Ukraine invasion: Russia's attack in maps
2022-02-24 17:36:51+00:00

Russia has launched a major invasion of Ukraine from three main
directions.

Reports say troops are advancing from the north in the direction of
Kyiv; from the east through Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv; and from
Crimea in the south.

In less than 24 hours, dozens of targets have been struck, as Russian
troops have poured into Ukraine.

From approximately 03:00GMT, explosions were heard in many cities
across the country, as Ukraine's air defences and other military
infrastructure came under attack.

Analysts say that strikes from the air are aimed at clearing the way
for ground troops to move in.

Among the targets were locations in Kyiv, Karkhiv, Odesa and Ivano-
Frankivsk.

From the north, Russian troops are believed to have crossed the
border into Ukraine at the three-way junction between Ukraine, Russia
and Belarus, at Senkivka.

In recent weeks, a huge deployment of Russian troops has gathered
close to Novye Yurkovichi and Troebortno, including "the entire 41st
army", according to Michael Kofman of the US-based Center for Naval
Analyses.

Armoured columns, including tanks and multiple launch rocket systems,
have moved towards Chernihiv, on a direct path to Kyiv.

There has also been fighting on the outskirts of the capital, as
Ukrainian forces try to recapture Antonov airbase to the west of the
city.

Russian airborne troops took control of the Gostomel airfield, but
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, vowed that they would be
encircled and crushed.

A missile strike also hit the town of Brovary, east of Kyiv.

President Zelensky said his forces were fighting to prevent Russian
troops from capturing the former nuclear plant at Chernobyl.

From the east, there are reports that Russian tanks have arrived in
Kharkhiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Parts of the city have been
shelled.

Overnight, there were large explosions in Donetsk, and similar blasts
coming from the direction of Belgorod across the border, where large
troop movements were reported on Wednesday.

Separately, Russia's Interfax news agency reported claims from
Russian-backed separatists that they had launched an offensive on the
Ukrainian-controlled town of Shchastia in Luhansk.

There was also fierce fighting around Sumy, near Kharkiv.

There are thought to be about 15,000 Russian-backed separatists in
Donetsk and Luhansk, who may help a Russian advance. Ukraine believes
the figure is higher.

In the south, troops have crossed from from Crimea to the mainland,
towards Kherson, taking Chongar and Novo Alekseyevka.

Overnight, explosions were heard in cities across the region,
including Odesa, Mariupol, Melitpol and Kherson.

Ukrainian officials - quoted by the Reuters news agency - said
Russian troops had landed in the ports of Odesa and Mariupol.

In recent days, Russia had positioned landing ships capable of
deploying main battle tanks, armoured vehicles and personnel, off the
Ukrainian coast in a major build-up in the Black Sea and the Sea of
Azov.

Ukrainian forces are concentrated in the east of Ukraine, towards
Donetsk and Luhansk,

Ben Barry, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, says
that a Russian advance north from Crimea may succeed in cutting them
off from Kyiv, stranding them on the east side of the Dnieper River.

With Russian troops to their east, in Donetsk and Luhansk, north in
Russia, and on the west bank of the Dnieper, they would be encircled.

Graphics by Zoe Bartholomew and Mark Bryson