2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

In November 2013, Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement after pressure from Russia; instead, he accepted a $15 billion economic bailout deal from Russia. The decision sparked protests within Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Most Ukrainian citizens disliked the implications of Russia's influence on their country's decisions and called it out as government corruption. In response to the protests, Yanukovych deployed the Berkut on protestors, and eventually passed laws restricting the speech and assembly rights of Ukrainians. The laws were not effective enough, and by January 2014, protests in Kyiv had spread to other major cities, and Yanukovych was removed from office in February. He then fled the country and is reported to be living in Russia.

The territory of Crimea has been fought over by both Russia and Ukraine for centuries, but it has been under Ukraine's control since 1954, when Nikita Khrushchev, Premier Soviet of the Soviet Union, authorized its transfer to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Russia took advantage of the political unrest in Ukraine in early 2014 to overtake and capture Crimea. Ukraine was unable to effectively defend its claim, due to an insufficient number of troops compared towith Russia's, and so. Crimea was swiftly captured by the Russians, who forced an election on Crimea, asking whether to join Russia or revert the country's constitution to a previous state, making it a more independent nation compared towith what it was at the time. Nearly 97% percent of votes cast were in favor of joining Russia –, an improbably high number that sparked concerns of voter fraud.

In a speech given on February 21, 2022, Putin claimed Ukraine was actively hostile towards Russia and undermined its statehood, saying "Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood" and incorrectly claimed that modern daymodern-day Ukraine was created by Russia. He also stated, "If Ukraine was to join NATO, it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia." Later the same day, Putin deployed Russian troops into the region of Donbas for “peacekeeping duties.” On February 22, President Zelenskyy began conscripting reservists from ages 18eighteen to 60sixty, but said there was no need for mobilization yet.

In the early hours of February 24, 2022, President Putin authorized a series of strikes against Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, marking the beginning of the war. Russian troops had crossed Ukrainian borders in three locations later in the day. Zelenskyy declared martial law, ordered mobilization, and barred males between 18eighteen and 60sixty from leaving the country. He called upon ordinary citizens to take up arms as well – statingwell—stating the government would issue guns if needed – and encouraged citizens to fight back in whatever ways possible. Other bombings were reported later in the day in the cities of Odessa, Dnipro, Mariupol, and Kramatorsk.

On the first day, Ukraine reported shooting down multiple Russian aircraft and helicopters, while Russia denied it. Around noon, in Ukraine's local time, around forty Ukrainian soldiers and ten civilians were reported dead. Accurate estimates of those killed on both sides cannot be definitively determined yet, but a reported 1400 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 2000 injured as of April 2022. In late March, Ukraine reported 1300 of its soldiers dead.

TheOn February 25, Ukraine's Defense Ministry hasinstructed citizens to report the movement of equipment and make Molotov cocktails—breakable glass with a flammable substance inside—and provided information to civilians on how to make Molotov cocktailsthem. Other methods of defense have included setting up roadblocks with bags of sand, Czech hedgehogs, and landmines. The Ukravtodor, Ukraine's government division for roads and transportation, called upon citizens and the government to remove road signs to confuse Russian troops. Anti-Russian messages and expletives have been posted on signs along roads as well.

So far, Russian air strikes have targeted civilian homes, schools, hospitals, shelters, evacuation corridors, airports, military bases, and more. Russia has agreed to multiple cease-fire orders for evacuation efforts, only to violate them by firing upon evacuation corridors.

Later, evacuation efforts have proven futile as more of the country iswas destroyed by bombings, making travel in some areas practically impossible. As of late March 2022, an estimated 4 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, and 6.5 million citizens have been displaced from their homes and under or seeking shelter within the country. A further 12 million are stranded or unable to leave the area they're in.

Several peace talk attempts have taken place between the countries, with Russia demanding conditions like Ukraine's neutrality, surrender of military action, and the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states. Zelenskyy has refused to surrender the cities, but later expressed willingness to meet the conditions of neutrality and to not pursue becoming a member of NATO in efforts to end the war. Peace talks have been ongoing since the end of February.

