Satellite imagery shows intense fighting on Ukraine frontline amid new Russian offensive

Russian forces have unleashed fatal missile attacks on Kherson as Moscow claims soldiers have advanced 2km west into Ukraine in four days

As the war in Ukraine approaches the one-year mark, new satellite images show intense fighting along the country’s frontline.

Satellite images released by private space technology company Maxar show the Vuhledar area in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

The area is the site of concentrated fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

Images from 8 to 10 February reveal areas of intense artillery shelling in the farms and fields south of Vuhledar as Ukrainian forces reportedly pushed back Russian troops that have been attempting to capture territory in the area.

Images of Petrivka, Ukraine before intense shelling (picture captured on 24 August 2022) (Maxar)

Images of Petrivka, Ukraine after intense shelling (picture captured on 10 February 2023) (Maxar)

The images also show probable Russian military units, including tanks and armored personnel vehicles, deployed along tree lines in the fields as well as in residential areas in Krylivka and Petrivka.

The new images come as Russian forces have unleashed fatal missile attacks on Kherson, causing damage to the railway and preventing trains from Kyiv and Lviv reaching the city, according to reports.

Armored vehicles positioned behind residential buildings in Krylivka, Ukraine (image captured 8 February 2023) (Maxar)

On Saturday, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that Kyiv’s forces are holding the frontline in Donetsk, with fierce battles raging in Vuhledar and Maryinka.

Mr Zaluzhnyi added that Russia was carrying out approximately 50 attacks per day in the Donetsk region.

Russia launched its war in Ukraine on 24 February last year as president Vladimir Putin declared the start of what Russia officially calls a “special military operation”.

Image shows the Svyato-Uspensky Mykolo-Vasilyivsky monastery in Mykilske, Ukraine last summer on 20 June 2022 before shelling (Maxar)

Image shows damage to the monastery and surrounding areas after recent intense fighting (picture captured 10 February 2023) (Maxar)

In a statement on Monday, Russia’s defence ministry said that Moscow’s soldiers have managed to advance 2km (1.24 miles) west into Ukraine.

“In four days the front moved 2 kilometres to the west,” the ministry said, reported Interfax news agency.

In a statement Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern military forces, said the country should prepare for further air attacks, possibly on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

“Considering the enemy’s commitment to sacred dates, it’s necessary to be ready,” she was quoted as saying.

Additional reporting by agencies