Checking a map russian invasion of ukraine has become a daily ritual for millions. It’s a grim habit. You open DeepStateMap or the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) tracker, squint at the red blobs, and try to figure out if that tiny pixel move near Pokrovsk actually means anything. Most of the time, honestly, it feels like the map hasn't moved in years.
But that's the first big mistake people make. They look for massive sweeping arrows like it’s 1944.
The reality in early 2026 is much messier. The front lines are "active" even when they look static. Right now, as of mid-January 2026, Russian forces occupy about 19.32 percent of Ukrainian territory. That’s a slight increase from the roughly 18 percent they held throughout 2023 and 2024. It’s a grinding, agonizing inching forward that eats through thousands of lives for a single treeline.
Reading the Map: The Current Front Lines in 2026
If you’re looking at a map russian invasion of ukraine today, your eyes should probably be on the northeast. There’s been a weird, aggressive shift lately. For a long time, the border areas of Sumy and northern Kharkiv were relatively "quiet"—if you can call constant shelling quiet.
Recently, things changed.
Russian forces have been pushing to create what they call "buffer zones." They recently seized Hrabovske, which is southwest of Sumy City, and there are claims they’ve taken Komarivka. This isn’t a massive breakthrough, but it’s a new headache for Ukrainian planners who already have their hands full in the Donbas.
Then there’s Kupyansk.
This town is basically a ghost of its former self. The map shows a chaotic scramble here. Russian General Valery Gerasimov claimed in mid-January that his forces had completely cleared the town. But wait—Ukrainian sources and geolocated footage tell a different story. Ukrainian troops actually made some small gains north of Kupyansk recently. It’s a "ping-pong" battle where control of a single street can change three times in a week.
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The Donbas Grinder
The "red zone" in the East is where the most blood is spilled. You've likely seen the names on the map:
- Pokrovsk: Still the big prize. Russia has been inching toward it for months. It's a logistics hub. If it falls, the whole defense of western Donetsk Oblast gets shaky.
- Chasiv Yar: High ground. It’s the "fortress" overlooking the valley. Russian forces are trying to bypass it because a direct uphill climb is suicide.
- The Oskil River: This is the natural barrier. Russia wants to push Ukraine back across it to simplify their own defensive lines.
Why "Control" is a Flexible Term
When you look at a digital map, the colors are solid. Red is Russia, blue is Ukraine. It looks so definitive.
It’s not.
Military analysts use terms like "assessed control" vs. "confirmed advances." Take the situation in southern Podoly. Recently, geolocated footage showed Russian troops operating there, but ISW classified it as an "infiltration mission." They were there, they did some damage, but they didn't hold the ground.
There's also the "Grey Zone." This is the no-man's-land between the trenches. It can be several kilometers wide. On many maps, this is where the most intense FPV drone strikes happen. You can’t really "control" a grey zone; you just try to make sure the other guy dies if he steps into it.
The "Invisible" Front Line: Energy and Infrastructure
You can’t see this on a standard topographic map, but there’s a second war happening over the power grid. On January 14, 2026, President Zelensky declared an energy emergency.
Why? Because the map of the war now includes every substation in Odesa and every thermal plant in Kyiv.
Russia has shifted to high-intensity "strike packages." We’re talking nearly 300 Shahed-type drones and dozens of Iskander missiles in a single night. In Odesa alone, recent strikes left 46,000 families without power. When you look at a map russian invasion of ukraine, don't just look at the trenches. Look at the cities. The "front line" passes through every transformer in the country.
Logistics: The Map Behind the Map
To understand why the red blobs move (or don't), you have to look at the Russian rear. Ukraine hasn't been sitting still. They’ve been using long-range drones to hit very specific targets deep inside Russia.
A few days ago, they hit the Nevinnomyssk Azot plant in Stavropol Krai.
Why does a chemical plant matter? Because it makes acetic and nitric acids. Those are the "ingredients" for artillery shells. If Ukraine can map out and destroy the supply chain, the Russian guns at the front eventually go silent. It’s a slow-motion way of winning a territory battle by fighting a chemistry battle 500 miles away.
The Human Cost You Can't Map
Maps are cold. They don't show the 2,512 civilians killed in 2025 alone—a 31% increase from the year before. They don't show the "Cultural Map 4+85," a Russian program designed to integrate (or as many experts say, "indoctrinate") Ukrainian children in occupied territories.
In occupied Crimea, inflation is reportedly hitting 107%. Fuel prices are skyrocketing. While the map shows Crimea as a stable rear area, the economic reality is a disaster.
How to use these maps effectively
If you want to stay informed without getting lost in propaganda, follow these steps:
- Cross-reference: Never trust one source. If a Russian milblogger says a town fell, wait for geolocated footage on DeepStateMap.
- Look for Topography: Use the ISW 3D tools. You'll realize why a 50-meter hill matters more than a 10-kilometer stretch of flat field.
- Check the "Last Updated" Timestamp: Front lines in places like Vovchansk can change in hours. A map from yesterday is ancient history.
The map russian invasion of ukraine is a living document of a tragedy. It's not just about geography; it's about the limits of endurance. Whether the lines move another 1% this month or stay locked in place, the strategic pressure on the Donbas and the constant threat to the energy grid remain the two biggest factors to watch.
To stay updated on specific territorial shifts, you should monitor geolocated footage updates from independent OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) researchers who verify troop positions using satellite imagery and ground-level metadata.