Economic sanctions have resulted in the value of the ruble, Russia's currency, to drop heavily: in March 2022, it had lost 40% of its value against the USD. On February 24, the start of the invasion, the United States Treasury immediately announced sanctions against major Russian banks and other financial institutions, including subsidiaries in other areas around the world. On February 26, most Russian banks were banned from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) international payment messaging system. As of April 6, 2022, over six hundred major companies have withdrawn business activities and operations in Russia.

Many efforts to send donations and supplies to Ukraine have become more and more difficult as transportation routes are destroyed. Veterans and volunteers from other countries around the world have traveled to Ukraine to assist in the war efforts. By early March 2022, around 20,000 volunteers were reported to have joined Ukraine's armed forces. Nearly all countries are reluctant to get directly involved in the war, as doing so would likely guarantee a war between said country and Russia. Putin stated: "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history."

Economic sanctions have resulted in the value of the ruble, Russia's currency, to drop heavily: in March 2022, it had lost 40% of its value against the USD. On February 24, the start of the invasion, the United States Treasury immediately announced sanctions against major Russian banks and other financial institutions, including subsidiaries in other areas around the world. On February 26, most Russian banks were banned from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) international payment messaging system. As of April 6, 2022, over six hundred major companies have withdrawn business activities and operations from Russia.

Many efforts to send donations and supplies to Ukraine have become increasingly difficult as transportation routes are destroyed. Veterans and volunteers from other countries around the world have traveled to Ukraine to assist in the war efforts. By early March 2022, around 20,000 volunteers were reported to have joined Ukraine's armed forces. Nearly all countries are reluctant to get directly involved in the war, as doing so would likely guarantee a war between said country and Russia. Putin stated: "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history."

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, as a result of almost a decade of culminating tensions between the two countries. President of Russia Vladimir Putin authorized air strikes against multiple cities of Ukraine in the early hours of that day.

In the early hours of February 24, 2022, President Putin authorized a series of strikes against Ukrainian cities including Kyiv and Kharkiv, marking the beginning of the war. Russian troops had crossed Ukrainian borders in three locations later in the day. Zelenskyy declared martial law, ordered mobilization, and barred males between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. He called upon ordinary citizens to take up arms as well – stating the government would issue guns if needed – and fight back in whatever ways possible. Other bombings were reported later in the day in the cities of Odessa, Dnipro, Mariupol, and Kramatorsk.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, as a result of almost a decade of culminating tensions between the two countries. President of Russia Vladimir Putin authorized air strikes against multiple cities of Ukraine in the early hours of that day.

In November 2013, Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych refused to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement after pressure from Russia; instead he accepted a $15 billion economic bailout deal from Russia. The decision sparked protests within Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Most Ukrainian citizens disliked the implications of Russia's influence on their country's decisions and called it out as government corruption. In response to the protests, Yanukovych deployed the Berkut on protestors, and eventually passed laws restricting the speech and assembly rights of Ukrainians. The laws were not effective enough, and by January 2014, protests in Kyiv had spread to other major cities, and Yanukovych was removed from office in February. He then fled the country and is reported to be living in Russia.

The territory of Crimea has been fought over by both Russia and Ukraine for centuries, but it has been under Ukraine's control since 1954, when Nikita Khrushchev, Premier Soviet of the Soviet Union, authorized its transfer to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Russia took advantage of the political unrest in Ukraine in early 2014 to overtake and capture Crimea. Ukraine was unable to effectively defend its claim due to an insufficient number of troops compared to Russia's, and so Crimea was swiftly captured by the Russians, who forced an election on Crimea, asking whether to join Russia or revert the country's constitution to a previous state, making it a more independent nation compared to what it was at the time. Nearly 97% of votes cast were in favor of joining Russia – an improbably high number that sparked concerns of voter fraud.

Russia deployed 100,000 troops to Ukrainian borders in April 2021. Fearing the threat of an imminent invasion, this sparked current Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to put pressure on NATO officials to fast-track Ukraine's membership. Some troops were withdrawn from the borders later in the month, but tens of thousands remained, and in November more were added. Russia has continuously denied its plans to attack Ukraine, including in the weeks before launching the first strike.

