Russian invasion of Ukraine

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion is causing thousands of deaths every month (as of 2023's third quarter).
It is part of the Russo-Ukrainian War that started in 2014. The invasion (in 2022) started after the 2021-2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis. Russia supported the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic in the days before the invasion.
More Russian soldiers came to the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine on 21 February 2022. The invasion was condemned by many countries. In Russia, many opposition groups formed anti-war protests. Many of the protesters were arrested by the Russian government.
Announcement of war
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 said that its border posts with Russia and Belarus were attacked.
Invasion
Minutes after Putin's announcement, explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and the Donbas. Ukrainian officials said that Russia landed soldiers in Odessa and Mariupol and launched cruise and ballistic missiles at airfields, military headquarters, and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. It is the largest attack by one country against another in Europe since World War II.
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 2022
Moments after the invasion on 24 February, the Ukraine government said that Russia took Chernobyl and Pripyat. The US government said that the Russians were holding the workers of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant hostage. At 22:00 (UTC+2), Russian forces captured Snake Island after a naval and air attack of the island. The thirteen border guards on the island were thought to have been 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. However, it was found out later that the border guards were alive and captured by Russian forces.
On 25 February, while Russian soldiers 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 soldiers did enter northern Kyiv.
On 26 February, heavy fighting was reported to the south of Kyiv, near the city of Vasylkiv and its air base. A Ukrainian Sukhoi 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 announced that the Ukrainian and Russian officials had agreed to meet, without conditions. That same day, a Russian airstrike killed over 70 Ukrainian soldiers at a military base in Okhtyrka. Russian soldiers have been accused of killing civilians and the using of cluster bombs on civilians - which may be seen as war crimes.
March 2022
On 1 March, Ukrainian sources said Belarus joined the invasion, sending its soldiers to the Chernihiv region in Ukraine's north. Belarus said this had not happened. On the same day, there was at least one rocket attack on Kyiv; With AFP as a source, media wrote that "Russian strike stirs symbolism at Kyiv Holocaust site". The next day, Russia claimed to have captured its first large city, the Black Sea port of Kherson, as fighting intensifies across many parts of Ukraine, including civilian areas. That same day, the International Criminal Court began an investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine.
On 3 March, Ukraine passed a law that states captured Russian military equipment and tanks does not need to be declared and tax will not be applied on them. The next day, Russian forces attacked and bombed the Zaphorizhzhia nuclear power plant. The main reactor was not hit and fallout did not occur. That same day, foreign news outlets including the BBC, CNN, and many others stopped their reporting in Russia, after new legislation threatened 15-year jail terms for spreading "fake news".
On 5 March, Russia announced a temporary ceasefire to allow civilians to leave the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. The next day, Vinnytsia International Airport was destroyed by Russian missiles, as President Zelenskyy called for a no-fly zone to stop future attacks in Ukraine.
On 7 March, Ukraine rejected a proposal by Moscow to open refugee passages after Russia said refugees would only be allowed to reach Belarus or Russia.
Putin had denied on February 7, that Russian conscripts were used in the invasion, because Russian law does not allow the use of conscripts in battle outside Russia. Russian media later said that conscripts were used.
On 13 March, 30 Russian missiles hit the Yavoriv military base, close to the border with Poland, killing 35 and injuring 134 others.
On 24 March, NATO announced that four new battlegroups totalling 40,000 soldiers will be sent to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, along with enhanced readiness for potential chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
On 29 March, Russia's deputy defense minister said that Moscow decided to "cut back" military activity near Kyiv and Chernihiv to increase mutual trust for future negotiations to agree and sign a peace deal with Ukraine".
April 2022
On 2 April, Russia said that the country would not work with Western countries on the International Space Station until the "full and unconditional removal of illegal sanctions". The next day, Ukraine accused Russia and Putin of war crimes because of civilian killings such as the Bucha massacre. U.S. President Joe Biden called for Putin to be tried for war crimes. On April 7, Russia was suspended from the United Nations Council on Human Rights. This followed a vote which was backed by 97 nations.
