The battle of Donbas[13][14] is an ongoing military engagement that is part of the wider eastern Ukraine offensive of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The battle began on 18 April 2022 between the armed forces of Russia and Ukraine for control of the provinces (oblasts) of Donetsk and Luhansk.[15][16][17] Military analysts consider the battle to be part of the second strategic phase of the invasion.[18][19]