Russia's invasion of Ukraine reached the two-and-a-half-year point on Saturday, with the warring sides unlikely to start peace talks any time soon.

Russian forces are intensifying their offensive in eastern Ukraine, and Ukraine is conducting a cross-border offensive of its own in western Russia.

Russia has seized settlements in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk after taking control of stronghold Avdiivka in February.

Ukraine is inferior to Russia in terms of both ammunition and troop numbers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on August 4 that his country received US-made F-16 fighter jets. But he has said more are needed from the West to defend the country.

Ukrainian troops launched attacks in western Russia on August 6 and have since advanced up to 35 kilometers. They say they have seized 1,263 square kilometers of land and 93 settlements.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says the civilian death toll in Ukraine as of the end of July was 11,520. The figure includes 633 children.

Peace talks remain a distant prospect.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from four regions unilaterally annexed by Moscow. But those conditions are unacceptable for Ukraine.