However they hit very robust Ukrainian resistance nearly in all places and confronted severe logistical issues with poorly motivated Russian troops struggling shortages of meals, water and ammunition.
Ukrainian forces had been additionally fast to deploy Western provided arms such because the Nlaw anti-tank system, which proved extremely efficient in opposition to the Russian advance.
By October 2022, the image had modified dramatically and having didn’t take Kyiv, Russia withdrew utterly from the north. The next month, Ukrainian forces recaptured the southern metropolis of Kherson.
Since then, the battle has largely been within the east of Ukraine with Russian forces slowly gaining floor over many months, whereas losing at least 50,000 troops – and possibly many extra.
By Dominic Bailey, Mike Hills, Paul Sargeant, Chris Clayton, Kady Wardell, Mark Bryson, Sana Dionysiou, Gerry Fletcher, Kate Gaynor and Erwan Rivault
