<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Russia says it's regrouping - and its forces still hold about a fifth of the country.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>How has the conflict changed?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, surrounding the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. It also launched attacks in the south, east and north of the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In early April, Ukrainian forces retook large areas around Kyiv, after Russia abandoned its push towards the capital.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Russia has since been focusing its military operations in the south, east and north-east of Ukraine, seizing large areas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, things changed dramatically at the start of September.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a decisive offensive in the north-east, Ukraine drove back Russian forces. It claims to have regained 3,000 square kilometres (1,158 sq miles) of territory around the city of Kharkiv alone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In total, Ukraine says it has retaken more than 8,000 sq km (3,088 sq miles) from Russian control in September - its most significant territorial gains since the war started.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The cities of Izyum and Kupiansk, which Ukraine says were retaken on 10 September, were both key supply hubs for the Russian forces. As such, these represent important strategic gains.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is also a Ukrainian counter-attack around the Kherson region in the south of the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says Ukrainian troops have inflicted a "major operational defeat" on Russian forces.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute said Russian positions in Kharkiv had suffered a "total collapse".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Russian withdrawal was, he said, "certainly the most dramatic reverse that we've seen from the Russians since they retreated from Kyiv in April".</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>How has Russia responded?</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Russia confirmed that its forces retreated from Izyum and Kupiansk. It said this was a strategic withdrawal to "regroup".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has also said it will continue to target these areas with military strikes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Russian army appears to have abandoned large quantities of equipment and ammunition during the withdrawal. Source: BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>