The Russia–Ukraine War
A neutral, source-attributed briefing on the war in Ukraine — who is involved, what is at stake, and how it fits within 29 active armed conflicts tracked worldwide.
Open the live conflict map → Common questionsLast updated: 2026-08-06 · Evergreen briefing — the live map and the headlines below carry the latest developments.
Key locations: Russia–Ukraine War
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Kyivcity50.4501, 30.5234
Capital of Ukraine and seat of the Ukrainian government, targeted repeatedly by long-range Russian missile and drone strikes.
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Kharkivcity49.9935, 36.2304
Ukraine's second-largest city, near the northeastern border with Russia and under recurring artillery and glide-bomb range pressure.
Control: Held by Ukrainian forces; Russian forces are attempting to advance within artillery range of the city — Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project, as of 2026-08-01
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Kupianskcity49.7167, 37.6167
Kharkiv Oblast city on the Oskil River that changed hands early in the war and remains a contested infiltration front.
Control: Held by Ukrainian forces amid continued Russian infiltration attempts — Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project, as of 2026-08-01
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Pokrovskcity48.2833, 37.1667
Donetsk Oblast logistics hub and rail junction that has been a focal point of Russia's slow-moving offensive for over a year.
Control: Held by Ukrainian forces, who have repelled repeated Russian advances — Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project, as of 2026-08-01
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Zaporizhzhiacity47.8388, 35.1396
Regional capital on the Dnipro River, near the front line since Russia's 2022 invasion of the surrounding oblast.
Control: Held by Ukrainian forces — Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project, as of 2026-08-01
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Khersoncity46.6354, 32.6169
Southern regional capital on the west bank of the Dnipro, retaken by Ukraine in November 2022 and shelled from Russian-held territory across the river since.
Control: Held by Ukrainian forces west of the Dnipro River — Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project, as of 2026-08-01
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Mariupolport47.0971, 37.5434
Sea of Azov port city largely destroyed in a months-long 2022 siege and held by Russian forces since, now a rebuilt administrative center under occupation.
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Sevastopolport44.6054, 33.5220
Crimean port city and historic headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet; Crimea has been administered by Russia since a 2014 annexation that most of the international community does not recognize.
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Odesaport46.4825, 30.7233
Ukraine's principal Black Sea port, essential to grain exports and a recurring target of Russian missile and drone strikes.
Key facts
- The Russia–Ukraine War is an interstate war in Eastern Europe, currently Active (High intensity).
- The Russia–Ukraine war is the largest interstate conflict in Europe since the Second World War, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It has reshaped European security, energy markets, and global diplomatic alignments.
- Key actors: Ukraine, Russia, External supporters.
- What's at stake: European security, Territorial sovereignty, Global markets.
Latest developments
The headlines below are pulled automatically from Google News (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and link to primary reporting. They are updated periodically; last refreshed 2026-08-06.
- Ukraine war briefing: Cut-price Patriot among options in desperate search for missile defence2026-08-06 — The Guardian
- The War That’s Happening Above Russia and Ukraine2026-08-05 — nytimes.com
- Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv left 'wide open' by lack of interceptors to stop Russian attacks2026-08-05 — Sky News
- Russia’s Deadly Missile Attack on Kyiv Exploits Ukraine’s Depleted Air Defenses2026-08-05 — nytimes.com
- Russian missile attack kills 14, injures 27 in Ukraine’s Kyiv region2026-08-05 — Al Jazeera
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 5, 20262026-08-06 — Institute for the Study of War
- Putin Overhauls War Effort in Ukraine as Russia Seeks Momentum2026-08-05 — WSJ
- EXCLUSIVE: North Korean missile unit deploys in Russia for Ukraine war, Kyiv says2026-08-05 — Reuters
Overview
The Russia–Ukraine war is the largest interstate conflict in Europe since the Second World War, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It has reshaped European security, energy markets, and global diplomatic alignments.
