Key Facts
- Offensive start date
- 18 April 2022
- Luhansk Oblast claimed captured
- 3 July 2022
- Donetsk Oblast controlled by Russia
- 55% by 23 June 2022
- Ukrainian counteroffensive
- Kharkiv offensive, September 2022
- Cities recaptured by Ukraine
- Lyman, Sviatohirsk, Bilohorivka
Strategic Narrative Overview
The Russian offensive began on 18 April 2022 and made gradual advances, capturing Mariupol, Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Rubizhne. By early July Russia claimed full control of Luhansk Oblast. Progress slowed significantly by September 2022 when Ukraine launched the Kharkiv counteroffensive, recapturing Lyman and Sviatohirsk in Donetsk and Bilohorivka in Luhansk. The Ukrainian push stalled east of the Oskil River, after which Russian assaults resumed across both oblasts.
01 / The Origins
Following Russia's failed initial three-pronged assault on Ukraine in early 2022, Moscow reoriented its strategy toward the Donbas region, aiming to encircle Ukrainian forces and annex Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in full. Russia sought to consolidate control through the existing separatist states—the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic—which had held portions of the region since 2014, framing the offensive as liberation of Russian-aligned territories.
03 / The Outcome
As of the source material, the battle remained ongoing with no definitive outcome. Russian forces held substantial portions of both oblasts but failed to achieve a complete encirclement of Ukrainian troops. Ukraine's counteroffensive reversed some Russian gains yet could not push further east. Renewed Russian assaults from November 2022 onward indicated the campaign had settled into a prolonged attritional contest with no immediate resolution.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
3 belligerents
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.