Russia-Ukraine war, Two Years On: Top Russian Gains On Battlefield

The top Russian battlefield gain was the east Ukrainian town of Mariupol on May 20, 2022. Consequently, by the end of May 2022, Russia controlled all Ukrainian Black Sea ports except Odesa.

Russia gained complete control over Ukrainian territory of Luhansk by the end of July 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made control over Bakhmut a matter of prestige. Despite heavy losses, Russian forces gained control over Bakhmut on May 20, 2023, in a huge symbolic blow to the Ukrainian will to stand against Russia's offensive.

Russia captured the most aggressively defended Ukrainian town of Avdiivka on February 16,2024 amid dwindling support to Ukrainian war effort from the West.

Russia controls nearly 18 per cent of Ukraine's internationally recognised territory. This is made up of 94 per cent of Luhansk Oblast, 73 per cent of Kherson Oblast, 72 per cent of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, 54 per cent of Donetsk Oblast and Crimea.