In a speech given on February 21, 2022, Putin claimed Ukraine was actively hostile towards Russia and undermined its statehood, saying "Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood" and incorrectly claimed that modern day Ukraine was created by Russia. He also stated, "If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia." Later the same day, Putin deployed Russian troops into the region of Donbas for “peacekeeping duties.” On February 22, President Zelenskyy began conscripting reservists from ages 18 to 60, but said there was no need for mobilization yet.

In the early hours of February 24, 2022, President Putin authorized a series of strikes against Ukrainian cities including Kyiv and Kharkiv, marking the beginning of the war. Russian troops had crossed Ukrainian borders in three locations later in the day. Zelenskyy declared martial law, ordered mobilization, and barred males between 18 and 60 from leaving the country. He called upon ordinary citizens to take up arms as well – stating the government would issue guns if needed – and fight back in whatever ways possible. Other bombings were reported later in the day in the cities of Odessa, Dnipro, Mariupol, and Kramatorsk.

On the first day Ukraine reported shooting down multiple Russian aircraft and helicopters, while Russia denied it. Around noon, in Ukraine's local time, around forty Ukrainian soldiers and ten civilians were reported dead. Accurate estimates of those killed on both sides cannot be definitively determined yet, but a reported 1400 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 2000 injured as of April 2022. In late March, Ukraine reported 1300 of its soldiers dead.

The Defense Ministry has provided information to civilians on how to make Molotov cocktails. Other methods of defense have included setting up roadblocks with bags of sand, Czech hedgehogs, and landmines. The Ukravtodor, Ukraine's government division for roads and transportation, called upon citizens and the government to remove road signs to confuse Russian troops. Anti-Russian messages and expletives have been posted on signs along roads as well.

So far Russian air strikes have targeted civilian homes, schools, hospitals, shelters, evacuation corridors, airports, military bases, and more. Russia has agreed to multiple cease-fire orders for evacuation efforts, only to violate them by firing upon evacuation corridors.

Later evacuation efforts have proven futile as more of the country is destroyed by bombings, making travel in some areas practically impossible. As of late March 2022, an estimated 4 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, and 6.5 million citizens displaced from their homes and under or seeking shelter within the country. A further 12 million are stranded or unable to leave the area they're in.

Brutality and human rights violations from Russian soldiers have been reported by citizens of Ukraine as being widespread. Citizens have been abducted and forcibly relocated within Russia, killed, tortured, and sexually assaulted by Russian soldiers. Homes and shops have been looted.

Several peace talk attempts have taken place between the countries, with Russia demanding conditions like Ukraine's neutrality, surrender of military action, and the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states. Zelenskyy has refused to surrender the cities, but later expressed willingness to meet the conditions of neutrality and to not pursue becoming a member of NATO in efforts to end the war. Peace talks have been ongoing since the end of February.

The invasion of Ukraine triggered swift reactions and open condemnation of Russia from countries, companies, and people worldwide, and a mostly strong support of Ukraine. Strict consequences for Russia have been imposed internationally, one of the biggest being economic sanctions.

Economic sanctions have resulted in the value of the ruble, Russia's currency, to drop heavily: in March 2022, it had lost 40% of its value against the USD. On February 24, the start of the invasion, the United States Treasury immediately announced sanctions against major Russian banks and other financial institutions, including subsidiaries in other areas around the world. On February 26, most Russian banks were banned from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) international payment messaging system. As of April 6, 2022, over six hundred major companies have withdrawn business activities and operations in Russia.

Many efforts to send donations and supplies to Ukraine have become more and more difficult as transportation routes are destroyed. Veterans and volunteers from other countries around the world have traveled to Ukraine to assist in the war efforts. By early March 2022, around 20,000 volunteers were reported to have joined Ukraine's armed forces. Nearly all countries are reluctant to get directly involved in the war, as doing so would likely guarantee a war between said country and Russia. Putin stated: "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so, to create threats for our country, for our people should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history."

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of its neighbours to the southwest. Early reports declared it the largest conventional warfare operation in Europe since World War II.[40][41] It marks a major escalation between the countries that had been in a state of conflict since 2014.

