(for another, semi up-to-date, interactive map, seehere)Map showing Russia in dark red withRussian-occupied territories in Europe in light red, as follows:
TheRussian-occupied territories of Ukraine are areas of southern and easternUkraine that are controlled byRussia as a result of theRusso-Ukrainian War and theongoing invasion. In Ukrainian law, they are defined as the "temporarily occupied territories". As of 2024, Russia occupies almost 20% of Ukraine and about 3 to 3.5 million Ukrainians are estimated to be living under occupation;[1][2] since the invasion, the occupied territories lost roughly half of their population. TheUnited Nations Human Rights Office reports that Russia is committing severehuman rights violations in occupied Ukraine, includingarbitrary detentions,enforced disappearances, torture, crackdown on peacefulprotest andfreedom of speech, enforcedRussification,passportization, indoctrination of children, and suppression of Ukrainian language and culture.[3]
As of 2024, Ukraine'speace terms call for Russian forces to leave the occupied territories. Russia's terms call for it to keep all the land it occupies, and be given all of the oblasts that it claims but does not fully control.[10] Several Western-based analysts say that allowing Russia to keep the land it seized would "reward the aggressor while punishing the victim" and encourage furtherRussian expansionism.[11][12]
Law of Ukraine No. 1207-VII (15 April 2014) "Assurance of Citizens' Rights and Freedom, and Legal Regulations on Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine".[20]
Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1085-р (7 November 2014) "A List of Settlements on Territory Temporarily Uncontrolled by Government Authorities, and a List of Landmarks Located at the Contact Line".[21]
Law of Ukraine No. 254-19-VIII (17 March 2015) "On Recognition of Separate Raions, Cities, Towns and Villages in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions as Temporarily Occupied Territories".[22]
Petro Poroshenko, one of the opposition leaders duringEuromaidan, won a landslide victory in theelection to succeed interim president Turchynov, three months after the ousting of Yanukovych.[23]
The following chart summarizes some estimates of the total area of Ukrainian territory under Russian control, presented by various publishers at different instances during the conflict. Note that some of the estimates from the end of 2022 were conflicting.
Amount of Ukrainian territory under Russian control during the conflict
The uncontrolled portions of theDonetsk andLuhansk Oblasts are commonly abbreviated as "ORDLO" fromUkrainian, especially among Ukrainian news media. ("certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts",Ukrainian:Окремі райони Донецької та Луганської областей,romanized: Okremi raiony Donetskoi ta Luhanskoi oblastei)[48] The term first appeared in Law of Ukraine No.1680-VII (October 2014).[49] Documents of theMinsk Protocol and the OSCE refer to them as "certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions" (CADLR) of Ukraine.[50]
The Ukrainian army was concerned in 2019 about the deployment of3M-54 Kalibr cruise missiles on Russian naval and coast guard vessels operating in theSea of Azov, which is adjacent to the temporarily occupied territories. As a result,Mariupol andBerdiansk, two mainPryazovian seaports, suffer from an increase in insecurity[54] (both cities were captured in 2022).
