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Map shows how much territory Russia has gained and lost in Ukraine since 2014

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Tracking Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is a brutal task as blood is spilled like water for mere metres of land on the frontline.

But the broader picture is stark. Since 2014, Russia has gradually occupied more and more Ukrainian territory, without much intervention from Western powers.

First came the illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014, then the fall of parts of the eastern region of Donbas to Russian-backed separatists the same year.

Now, almost three years to the day into the invasion, Russian forces hold a fifth of internationally recognised Ukrainian territory, including key cities in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

And it is unlikely that Putin will relinquish these battlefield gains during the upcoming peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

Here is a recap of what has happened in the last three years and what land Ukraine is hoping to have returned as part of a deal brokered by the US.

What did Ukraine look like in 2014?

Up until 2014, Ukraine’s borders had remained unbreeched since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

That changed overnight when Russia seized Crimea in March that year on the pretense of protecting the rights of Russian citizens and speakers in the region at the time.

METRO GRAPHICS Control of terrirtory Russia Ukraine 2014
A map showing Ukrainian territory that Russia seized at the beginning of 2014 (Picture: Metro)

As much as 10,400 square miles – strategically bordering the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov – were illegally annexed and around 2.4 million people absorbed into Russia.

It was not long after that Russian-backed separatists took control of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, igniting a war that carved away more Ukrainian territory, leaving millions of Ukrainians displaced.

By the time Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022, 7% of Ukrainian territory had been lost.

When did the Ukraine war start?

Shielded by the darkness of the night, the first Russian tanks rolled into eastern Ukraine on February 24, 2022, marking the start of the full-scale war.

Dozens of missiles rained on cities all over Ukraine before dawn, meeting strong resistance straightaway, proving that – unlike Putin had famously vowed – Ukraine will not fall by the end of the week.

Soldiers later failed to take over the capital Kyiv, but committed some of the worst war atrocities in Ukraine just 20 miles on the outskirts in Bucha.

There – in mass graves – hundreds, if not thousands, of Ukrainian civilians were executed.

In the south, Russia devastated Mariupol, relentlessly bombing the city and besieging the Azovstal steel plant before taking full control in May.

METRO GRAPHICS Control of terrirtory Russia Ukraine 2025
Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukraine (Picture: Metro)

In 2023, Russia redirected its focus on entirely crippling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and leaving millions of people without electricity during the harsh eastern winter.

Wagner mercenaries were deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine for further territorial gain.

In eastern Ukraine, the battle to save the ruined city of Bakhmut turned into a months-long bloodbath until it was largely captured in May.

Russia made steady advances in 2024 as Ukraine grappled with dwindling military aid as Western leaders debated what weapons should be allowed for use in the war.

How much of Ukraine does Russia currently control?

Looking at a map of Ukraine before February 2014, it is a stark reminder about how much can change in a decade during an invasion.

Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, with a third of that annexed before the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Ukraine itself holds several thousand square miles of Russian land, in the border region of Kursk, which it invaded in 2024 to potentially trade during future negotiations for peace.

Away from territory gains, 3.6 million people have been displaced within Ukraine, and another 6.5 million have fled abroad.

Out of these 6.5 million refugees, 90% are women and children, with 59% of internally displaced persons being women.

At least 74% of those in Ukraine report separation from a close family member due to conflict. 

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Mike Tyson responds to claims he fought Jake Paul with Parkinson’s

LIVE On Netflix: Jake Paul Vs. Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson has addressed the claims (Picture: Getty)

Mike Tyson has addressed claims that he fought against Jake Paul with Parkinson’s disease after comments made from his former opponent.

Tyson came out of retirement for his first professional bout since 2005 when he squared off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul last November in a fight watched by a reported 60 million households around the world.

Entering the ring at 58 years old, however, Tyson was a shadow of his former self in the ring and was largely carried to a unanimous decision defeat by Paul, 28.

The bout had initially been scheduled for July but Iron Mike was forced to pull out on medical grounds, with it later revealed that he had to undergo eight blood transfusions after suffering a serious ulcer flareup.

Concerns about Tyson’s health have now resurfaced after Paul made the concerning suggestion that his opponent entered into their fight despite having Parkinson’s, an incurable brain disorder that causes movement problems, stiffness, and balance issues.