On 8 April, Russia attacked the Kramatorsk train station with missiles, which killed many civilians trying to evacuate, including children. On 13 April, the Russian flagship cruiser Moskva, the largest naval vessel to be sunk since the end of World War II, sank after an explosion off of the Ukrainian coast.
On 19 April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Russia's military operation had entered a new phase, focused on the entire front line of Eastern Ukraine with the city of Kreminna reportedly the first to be captured.
May 2022
On 2 May, Russia announced it may be pulling out of the International Space Station in two years, because of the economic sanctions imposed on the nation because of the invasion. On 14 May, Russian forces withdrew (or did leave) from Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv, in the north-east of the country.
The Battle of Kharkiv ended on May 14, 2022. Ukrainian soldiers won it.
On 16 May, the Siege of Mariupol ended in a Russian victory as Ukrainian soldiers are evacuated from Mariupol.
June 2022
The Battle of Sievierodonetsk is going on, as of June's first week.
On 27 June, the Russian Armed Forces fired missiles at a mall in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, which killed sixteen people and injured over 50 others.
July 2022
On 3 July, Russia and the Luhansk People's Republic took control of the entire Luhansk Oblast after seizing Lysychansk. On 14 July, a Russian missile attacked Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, which killed at least 22 people, including 3 children, and injured at least 100 others.
August 2022
According to the Kyiv School of Economics, the conflict has caused $113.5 billion in damages and destruction in Ukraine. Transportation infrastructure and housing is the main reason for these damages.
September 2022
On 30 September 2022, Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in an address to both houses of the Russian parliament. Ukraine, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations all condemned the annexation.
October 2022
On 8 October, the Crimean Bridge partially collapsed due to an explosion. Russia accused Ukraine of being behind the blast and launched retaliatory missile strikes against Ukrainian civilian areas.
November 2022
On 9 November, Russian troops began to withdraw from Kherson, the only regional capital they captured since the start of the invasion. The city was recaptured by Ukrainian forces, two days later, on 11 November.
December 2022
In early December, heavy fighting was still going on near Bakhmut and south of Bakhmut (Battle of Bakhmut).
January 2023
The British government said on 14 January 2023 that Ukraine would get 14 Challenger 2 tanks. These tanks are the first Western battle tanks (or western, main battle tanks) given to Ukraine.
On January 25, 2023, the German government said that Germany will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine; The government will also allow other countries to do the same. German authorities can say if countries have permission to send those tanks. Later that day, the United States government said that 31 Abrams tanks will be sent to Ukraine.
February 2023
In February, Poland's prime minister said that Poland can give some F-16 (a kind of fighter aircraft) to Ukraine. That can happen if all the NATO member countries agree to that.
As of later in February: "China is" handing over "technology that" the Russian "military needs [... for the] war in Ukraine, according to" a review by the Wall Street Journal, in regard to [information] or data from "Russian customs" (a government agency); Furthermore, the information from the customs service, shows that "Chinese state-owned defense companies" are "shipping navigation equipment, jamming technology and fighter-jet parts to [...] Russian [...] defense companies", media said.
Later in February, authorities said that 8 Leopard 2 tanks would be going out of Norway (to Ukraine), "as soon as practically possible". Finland will send 3 of that kind of tanks.
Poland's authorities delivered a Leopard battle tank, later in February; More Leopard tanks, will be sent from Poland to Ukraine.
March 2023
8 battle tanks (Leopard 2) arrived from Norway.
April 2023
The 2023 Pentagon document leaks became known in April. One part of the leak - a slide - says that more Russians than Ukrainians have died in the war. The size of the leak is c. 60 documents, or more than 100. Authorities from Ukraine, Russia and other countries have made comments about the leak.
May 2023
Ukraine has "nine new brigades that [... as of May, are] being kept away from the front line. They will be joined by eight brigades of a recently-formed 'Offensive Guard' - highly-motivated volunteers chosen for [an upcoming] assault [against Russian soldiers]. Some 35,000 [...] were trained from two to four months", according to media.
June 2023
The Kakhovka dam was damaged. Thousands of civilians were evacuated from areas that were either going to be flooded, or from areas that already were flooded. The lake behind the dam was drained out after a few days. The incident is sometimes called the Kakhovka dam failure.
