February 2022: Russia opened a special military operation in Ukraine from February 24, sending troops into the Northeast, around Kiev, Southern and Eastern Ukraine.
March: Russia reduced the target of its military campaign to the eastern region after Ukraine counterattacked in some areas.
April: Russia stepped up its military campaign in the Donbass.
May: Russia concentrated its forces in the cities of Donetsk and Lugansk. Russia controls the port city of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov. The two sides began peace talks on February 28, but announced a complete end in May without reaching an agreement.
June – 7: Russia used its superiority in firepower to gain almost complete control of Lugansk and part of Donetsk. On July 3, Russia announced the expansion of its military operation beyond the borders of Donbass in the east.
August: Ukraine launches counter-offensive in Kherson in the South.
September: Ukraine launched a surprise counterattack in Kharkov, Northeastern Ukraine, forcing Russia to withdraw its troops. Ukraine claims to have regained 3,000 square kilometers of territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a moratorium on partial mobilization, which could help Russia send up to 300,000 more troops to Ukraine.
OctoberRussia annexed four Ukrainian breakaway regions: Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. On October 5, Ukraine counter-attacked on the whole line, signing a decree excluding all possibilities of negotiating with Russia while President Putin was still in office.
On October 8, the Crimean bridge was attacked. Russia accuses Ukraine of being the culprit. On October 10, Russia launched a large-scale ambush operation throughout Ukraine, targeting military, energy, and communications infrastructure.
November: After being cut off by Ukraine, Russia was forced to withdraw its troops from the city of Kherson in the southern battlefield to the east bank of the Dnipro River.
December: The front line did not have many major changes. Russia has faced numerous attacks on military facilities deep in its territory. Moscow accuses Ukraine of being behind the incidents.
January 2023Russia focused its attack on the Eastern battlefield, determined to control key areas from Ukraine, especially Bakhmut. Russia gained some of the vicinity, making a pincer stance around Bakhmut.
The West provides main battle tanks to Ukraine. Previously, the US and European countries have supported Kiev with many weapons, such as the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system.