Discussing psychedelic drugs with streamer Adin Ross, Paul said: ‘Ayahuasca is really good for your brain as well, same with toad.

‘Toad is what cured Mike Tyson’s Parkinson’s, no sorry, toad cured Tyson’s Parkinson’s so he could come back and fight.’

Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson - Premiere Boxing Championship
Mike Tyson lost to Jake Paul last November (Picture: Getty)
TOPSHOT-US-BOXING-TYSON-PAUL-HEAVYWEIGHT
Jake Paul won via unanimous decision against Tyson (Picture: Getty)

The shocking claims have been swiftly denied by Tyson’s representatives, however, who said in a statement to TMZ: ‘Mike is happy and perfectly healthy.

‘He doesn’t have Parkinson’s or any other illness.’

Paul, meanwhile, went on social media to clarify his comments.

‘Why the f*** is the internet so stupid for. I misspoke,’ he said. ‘Meant he used toad to heal his pain. He has spoken about it many times. Just like I do. Just like many do.’

While Tyson has hopefully entered the ring for the last time, Paul continues to create headlines in boxing having come close to agreeing a mega-fight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

‘The Problem Child’ has spent years calling out Canelo, one of the best fighters on the planet and bombshell reports earlier in the month suggested that the pair had agreed to a fight in Las Vegas.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, Canelo turned down the opportunity and instead put pen to paper on a hugely lucrative four-fight deal with Riyadh Season which will see him take on fellow pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in September.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

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Jack Nicholson, 87, makes incredibly rare TV appearance 15 years after final film

Jack Nicholson makes rare TV appearance on Saturday Night Live
Jack Nicholson graced us with his appearance for Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary (Picture: NBC / BACKGRID)

Jack Nicholson made the rarest of TV appearances, celebrating Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary.

Stealing the A-listers from last night’s Baftas, Saturday Night Live pulled in all-time living legends for its 50th birthday, from Steve Martin to Sir Paul McCartney and the One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest hero.

The 87-year-old has been rarely seen in public in the 15 years since his last film, How Do You Know, released in 2010.

But after almost 70 years in showbiz, he’s still the coolest celebrity in Hollywood.

Hiding behind purple-tinted sunglasses, Nicholson somehow made a New York Yankees beret look effortlessly suave in a black tux.

He was accompanied by his 34-year-old daughter Lorraine to introduce Adam Sandler, who sang an original song in tribute to the weekly sketch show that launched some of the greatest comedians of the last five decades.

As the star-studded crowd began to clap, Jack said: ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Adam Sandler,’ and then gave a whistle to cheer on the Big Daddy actor, 18 years after they starred in the hit comedy Anger Management together.

‘Yeah, baby! Let’s hear it for Jack, baby,’ Sandler howled before breaking into song.

Jack Nicholson with daughter Lorraine on Saturday Night Live
Jack was joined by his daughter Lorraine with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds sat behind (Picture: NBC / BACKGRID)
Jack Nicholson on Saturday Night Live
The Shining star introduced performer of the night, Adam Sandler (Picture: Getty)

‘Jack made it out tonight. Love you, brother.’

Fans were stunned to see Jack back on screens, with Ollie Hodgkinson posting on X: ‘Did not expect Jack Nicholson to look this good!’

X user Manon agreed, writing: ‘Adam Sandler got Jack Nicholson out of his cave and I’m thankful for that.’

@Marcus56667 added: ‘Love seeing Jack, haven’t seen him in a while, they outdid themselves with this show.’

Adam Sandler performs tribute at Saturday Night Live
Adam Sandler performed a heart-wrenching tribute to SNL for its 50th anniversary (Picture: NBC / BACKGRID)

But fans didn’t have much time to recover from the rug pull of Jack’s appearance before they were crying buckets over Sandler’s performance.

Sandler, a former SNL performer, sang a retrospective about what it’s really like working on the prolific sketch show which brings in a different celebrity to host each week.

He became visibly emotional when he sang: ’50 years of the best night of our lives.’

Commenting on a video of the performance, @Laalaa99stil called it ‘the most heartfelt part of the whole evening’.

@kmsleyang added ‘Him choking up at the end choked me up!!’

The extravaganza also saw Sabrina Carpenter perform with Paul Simon and Robyn team up with Talking Heads frontman David Byrne for a duet of Dancing on My Own.

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