On 24 February 2022, Russia started invading Ukraine. The event started after a long military buildup and the Russian support of Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic in the days before the invasion. There was also an increase of Russian Armed Forces in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine on 21 February 2022. The invasion was disapproved internationally. In Russia, there were a lot of anti-war protests. Many of the protesters were arrested.

Announcement
At about 06:00 Moscow time (UTC+3),  Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine. Minutes later, missile strikes began at locations across the country, including in the capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian Border Service stated that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were attacked. Many countries have condemned (strongly criticised) the attack on Ukraine. It is the largest attack by one country against another in Europe since World War II.

Invasion

Minutes after Putin's announcement, explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and the Donbas. Ukrainian officials said that Russia landed troops in Odessa and Mariupol and launched cruise and ballistic missiles at airfields, military headquarters, and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that there would be martial law in Ukraine. Later he ordered the Ukrainian Army to kill as many Russian invaders as possible.

February events
Moments after the invasion on 24 February, the Ukraine government said that Russia captured Chernobyl and Pripyat. After this, the American government said "credible reports that Russian soldiers are currently holding the staff of the Chernobyl facilities hostage." At 22:00 (UTC+2), Russian forces captured Snake Island after a naval and air bombardment of the island. All thirteen border guards on the island were killed in the bombardment, after refusing to surrender to a Russian warship. President Zelenskyy announced that the border guards would be posthumously granted the title of Hero of Ukraine, the country's highest honor.

On 25 February, while Russian troops approached Kyiv, Zelenskyy asked residents to create Molotov cocktails to "neutralise" the enemy. Putin meanwhile called on the Ukrainian military to overthrow the government. Ukraine gave 18,000 guns to Kyiv residents who wanted to fight. Some Russian forces have entered northern Kyiv, but had not progressed beyond that.

On 26 February, heavy fighting was reported to the south of Kyiv, near the city of Vasylkiv and its air base. A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter had shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv. Hundreds of deaths were reported in Kyiv during this battle. That same day, Russia claimed to have captured Melitopol, near the Sea of Azov.

On 27 February, President Putin ordered Russia's nuclear deterrent forces to be on "special alert" because of "aggressive statements" by NATO. That same day, President Zelenskyy announces that the Ukrainian and Russian officials have agreed to meet, without conditions.

Refugees
Before the invasion, the Ukrainian Defense Minister said in December 2021 that an invasion could possible force between three and five million people to flee their homes.

The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, said over 4,000 Ukrainian citizens had crossed into Moldova since the invasion started. Poland is getting ready to see a large number of refugees to enter the country. To make border crossings easier, Poland lifted COVID-19 entry rules. Ukrainian refugees started crossing into Romania as well. Most of them entered through Siret in Suceava County. Romania said refugees did not need to quarantine or follow COVID rules.

On 28 February, the United Nations reports more than 500,000 refugees have left from Ukraine into nearby countries.

Reactions
U.S. President Joe Biden said there would be sanctions on banks VEB.RF and Promsvyazbank.

On 24 February, the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison said there would be travel bans. There would also be financial sanctions against eight members of Russia's national security council.

The United Kingdom, United Nations, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Sweden, Turkey, Norway, Canada and Italy have also disagreed with the invasion.

On 24 February 2022, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the group has allowed "massive" actions that would target technological transfers, Russian banks and Russian assets. That same day, President Putin said  Western countries that take part in the actions "will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history. All relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me".

On 26 February, the European Union, the United States and their allies say that they support in removing Russian banks from the SWIFT payment system. The next day, many European nations announce a ban on Russian flights in their airspace.

Protests

Pro-Ukrainian protests have happened in many Ukrainian and Russian embassies. There are many protests in Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, Belgium, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, and the US. In the Czech Republic, some 3,000 people protested in the Wenceslas Square in Prague.

Related pages
List of ongoing armed conflicts
Ghost of Kyiv
Vitalii Skakun

Notes

References

Other websites

 Part of Putin's national address pre-invasion, comments archived at archive.today, video archived at ghostarchive.org

2020s in international relations
February 2022 events