The invasion was preceded by a Russian military build-up that started in early 2021, during which Russian president Vladimir Putin criticised the post-1997 enlargement of NATO as a threat to his country's security and demanded that Ukraine be legally prohibited from joining the military alliance; he also expressed irredentist views.[42] Despite the Russian military build-ups, Russian officials from 12 November 2021 to 20 February 2022 repeatedly denied that Russia had plans to invade Ukraine.[43][44] On 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognised the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, two self-proclaimed states in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, and sent troops to the territories. The following day, the Russian Federation Council unanimously authorised Putin to use military force outside Russia's borders.

Around 05:00 EET (UTC+2) on 24 February, Putin announced a "special military operation"[e][47] in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missiles began to hit locations across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv. The Ukrainian Border Service said that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were attacked. Two hours later, Russian ground forces entered the country. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by enacting martial law, severing diplomatic ties with Russia, and ordering general mobilisation.

On 21 February at 22:35 (UTC+3), Putin announced the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. The same evening Putin directed the deployment of Russian troops, including mechanised forces, into Donbas in what Russia referred to as a "peacekeeping mission".[156][157] Later in the night local time, several independent media outlets confirmed that Russian forces were entering Donbas. The 21 February intervention in Donbas was widely condemned by the UN Security Council and did not receive any support. Kenya's ambassador Martin Kimani compared Putin's move to colonialism and said: "We must complete our recovery from the embers of dead empires in a way that does not plunge us back into new forms of domination and oppression."

On 22 February, US president Joe Biden stated that "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine" had occurred. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said that "further invasion" had taken place. Kuleba stated: "There's no such thing as a minor, middle or major invasion. Invasion is an invasion." Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that "Russian troops [had arrived] on Ukrainian soil" in what was "[not] a fully-fledged invasion". On the same day, the Federation Council unanimously authorised Putin to use military force outside Russia. In turn, Zelenskyy ordered a conscription of Ukraine's reservists, while not committing to general mobilisation at that time.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics sent a letter to Putin appealing for military support from Russia "in repelling the aggression of the Ukrainian armed forces", with the letter claiming that Ukrainian government shelling had caused civilian deaths.[177] In response to the appeal, Ukraine requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting,[178] which subsequently convened at 21:30 (UTC−5). UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the meeting by pleading to Putin: "Give peace a chance." Half an hour into the emergency meeting Russia announced the invasion, half an hour before the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya was to speak, who subsequently called on the Russian representative Vassily Nebenzia to "do everything possible to stop the war", which the Russian representative, chairing the meeting, refused.

Around 05:00 EET (UTC+2) on 24 February, Putin announced a "special military operation"[e][47] in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missiles began to hit locations across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv. The Ukrainian Border Service said that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were attacked.[48][49] Two hours later, Russian ground forces entered the country.[50] Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by enacting martial law, severing diplomatic ties with Russia, and ordering general mobilisation.

Escalation (21–23 February)

Putin's address to the nation on 21 February

On 21 February at 22:35 (UTC+3),[154] Putin announced the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.[155] The same evening Putin directed the deployment of Russian troops, including mechanised forces, into Donbas in what Russia referred to as a "peacekeeping mission".[156][157] Later in the night local time,[158] several independent media outlets confirmed that Russian forces were entering Donbas.[159][160][161] The 21 February intervention in Donbas was widely condemned by the UN Security Council and did not receive any support.[162] Kenya's ambassador Martin Kimani compared Putin's move to colonialism and said: "We must complete our recovery from the embers of dead empires in a way that does not plunge us back into new forms of domination and oppression."[163]

On 22 February, US president Joe Biden stated that "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine" had occurred. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said that "further invasion" had taken place. Kuleba stated: "There's no such thing as a minor, middle or major invasion. Invasion is an invasion." Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that "Russian troops [had arrived] on Ukrainian soil" in what was "[not] a fully-fledged invasion".[164][165] On the same day, the Federation Council unanimously authorised Putin to use military force outside Russia.[60] In turn, Zelenskyy ordered a conscription of Ukraine's reservists, while not committing to general mobilisation at that time.[166]

