Nearly five months into what Russia had planned as a swift invasion, Ukraine has preserved its sovereignty and pushed back Russian forces in some areas. Since the Russian capture of eastern Luhansk province in early July, the conflict has evolved into a grinding contest of long-range artillery bombardments and missile strikes on cities.

This report, relying on data derived from satellite-images provided by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a think tank, as well as Reuters reporting from the ground and other commercial satellite imagery, captures key moments on the road to the current military impasse.