- Like every Friday, 20 Minutes looks back on the key elements of the war in Ukraine and the main turning points in four infographics. On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we’ve selected four infographics to summarize the conflict.
- This Friday marks the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. An opportunity to address four strategic issues that shaped the conflict.
- Weapons, front, explosions and world economy: We take stock as Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday announced an “inevitable” victory for Ukraine if the West keeps its word.
Exactly one year ago to the day, the fate of an entire country and thus of Europe changed. On February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine on the orders of its President Vladimir Putin for what was billed as an urgent military operation. Since then, military and civilian casualties have piled up, and the conflict has forced part of the population to flee. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are more than 7.2 million registered Ukrainians in Europe.
Despite several military setbacks, the Russian army continued its offensive with the support of the Wagner paramilitary group. To mark this sad first anniversary, here is an update on that first year of conflict, summarized in four infographics.
Heavy fighting in the east
Maps showing the successive developments of the front line since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine – SOPHIE RAMIS, PAZ PIZARRO, CLÉA PÉCULIER
During the invasion of the Ukrainian neighbor, the Russian army stormed the east, Donbass, and the south of the country. Another front is opening up, especially in the north, threatening the capital Kiev. Vladimir Putin’s troops were finally pushed back to Irpin a month after they began their offensive, and the noose around the capital was loosened. From April, Russian troops left northern Ukraine in favor of the eastern and southern fronts.
Despite some catches, the conflict stalled, leading to stabilization over the summer. Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s men launched counter-offensives, first around Kharkiv at the end of the summer, then in Kherson in mid-November. A year after the conflict began, fighting is raging in Bakhmout in Donbass, causing heavy military casualties on both sides. Russia occupies more than 108% of Ukrainian territory.
On the front of the arsenal
Map detailing weapons used in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. – GAL ROMA, PAZ PIZARRO, VALENTIN RAKOVSKY, GUILLERMO RIVAS PACHECO, ANIBAL MAIZ CACERES /
The weapons used have changed in a year. For the first two months of the conflict, light equipment that was easy to deliver and handle was favored. Then, when the Russian army left the northern front to concentrate on eastern and southern Ukraine, the strategy changed. Artillery supplies were necessary to attack enemy lines and disrupt enemy organization. Notably, in the spring, France delivered 18 Caesar guns to its Ukrainian ally.
In response to Russian airstrikes on their power infrastructure, Ukrainians demanded and received means to protect their skies. Finally, after repeated requests from Kiev, the Western Allies gave in: Heavy tanks had been supplied since the beginning of the year, mainly by Germany and England. France, which gave light armor to the Ukrainians, has not (yet) contributed.
Serial battles and explosions
Maps of Ukraine with the number of explosions and fighting recorded by NGO Acled between February 24, 2022 and February 17, 2023 by location – SABRINA BLANCHARD, CLÉA PÉCULIER
The NGO Acled (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project) has recorded the number of explosions and battles in a year of war in Ukraine. Looking at the infographic, the most intense fighting quickly centered in eastern Ukraine, part of which has been annexed by Russia since 2014.
A series of explosions also affected eastern Ukrainian territory. But we see that the south of the country and the north, where fighting took place at the beginning of the Russian offensive, were not spared. Other explosions were recorded near Kiev, which has often been the target of strikes since the conflict began.
The crisis beyond the front
Imports from and exports to Russia to selected countries, before and after the outbreak of war. – LAURENCE SAUBADU, JULIA HAN JANICKI
The war in Ukraine has changed the situation worldwide. The conflict dependent on gas and oil has plunged the old continent into an energy crisis. To meet this demand, Europe had to diversify its suppliers, with Russia supplying almost 40% of its natural gas before the conflict.
Countries opposed to Russian intervention in Ukraine have sought to limit Russian imports and exports to the Kremlin. Europe and the United States have passed a series of sanctions aimed at weakening Russia’s economy to prevent it from funding the conflict. Russian allies are rare. On the chart, only India, which buys many arms from Russia and has not condemned its partner’s invasion, appears to have significantly increased its imports since the war began.