Mapped: Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Izzy Lyons
·5 min read
Ukraine Russia invasion map
Ukraine Russia invasion map
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Day two: AM

Putin's forces have continued a major assault on Ukrainian cities on Friday morning.

Kyiv (12am)

Russia began a heavy assault on Ukraine in the early hours of Friday. Ukraine's president said 'saboteurs' have entered the capital and multiple explosions were heard.

Chernobyl (1am)

An MoD spokesperson said on Thursday night that Russian forces have “likely captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant”. It is understood that plant workers have been detained.

Zaporizhia (3am)

Ukrainian Border Guard reported casualties following a missile strike on their post in Prymorskyi Posad in Zaporizhia, in Ukraine's southeast.

Day one: PM

Kyiv airport (4pm)

By Thursday afternoon, Russian troops had taken control of one of Kyiv’s airports, Antonov International Airport – also known as Hostomel – after launching a large air assault operation.

The airport, which is geographically significant because it is 15 minutes from the capital, is Ukraine's most important international cargo airport and a key military airbase.

Rescuers work at the crash site of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Antonov aircraft, which, according to the State Emergency Service, was shot down in Kyiv region, Ukraine - REUTERS
Rescuers work at the crash site of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Antonov aircraft, which, according to the State Emergency Service, was shot down in Kyiv region, Ukraine - REUTERS

The fighting began on Thursday morning, with some 20 Russian helicopters and aircraft dropping paratroopers that then fought to secure the airfield.

The BBC reported that one Russian military helicopter was downed during fighting.

A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing outside Kyiv - Efrem Lukatsky /AP
A Russian Ka-52 helicopter gunship is seen in the field after a forced landing outside Kyiv - Efrem Lukatsky /AP

Chernobyl (3pm)

Russian troops try to seize the Chernobyl plant in the afternoon, according to Ukraine’s president.

Shortly after 5pm, it was confirmed that Russian troops had seized the radioactive plant of Ukraine.

The site of the 1986 nuclear disaster has become the latest target of the Russian military, which Volodymyr Zelensky said marks "a declaration of war on all of Europe".

An abandoned railway is seen in the Chernobyl zone close to the Ukraine-Belarus border crossing on Feb 13 - Chris McGrath
An abandoned railway is seen in the Chernobyl zone close to the Ukraine-Belarus border crossing on Feb 13 - Chris McGrath

"Russian occupying forces are trying to take over the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Our soldiers are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 does not happen again," Mr Zelensky wrote on Twitter, referring to the date of the disaster.

The Chernobyl exclusion zone, which is on the border with Belarus, offers a short, direct route to Kyiv.

Concerns have been raised about what the impact of fighting around the radioactive zone could have for the rest of Europe.

Kakhovka (12pm)

At around lunchtime on Thursday, Russian troops entered the south eastern city of Kakhovka.

Videos show Russian helicopters and tanks travelling through the city on to the Dnieper river, and troops raising the Russian flag over the hydroelectric power plant.

According to reports, the Ukrainian authorities in the region now recognise that parts of the province are no longer under government control.

Day one: AM

Odesa (11am)

In the southern city of Odesa, 18 people were killed as a result of a missile attack on a military base near Ukraine's Black Sea port, regional authorities said.

"Eighteen died - eight men and 10 women. At the moment, we are still digging through the rubble," the Odessa regional administration said in a statement.

Citizens queue to get on a bus. Early on February 24, President Putin announced a special military operation to be conducted by the Russian Armed Forces in response to appeals for help from the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics - Everyday life in Odessa, Ukraine
Citizens queue to get on a bus. Early on February 24, President Putin announced a special military operation to be conducted by the Russian Armed Forces in response to appeals for help from the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics - Everyday life in Odessa, Ukraine

It was the deadliest single strike so far of the day reported by Ukrainian officials, who had earlier put the death toll across the country at around 50, including about 10 civilians.

Vuhledar (8:30am)

Russian artillery struck a hospital in Ukrainian-controlled Vuhledar, Donetsk early on Thursday morning.

At least two people were killed, according to Amnesty International, whereas other reports suggest that the death toll could be as high as four fatalities and 10 injuries, including doctors.

Uman (6:30am)

Disturbing footage emerged from the eastern town of Uman, where a civilian riding a bicycle was hit and killed by Russian artillery.

The attack was caught by a private CCTV camera, which showed the missile make direct contact with the cyclist.

Graphic videos quickly started to emerge on social media of the aftermath of the bombing showing the cyclist’s lifeless body on the road.

Ivano-Frankivsk (6am)

Earlier in the day, another airfield was targeted by the Russian military, this time in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk.

Videos circulating online, as seen below, show a missile hitting the airport followed by a large explosion and billowing black smoke.

The main directorate of the State Emergency Service in the Ivano-Frankivsk region confirmed that the airport had been destroyed, according to reports.

How Russia has mounted its military presence

Ukraine's key infrastructure