Offensive along Ukraine’s strategic coastline

Russian-backed separatists are pushing west in a bid to create a land link between Russia and Crimea along Ukraine’s southern coast

Aug 25, Dzerkalne: 10 Russian paratroopers seized

Aug 27, Amvrosiyivka: Russian soldiers enter town in armoured infantry carriers

Aug 28, Novoazovsk: Separatists take coastal town and threaten strategic port city of Mariupol

UKRAINE

CRIMEA

Simferopol

Sevastopol

Sea of Azov

Annexed by Russia in Mar 2014

E58

E105

Controlled by separatists

Abandoned by separatists

DONETSK

Horlivka

Donetsk

LUHANSK

Rostov

Mariupol

RUSSIA

Kiev

UKRAINE

Crimea

Detail area

50km

30 miles

Sources: National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, wire agencies