Since the start of theRusso-Ukrainian War in 2014, theGovernment of Ukraine is issuing (as extension to government order no. 1085-р and law no. 254-VIII) up-to-date "List of Temporarily Occupied Regions and Settlements" and a "List of Landmarks Bordering the Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone".[56] As of 16 September 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has made four updates to order no. 1085-р and law no. 254-VIII:
Regions of Ukraine annexed by Russia, with a red line marking the area of actual control by Russia on 30 September 20222024 United Nations map of Russian-occupied Ukraine in December 2023
After Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Russian military andRussian proxy forces further occupied additional Ukrainian territory. By early April, Russian forceswithdrew from Northern Ukraine, including the capitalKyiv,[66] after stagnating progress amid fierce Ukrainian resistance in order to focus on consolidating control over Eastern and Southern Ukraine. On June 2, 2022, Zelenskyy announced that Russia occupied approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.[38]
Before 2022, Russia occupied 42,000 km2 (16,000 sq mi) of Ukrainian territory (Crimea, and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk), and occupied a further 119,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi) after its full-scale invasion by March 2022, a total of 161,000 km2 (62,000 sq mi) or almost 27% of Ukraine.[37] By 11 November 2022, theInstitute for the Study of War calculated that Ukrainian forces had liberated an area of 74,443 km2 (28,743 sq mi) from Russian occupation,[67] leaving Russia with control of about 18% of Ukraine.[68] During the whole of 2023, Russian forces captured an estimated net 487 km2 (188 sq mi) of Ukrainian territory.[42]
In 2024, Russian forces captured an estimated 4,168 km2 (1,609 sq mi) in both Ukraine and Russia'sKursk Oblast, where Ukraine had previouslylaunched a cross-border offensive. The majority of the Russian advances took place in the months of September, October, and November 2024.[69]
As of 2024, Ukraine'speace terms include Russia withdrawing its troops from the occupied territories. Russia's terms include Russia keeping all the land it occupies, and being given all of the oblasts that it claims but does not fully control.[10]
Several Western-based analysts say that allowing Russia to keep the land it seized would "reward the aggressor while punishing the victim" and set a dangerous precedent.[11] They predict that this would encourage Russia "to continue itsimperialist campaign of expansionism" against Ukraine and its other neighbors, and embolden other expansionist regimes.[11][12][70][71][72] Zelenskyy commented: "It's the same thingHitler did, when he said 'give me a part ofCzechoslovakia and it'll end here'."[73] Leo Litra of theEuropean Council on Foreign Relations pointed out that allowing Russia toannex Crimea in 2014 did not stop further Russian aggression. Opinion polls show that the majority of Ukrainians oppose giving up any of their country for peace.[74]
The occupation began on February 24, 2022, immediately after Russian troops invaded Ukraine and began seizing parts of the Kharkiv Oblast. Since April, Russian forces tried to consolidate control in the region and capture the major city ofKharkiv after theirwithdrawal from Northern Ukraine. However, by mid-May, the Ukrainian forces pushed the Russians back towards the periphery of the Russian border,[75] indicating that Ukrainians continue to garner stiff resistance against Russian advances. In early September 2022, Ukrainian forces began a majorcounteroffensive and by 11 September 2022, Russia had retreated from most of the settlements it previously occupied in the oblast,[76] and the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a formal withdrawal of Russian forces from nearly all of Kharkiv Oblast stating that an "operation to curtail and transfer troops" was underway."[77][78]
Sergey Kiriyenko became Putin's point man in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.[79]
On February 24, 2022, Russian troops from Crimea invadedHenichesk andSkadovsk Raions. During the first days of the offensive, the Russians surrounded most of the cities and towns in the oblast, blocking the entrances to them with roadblocks, but not entering the cities themselves. Significant battles were fought for theAntonivskyi Bridge, which crosses theDnipro River between Russian positions on the South bank and the Ukrainian city ofKherson on the North bank. The Russian military's overwhelming firepower forced the Ukrainian forces to retreat, and the cityfell to Russian control on March 2.[80] On June 29, theRussian occupation authorities in Kherson Oblast announced preparations for holding areferendum of annexation.[81] On July 9, the Ukrainian government announced preparations for animminent counteroffensive in the South, and urged the residents of occupied parts ofKherson andZaporizhzhia Oblasts to shelter or evacuate to minimize civilian casualties in the operation.[82] Following the destruction of the Antonivskyi Bridge and the advance of Ukrainian troops from the west, the lack of sustainable supply lines amid heavy Ukrainian shelling compelled the Russian forces to retreat. They eventually retreated from all areas on the north bank of theDnipro River, including the city of Kherson, which the Ukrainian forces recaptured soon after, known as theliberation of Kherson.
