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 2026-06-21.
- Ukraine war live: Zelensky warns of ‘massive attack’ from Moscow2026-06-21 — The Independent
- Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy to Belarus – remove Russian relay stations or ‘we’ll do it’2026-06-20 — The Guardian
- Moscow oil refinery attack brings Russia's war with Ukraine closer to home2026-06-20 — BBC
- Ukraine’s Intermediate-Range Strike Campaign and New Mechanized Attacks Herald the Start of a New Phase of the War2026-05-25 — Institute for the Study of War
- The War in Ukraine Has Now Gone On Longer Than World War I2026-06-11 — The New York Times
- "The Kremlin faces some very difficult choices later this year"2026-06-18 — Comment is Freed
- Wadephul: Germany has an 'enduring responsibility' to Poland2026-06-18 — dw.com
- Ukraine’s foreign minister says drone attacks in Russia could pressure Putin to end war2026-05-28 — PBS
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.
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?
The Russia–Ukraine war is tracked as an active, high-intensity armed conflict. Because the front lines and diplomatic situation evolve rapidly, confirm the current status with primary sources such as 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.