Deep State – An Overview of the War Map in Ukraine

Explanation of the map symbols:

• blue areas – territories recently liberated from the occupiers;
• green areas – of the liberated territory between March and April;
• gray areas – no information on these sites;
• red areas – of the territory captured by the occupiers;
• black color – the territory of Crimea and ORDLO;
• pink color – the territory of transnistria.

Enemy units, enemy headquarters, enemy airports, enemy fleets, and enemy attack directions are also marked on the map by Deep State.

In no case should you use maps to plan a safe route, use the green corridors recommended by the authorities.

History of the Deep State Project

The Telegram channel named Deep State existed even before the large-scale war, since 2020. However, with the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression, the team created an interactive map of the war actions. Initially, the project operated on the Google platform but was later blocked, prompting the developers to create their separate website deepstatemap.live. In the early stages, the number of Deep State users was around 10,000. However, since 2024, the map has been used by about 15 million people monthly.

Deep State Functionality

The Deep State map offers the following capabilities:

• Detailed display of enemy troop movements;
• Markers for liberated territories, combat zones, and occupied regions;
• Data on enemy headquarters locations, airfields, and strike directions;
• Fire and destruction display, artillery range tracking;
• Map design options, reverse analysis of captured territories.

It is important to note the continuous work of the development team on improving and expanding the map’s functionality. They listen to user feedback and regularly add new useful tools for comprehensive coverage of frontline events. Recently, the ability to simulate areas of potential use of weapons of mass destruction by Russians has been introduced.

In addition to detailed cartographic material, Deep State also offers text updates for those who prefer a concise format. The “Daily Reports” section collects the latest data on the frontline situation over the past day, allowing for quick familiarization with key events.

One of the key success factors of the project is minimizing bias and political speculation. The map displays only confirmed facts, without emotional coloring or propaganda. This objective and impartial approach allows the resource to maintain the trust of millions of Ukrainians who follow the frontline events daily.

Deep State Map Features

The popularity of the Deep State Map project extends far beyond Ukraine. In the summer of 2023, the developers launched an English version of the website, allowing foreign experts and the global community to join DeepState and observe the hostilities. The international recognition of the resource further confirms its role as a primary source of operational information about the Russia-Ukraine war.

It is also worth noting the mobile application DeepStateMap, which appeared at the end of 2022. The convenient app allows tracking the frontline situation from any gadget in real-time. The mobile war map provides quick access to updates, supports interactive functions, and is optimized for traffic saving. This has been a real breakthrough for war correspondents and civilians in the epicenter of hostilities.

Alongside the growing popularity of the Deep State project, the team has joined several charitable initiatives. Part of the advertising revenue on the site is regularly directed to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and those affected by the war.

The Deep State map is a key information resource about the course of military actions in Ukraine, which not only reflects the real situation but also allows analyzing its development thanks to the wide functionality of the map.

Alternatives to Deep State: Liveuamap and ISW

Apart from Deep State, there are other alternatives for verifying current data on the fighting in Ukraine, such as Liveuamap.com and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

These resources provide the ability to check up-to-date data and information on military actions and their impact on various parts of Ukraine. It is important to have access to reliable sources of information to understand the complex situation on the frontline and act wisely during these challenging times.