LiberatedKherson after shelling by the Russian army on 15 January 2023
Damage to a residential building in Ukrainian-controlledZaporizhzhia following theairstrike of 9 October 2022
On February 26, 2022, the city ofBerdiansk came under Russian control, followed byMelitopol on March 1 afterfierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Russian troops also besieged and captured the city ofEnerhodar, where theZaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is located, whichcame under Russian control on March 4. Since July, there have been increased tensions around the power plant as both Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of missile strikes around the plant,[83] causing fears of a potential repeat of theChernobyl Disaster.
Since the invasion, the Russian military, along with the Russian-backedDonetsk People's Republic, built on territorial gains they have made during thewar in Donbas and captured additional territory, most significantly the port ofMariupol after aprolonged siege.
By February 24, 2022, the following raions ofDonetsk Oblast were occupied:
On July 3, 2022, the Russian military claimed that the entire Luhansk Oblast has been "liberated",[86] suggesting that Russian forces had succeeded in occupying the entire oblast and marked a major milestone for their goal of capturing theDonbas.
In late September, Ukraine said thatBilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast had been recaptured.[87] By early October 2022, Ukrainian forces had recaptured several more settlements as their counteroffensive operations shifted focus into the main territory of the oblast.[88] In September 2024, Russian forces controlled an estimated 98.5% of Luhansk Oblast.[89] In July 2025, Russia claimed to control the entire oblast.[90]
The occupation ofMykolaiv Oblast began on February 26, 2022, with Russian troops crossing into the oblast through theKherson Oblast fromCrimea. In March, Russia attempted to advance towardsVoznesensk,Mykolaiv andNova Odesa, but were met with stiff resistance and failed. By May, Russia occupiedSnihurivka,Tsentralne,Novopetrivka and numerous other small villages within the oblast. All these were retaken on 10–11 November 2022 during the Ukrainian counteroffensive, which followed the withdrawal of Russian troops from the right bank of the Dnieper.
Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy with soldiers who distinguished themselves during theliberation of Kherson, 14 November 2022Civilians during Zelenskyy's visit following the liberation ofKherson, 14 November 2022
Russia started the occupation as part of thenorthern campaign in the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Theoccupying forces occupied a large part of the oblast, and eventuallylaid siege to the oblast capital, but failed to capturethe city. Eventually, their stagnant progress led to their complete withdrawal from the oblast by early April, ending the occupation.
Zelenskyy in the Kyiv Oblast following the recapture of the region by Ukraine, 4 April 2022
Russia started the occupation as part of thenorthern offensive in the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian troops occupied a large part of the oblast, even approaching the borders of Kyiv city proper. However, the invaders' stagnant progress led to theirfailure to capture the Ukrainian capital, and eventually led to a complete withdrawal from the oblast by early April, ending the occupation.
From 24 February to 30 June 2022, Russian forces occupiedSnake Island inOdesa Oblast, but later withdrew after suffering heavy missile, artillery and drone strikes from the Ukrainian forces.[93]
Poltava Oblast
During the battles ofLebedyn andOkhtyrka, Sumy Oblast, Russian forces spilled over and attackedHadiach on 4 March 2022,[94][95][better source needed] and captured small areas around it, and advanced nearZinkiv and occupiedPirky on 3 March, but were repelled.[96][97] According to Pro-Ukraine sources, they were soon afterwards repelled which was known as the "Hadiach Safari", since people used shotguns and rifles to hunt for Russian soldiers.[98] Some notable areas captured werePirky andBobryk.[99]
Russia started the occupation as part of the northern offensive in the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian military occupied a large part of the oblast, butfailed to take theoblast capital. Eventually, the stagnant progress of theRussian Ground Forces led to their complete withdrawal from the oblast by early April, ending the occupation.
Russia started the occupation as part of the Northern offensive in the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Russians occupied a small portion of the oblast, and never attempted to capture theoblast capital. Eventually, the culmination of the drive on Kyiv led to their complete withdrawal from the oblast by early April, ending the occupation.
