Putin backs separatist claims to Donbas

Russian president Vladimir Putin has endorsed the claims of Russian- backed separatists to the entire Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, taking both countries closer to full-blown conflict


Kyiv 
UKRAINE

Crimea
Russian control

RUSSIA 
Donbas


Russian positions
Ground forces 
Air bases
Claimed by separatists, held by Ukraine
Held by pro-Russian separatists

Separatist forces:
35,000 personnel, 481 tanks, 914 armoured vehicles*


Dnipro
River Dnieper
UKRAINE
Zaporozhye
Melitopol 
Berdyansk
Sea of Azov
40km 25 miles

Svitlodarsk: Shelling intensifying in area of key infrastructure
Kramatorsk
DONETSK
Line of contact
Mariupol

LUHANSK
Strarobilk
Lysychansk
Luhansk
Alchevsk
Horlivka
Donetsk

Belgorod
Soloti
Valuyki
RUSSIA
Boguchar
Millerovo
Shakhty
Rostov- on-Don
Persianovskiy
Yeysk

Feb 21: Putin orders troops into Donbas after recognising breakaway republics


*Claims by Ukraine


Sources: CSIS, Rochan Consulting, Reuters
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