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The week in Ukraine's war with Russia: Key events explained in 5 graphics

Sarah Elbeshbishi   | Paste BN

The Ukraine-Russian war appeared to take a turn nearly seven months after Russia invaded its neighbor, as Ukrainian forces engaged in an aggressive counteroffensive, pushing back Russian troops and regaining hundreds of square miles of territory.

Ukrainian officials also shut down the country's last working reactor at Europe's largest nuclear power plant after international fears of a nuclear disaster, and the United States sent millions more in aid to Ukraine. 

Here's a look at the week's key events:

Ukrainian forces targets Russian supply lines, command posts in counteroffensive

Ukraine signaled the beginning of its southern counteroffensive after targeting Russian supply lines, ammunition depots, and logistical and command posts for weeks, launching attacks miles behind enemy line.

Using long-ranged missile systems supplied by their Western allies, Ukrainian forces have targeted bridges across the Dnieper River, damaging key supply routes for Russians troops. The Antonivskyi Bridge, the largest and closest bridge to the southern city of Kherson, was among the ones damaged, leaving the Russians with limited alternatives to move supplies.

While most of the attacks have taken place in the Kherson region, the first Ukrainian territory to fall to Russia during the war, Ukraine has also launched attacks in Crimea, targeting the Skay military airfield and damaging at least nine Russian warplanes.  

Russia 'leaves death everywhere': Zelenskyy's remarks as Ukraine combs mass burial site

Ukraine’s counteroffensive reclaims hundreds of miles of territory

Through its counteroffensive in the northeast, forces managed to regain roughly 1,150 square miles of territory within the five days of their counterattack, according to the Institute for the Study of War. 

Ukraine also regained several critical cities in its counteroffensive effort, including Izyum, which Russia used as an important base and resupply route.

Ukrainian troops also made gains in the southern region of Kherson, with forces reclaiming about 190 square miles of territory over the past two weeks.

The war in Ukraine: Ukraine retakes more territory in a week than Russia captured in months

Ukraine closes last working reactor in fear of nuclear disaster

Ukraine closed its last working reactor located at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as the continual mortar and rocket attacks in the area have brought fears of a nuclear disaster. 

The plant, the largest in Europe, has been a war zone since March when it fell to Russian troops; prior to the war, the plant accounted for roughly 20% of the electricity in Ukraine.

While officials say it's unlikely that either side would deliberately attack the power plant, it can't be ruled out, according to a report from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which also notes that the plant could be hit on accident. 

The Institute for the Study of War says that Russia is using Zaporizhzhia "to play on Western fears of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine," hoping the fear would prevent Western nations from providing aid to fund Ukraine's counteroffensive. 

Closer look: Ukraine's decision to shut down Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant over meltdown risk

Russian forces retreat, admitting defeat

Several military experts featured across Russian TV admitted the defeat in the Kharkiv region as Russian troops in about 300 cities and towns were driven out by the counteroffensive laid out by Ukrainian forces. 

The Kremlin acknowledged its defeat in the northeastern region of Ukraine, marking it the first time Russia has "openly recognized a defeat," according to an assessment of the war by the Institute for the Study of War. 

The assessment notes that the admission may be a strategy to deflect the blame for the failure from Russian President Vladimir Putin and onto the Kremlin's defense officials. 

Turning point in Ukraine war?: As Russia admits defeat in Kharkiv, Ukraine regains land, confidence

Russia 'redeploys' troops after defeat 

After admitting defeat in the Kharkiv region and calling troops to retreat from the region, the Russian Ministry of Defense say it "redeployed” its troops to the Donestek region. Some reports indicate that Russian troops having been trying to leave front-line settlements in Donbas, where there are reports of significant fighting.

According to the ISW, Russia's ability to retain control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine is in question as Ukrainian forces continue to advance.

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