Violations and war crimes
TheUnited Nations Human Rights Office reports that Russia is committing severehuman rights violations in occupied Ukraine. These includearbitrary detentions,torture,looting, andenforced disappearances by Russian soldiers acting with "impunity". Peaceful protests andfreedom of speech have been suppressed, while freedom of movement is severely restricted.[3] Anyone suspected of opposing the occupation has been targeted, while people have been "encouraged to inform on one another, leaving them afraid even of their own friends and neighbours".[3] OHCHR later found Russia guilty of enforced disppearances and torture ascrimes against humanity, as well as arbitrary arrest and detention.Human Rights Watch also found Russia guilty of forcible conscription of people under occupation to force them to fight against their own country,deportation andforced displacement.[100]
Ukrainians have beencoerced into taking Russian passports and becoming Russian citizens. Those who refuse are denied healthcare, freedom of movement, public sector employment and social security benefits.[3] From July 2024, anyone in occupied Ukraine who does not have a Russian passport can be imprisoned as a "foreign citizen". Ukrainian men who take a Russian passport are then drafted to fight against the Ukrainian army.[101]
The UN reports that Ukrainian children are the worst affected. Schools are forced to teach the Russian curriculum, with textbooks that seek to justify the invasion.[3] Children are also enlisted into youth groups that indoctrinate them with Russian nationalism.[3] There are reports of parents who refuse Russian passports having their children taken away from them.[102] TheParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized Russia'sabduction and deportation of Ukrainian children as genocidal.[103]
Ukrainian language and media has been replaced by Russian language and media.[3]
United Nations special rapporteurs have condemned the Russian occupation authorities for attempting "to erase local [Ukrainian] culture, history, and language" and to forcibly replace it with Russian language and culture. Monuments and places of worship have been razed, while Ukrainian history books and literature deemed to be "extremist" have been seized from public libraries and destroyed. Civil servants and teachers have been detained for their refusal to implement Russian policy.[105] TheInternational Court of Justice ruled that Russia had broken theConvention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by restricting school classes in the Ukrainian language in occupied Crimea.[106]
Following the liberation of occupied territories, thousands of civilians were accused of collaboration. They are tried by a single judge without a jury. The offense is punished by up to ten years of prison, with some of those convicted getting three or five years of prison. The accused include people who worked as volunteers and held administrative positions during the occupation.[107]
On 20 April 2016 Ukraine officially established government Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.[51] It was subsequently renamed the Temporarily Occupied Territories, IDPs and veterans and then theMinistry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories. The current minister isIryna Vereshchuk, appointed on 4 November 2021.[108]
In March 2014, in a vote at the United Nations, 100 member states out of 193[109] did not recognize theannexation of theCrimea by Russia, with only Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe voting against the resolution[110] (seeUnited Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262).
The United Nations passed three resolutions regarding the issue of "human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol", first in December 2016,[111] then again a year later in December 2017,[112] and lastly yet another in December 2018.
Condemning the ongoing temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine, namely, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (hereinafter referred to as "Crimea"), by the Russian Federation, and reaffirming the non-recognition of its annexation[53]
In April 2018, PACE's emergency assembly recognized occupied regions of Ukraine as "territories under effective control by the Russian Federation".[113][114] Chairman of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE, MP Volodymyr Aryev mentioned that recognition of the fact that part of the occupied Donbas is under Russia's control is so important for Ukraine. "The responsibility for all the crimes committed in the uncontrolled territories is removed from Ukraine. Russia becomes responsible", Aryev wrote on Facebook.[115]
Joint Forces Operation (Ukraine) – Official name for territory where the war in Donbas takes placePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
^Hoffmann, Patrick R. (2022).Völkerrechtliche Vorgaben für die Verleihung der Staatsangehörigkeit. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. p. 149.ISBN978-3-16-161110-0.
^"Ukraine - The World Factbook".www.cia.gov. 29 December 2021.approximately 43,133 sq km, or about 7.1% of Ukraine's area, is Russian occupied; the seized area includes all of Crimea and about one-third of both Luhans'k and Donets'k oblasts.
^abУ Гройсмана створили нове міністерство [The Cabinet decided to create the Ministry of temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons],Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian), 20 April 2016,archived from the original on 28 March 2019, retrieved26 January 2017
.png)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg)