On 21 February at 22:35 (UTC+3), Putin announced the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. The same evening Putin directed the deployment of Russian troops, including mechanised forces, into Donbas in what Russia referred to as a "peacekeeping mission".[156][157] Later in the night local time, several independent media outlets confirmed that Russian forces were entering Donbas. The 21 February intervention in Donbas was widely condemned by the UN Security Council and did not receive any support. Kenya's ambassador Martin Kimani compared Putin's move to colonialism and said: "We must complete our recovery from the embers of dead empires in a way that does not plunge us back into new forms of domination and oppression."

Russia's military invasion has left many Ukrainian citizens dead

On 22 February, US president Joe Biden stated that "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine" had occurred. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said that "further invasion" had taken place. Kuleba stated: "There's no such thing as a minor, middle or major invasion. Invasion is an invasion." Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that "Russian troops [had arrived] on Ukrainian soil" in what was "[not] a fully-fledged invasion". On the same day, the Federation Council unanimously authorised Putin to use military force outside Russia. In turn, Zelenskyy ordered a conscription of Ukraine's reservists, while not committing to general mobilisation at that time.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics sent a letter to Putin appealing for military support from Russia "in repelling the aggression of the Ukrainian armed forces", with the letter claiming that Ukrainian government shelling had caused civilian deaths.[177] In response to the appeal, Ukraine requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting,[178] which subsequently convened at 21:30 (UTC−5).[179] UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the meeting by pleading to Putin: "Give peace a chance."[180] Half an hour into the emergency meeting Russia announced the invasion, half an hour before the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya was to speak, who subsequently called on the Russian representative Vassily Nebenzia to "do everything possible to stop the war", which the Russian representative, chairing the meeting,[180][181] refused.[182]

Escalation (21–23 February)

Putin's address to the nation on 21 February

On 21 February at 22:35 (UTC+3),[154] Putin announced the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.[155] The same evening Putin directed the deployment of Russian troops, including mechanised forces, into Donbas in what Russia referred to as a "peacekeeping mission".[156][157] Later in the night local time,[158] several independent media outlets confirmed that Russian forces were entering Donbas.[159][160][161] The 21 February intervention in Donbas was widely condemned by the UN Security Council and did not receive any support.[162] Kenya's ambassador Martin Kimani compared Putin's move to colonialism and said: "We must complete our recovery from the embers of dead empires in a way that does not plunge us back into new forms of domination and oppression."[163]

On 22 February, US president Joe Biden stated that "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine" had occurred. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said that "further invasion" had taken place. Kuleba stated: "There's no such thing as a minor, middle or major invasion. Invasion is an invasion." Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that "Russian troops [had arrived] on Ukrainian soil" in what was "[not] a fully-fledged invasion".[164][165] On the same day, the Federation Council unanimously authorised Putin to use military force outside Russia.[60] In turn, Zelenskyy ordered a conscription of Ukraine's reservists, while not committing to general mobilisation at that time.[166]

Russia's military invasion has left many Ukrainian citizens dead

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics sent a letter to Putin appealing for military support from Russia "in repelling the aggression of the Ukrainian armed forces", with the letter claiming that Ukrainian government shelling had caused civilian deaths.[177] In response to the appeal, Ukraine requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting,[178] which subsequently convened at 21:30 (UTC−5).[179] UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the meeting by pleading to Putin: "Give peace a chance."[180] Half an hour into the emergency meeting Russia announced the invasion, half an hour before the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya was to speak, who subsequently called on the Russian representative Vassily Nebenzia to "do everything possible to stop the war", which the Russian representative, chairing the meeting,[180][181] refused.[182]

Around 05:00 EET (UTC+2) on 24 February, Putin announced a "special military operation"[e][47] in eastern Ukraine; minutes later, missiles began to hit locations across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv. The Ukrainian Border Service said that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were attacked.[48][49] Two hours later, Russian ground forces entered the country.[50] Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by enacting martial law, severing diplomatic ties with Russia, and ordering general mobilisation.