes due to lack of visual confirmation.[4]

YouTube animations, like those simulating daily changes up to February 2026 using Google Earth, offer accessible timelines, though they rely on aggregated data and should be cross-verified.[13] Wikipedia’s ongoing timeline complements this by logging events from January 1 onward, often linking to mapped incidents.[14] Together, these resources highlight a war of attrition: Russian forces average just 15 meters per day in advances from late 2024 to early 2026, per CSIS analysis.[15]

Key Frontlines: Northeast – Kupyansk and Kharkiv Push

Russian efforts near Kupyansk aim to cross the Oskil River into Kharkiv and northern Donetsk Oblasts, but Ukrainian defenses hold firm. On February 1, Russian attacks targeted areas north, northeast, and southeast of Kupyansk, including a failed infiltration by the 153rd Tank Regiment’s sabotage group into Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi.[1] Geolocated footage from February 20-21 shows Ukrainian advances in eastern Kurylivka (southeast of Kupyansk) and central Kupyansk itself, marking a rare pushback.[8]

ISW maps depict persistent Russian operations around Borova without confirmed gains, including unverified claims of flags raised in Novoponivka—geolocated behind frontlines.[1] ACLED notes chaotic cross-border assaults in dormant Sumy areas, allowing Russia to claim momentum diplomatically despite no strategic shifts.[11] By February 21, Ukrainian brigades repelled probes, leveraging drone strikes on Russian elements like the 1st Guards Tank Army.[1][8]

Donetsk Oblast: Slovyansk, Lyman, and Pokrovsk Hotspots

Donetsk remains the war’s epicenter, with Russian goals to seize the entire oblast clashing against Ukrainian gains in the Slovyansk direction. Ukrainian forces advanced in eastern Riznykivka on January 31, per geolocated video, amid counterattacks near Ridkiv, Dysheve, and Yarova.[1] Russian infiltrations failed in eastern Minkivka, where strikes hit occupied houses.[1]

Near Lyman, Dmitry Medvedev reiterated maximalist demands on February 2, but analysts assess Russian offensives—led by the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies—face delays until mid-spring 2026 to encircle the city and push to Slovyansk-Kramatorsk, requiring 14-30 km advances.[3] ISW maps show no progress despite intensified assaults.[3]

In Pokrovsk and Novopavlivka, Russian attacks on February 20-21 targeted multiple villages like Kotlyne, Udachne, and Rodynske, with Ukrainian counterattacks reported near Kotlyne.[8] A Kremlin blogger’s February 20 map admitted Ukrainian advances east of Novopavlivka, backed by footage of Ukrainian operations there.[2][8]

Southern Axis: Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Defenses

Ukrainian forces are reclaiming ground in the south, complicating Russian holds on Zaporizhzhia and rear areas. President Zelenskyy stated on February 20 that troops reclaimed 300 square kilometers in an undisclosed southern region, possibly aided by SpaceX blocking Russian Starlink access, disrupting command.[2] Maps confirm advances: eastern Novopavlivka, central Ternove (southeast of Oleksandrivka), and toward northwestern Verbove, likely liberating Orestopil, Vovche, Novooleksandrivka, and Hai.[2][8]

Russian supporting efforts in the Vuhledar direction stalled on February 1.[1] Near Kherson City, limited assaults toward Antonivskyi Bridge continue, with the 80th Arctic Motorized Rifle Brigade and 217th VDV Regiment using FPV drones.[8] ISW’s layered maps illustrate Ukrainian long-range strikes hitting Russian defense industries, further straining logistics.[2]

Civilian Toll and Broader Strikes

Maps also track hybrid threats: Russian drones hit a Zaporizhzhia maternity hospital and DTEK mines on February 1, causing casualties.[1] Overnight February 21-22, 347 drones and missiles targeted energy, water, and rail infrastructure—Shaheds from Kursk, Orel, and Crimea.[9] Belarusian bases enable these, per ISW.[2]

Russian Tactics and Future Outlook

Kremlin cognitive warfare pushes “inevitable victory” narratives to erode Western aid.[4] Yet maps reveal stagnation: no major 2026 advances confirmed, with Ukrainian defenses and Starlink blocks enabling counter-moves.[2][10] Analysts predict Russian summer pushes toward Slovyansk or Zaporizhzhia City, but preparations falter.[3][10]

Interactive tools like ISW’s ArcGIS StoryMaps and ACLED’s monitor empower users to zoom into these dynamics, revealing a war where maps expose the gap between rhetoric and reality.[12][11] As of February 24, 2026, Ukraine holds momentum in pockets, but the frontline—over 1,000 km—grinds on.

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Original source: BBC News – In maps: Tracking the war with Russia