As of June 2026, the roughly 1,200-km front remained largely a stalemate amid intense fighting, while a US-led push for a negotiated settlement — including a June 2026 deadline and a brief May 2026 truce — had not produced a comprehensive peace deal. Independent estimates put Russian losses above one million killed and wounded and Ukrainian military casualties in the hundreds of thousands (e.g. Netherlands MIVD, April 2026; Financial Times, May 2026); all figures are contested.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Front lines, territorial control, and casualty estimates change continually — confirm the latest figures with the primary sources listed below before relying on any single number.
Key actors
- Ukraine — its armed forces and territorial defense, backed by Western military and financial assistance.
- Russia — its armed forces and allied formations.
- External supporters — NATO members and partners providing aid to Ukraine; states supplying Russia.
- Civilian population — communities affected by displacement, strikes, and occupation.
What's at stake
- European security: the post-Cold-War order and the future of NATO's posture.
- Territorial sovereignty: internationally recognized borders and occupied territories.
- Global markets: grain exports, energy supply, and fertilizer prices.
- Humanitarian impact: one of the largest displacement crises in Europe in decades.
Russia–Ukraine War explained: the key dynamics
Where are the front lines?
The war is fought along a long, largely static front running through eastern and southeastern Ukraine, anchored in the Donbas and stretching to the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Movement is measured in villages rather than provinces, with both sides relying on entrenched positions, drones, and artillery.
The drone and strike war
Beyond the trench lines, the conflict is defined by long-range strikes: Russian missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, and Ukrainian deep strikes on logistics, airfields, and Black Sea assets. Cheap FPV drones have reshaped tactics on both sides.
Why it matters globally
The war drives Western military aid debates, NATO posture, European energy policy, and global grain and fertilizer prices. Its outcome is widely read as a precedent for how the international system responds to the forcible seizure of territory.
Timeline: how the russia–ukraine war unfolded
- 2014 — Russia annexes Crimea and backs armed separatists in the Donbas, beginning the first phase of the conflict.
- Feb 2022 — Russia launches a full-scale invasion; Ukraine repels the assault on Kyiv.
- 2022–23 — Ukrainian counteroffensives retake territory around Kharkiv and Kherson; the front later stabilizes.
- 2024–26 — The war settles into attritional fighting dominated by drones, long-range strikes, and incremental front-line change.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
Ukraine is one of the most densely documented wars in history. ACLED logs individual geolocated events (shelling, strikes, clashes) in near real time; UCDP records it as an interstate conflict dyad once annual battle-death thresholds are met; and open-source analysts geolocate combat footage to map control. Casualty figures are heavily contested and treated as estimates here, not confirmed counts.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
Is the war in Ukraine still going on in 2026?
Yes. As of June 2026 the Russia–Ukraine war remained an active, high-intensity conflict, though a US-led push for a negotiated settlement — including a June 2026 deadline and a brief May 2026 truce — had not produced a comprehensive peace deal. Because the situation evolves rapidly, confirm the current status with ACLED, UCDP and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Who is involved in the Russia–Ukraine war?
The principal parties are Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine is supported by Western states providing military and financial aid; Russia receives support from a smaller set of states.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see the Ukraine theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
How many people have died in the Russia-Ukraine war?
Credible estimates run into the hundreds of thousands of military casualties on both sides plus tens of thousands of civilian deaths, but all figures are contested and incomplete. Treat any single number as an estimate and cross-check UCDP and UN OHCHR reporting.
Who controls Crimea and the Donbas?
Russia occupies Crimea (seized in 2014) and large parts of the Donbas and southern Ukraine. Control along the front shifts incrementally; consult an up-to-date control map for the current line.
Source provenance
- Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project 5 days · as of 2026-08-01
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-08-06
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-06 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |
| 2026-08-01 | Kharkiv control updated | Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project |
| 2026-08-01 | Kupiansk control updated | Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project |
| 2026-08-01 | Pokrovsk control updated | Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project |
| 2026-08-01 | Zaporizhzhia control updated | Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project |
| 2026-08-01 | Kherson control updated | Institute for the Study of War / Critical Threats Project |