Around the frontline settlement Novodonetske (map) in Donetsk oblast, Ukrainian marines were pushing back the Vostok Battalion, according to media (on June 6).
A Russian general was killed in Zaporizhzhia oblast. He was the chief of staff of a Russian field Army. (Related page: field army)
Thousands of soldiers from the Russian private military company PMC Wagner, went across the Ukrainian-Russian border, and took control of two Russian cities. (Related page: Wagner Group rebellion)
On June 27, the office of Belarus' leader published a video clip in which the Belarus' leader said that soldiers from PMC Wagner, can come and stay in military camps in Belarus. Authorities in Latvia and Lithuania asked NATO to add security before a "Wagner base" maybe will be created in Belarus. (Related page: military base)
Start of 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive
The 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive started no later than June 8. It is a series of offensives (against Russian soldiers) on fronts in Donetsk oblast, Zaporizhzhia oblast and [ Lukhansk oblast and] other places.
On June 8, media said that much of the fighting (of the counteroffensive) was near the cities Orikhiv (map), Tokmak (in Tokmak ("municipality")), and Bakhmut (map) and other settlements.
July 2023
The United States government said in July that it will export cluster bombs to Ukraine.
Ukrainian pilots will get training in F16 fighter-jets; The training is supposed to start next month.
A general was killed by a Storm Shadow missile in Berdiansk city (map). He was the deputy commander of the Southern Military District (Russia).
The 2023 Crimean Bridge explosion resulted in two deaths.
The major rail connection from Crimea, to other parts of Ukraine where Russia has soldiers, was hit; The rail line was hit at the Chonhar railway bridge. The rail line is still broken (as of August).
August 2023
As of August 4, a Landing Ship, the Olenegorsky Gornyak has much damage. It was damaged by a drone boat, at the Novorossiysk naval base in Russia's Southern Federal District. The base is along (part of) the Black Sea; The drone carried 450 kilograms of TNT.
A Russian S-400 missile system in Olenivka on Crimea's Tarkhankut Peninsula, was hit and destroyed by Ukrainian missiles; Some Russian soldiers died.
Near Perevalne (map), Crimea, a military base under Russian control, was bombed by many combat drones; Some people died.
Four Il-76 jets were damaged at an airport in Pskov oblast, Russia (map) during an Ukrainian drone attack.
Combat drones (from AFU) made of cardboard were used to destroy Russian aircraft at an airport in Kursk (map), Russia. Corvo drones were used.
Two more countries (Greece and Czechia) are going to train Ukrainian pilots in F-16 fighter-jets. The training program will be run by Denmark, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Romania, Portugal, Sweden and Norway.
Ukrainian counteroffensive
Ukrainian soldiers are attacking in the Melitopol direction from western Zaporizhia oblast, and they are also attacking "in the Berdyansk" direction, from eastern Zaporizhia oblast and western Donetsk oblast.
Settlements that have been liberated (during the 2023 counteroffensive), or those where occupation forces have left:
Eastern front Novoiehorivka (map), Kolomyichykha (hromada, similar to municipality), Svatove, Lukhansk; In 2023, Ukraine lost control of the village, but later took back control.
Zaliznianske (map), Soledar ("municipality"), Bakhmut, Donetsk
Klishchiivka (map), Bakhmut (hromada, similar to municipality), Bakhmut, Donetsk
Southern front
Urozhaine (map), Velyka Novosilka ("municipality"), , Volnovakha, Donetsk
Staromaiorske (map) and Makarivka (map) and Blahodatne (map) and Storozheve (map) and Neskuchne (map), Velyka Novosilka (municipality")
Rivnopil (map), Velyka Novosilka ("municipality")
Novodarivka (map), Malynivka ("municipality"), Polohy, Zaporizhzhia
Levadne (map), Malynivka ("municipality")https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/06/12/ukraine-advanced-6-5-km-liberated-seven-settlements-over-a-week-defense-ministry/?__cf_chl_tk=D1eFI3z4jguS4pqfa5JX4y_.P9wCT8korfgHFar0ZG0-1686676386-0-gaNycGzNDLs. Euromaidanpress.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13
Robotyne (map), Tokmak ("municipality"), Polohy, Zaporizhzhia;
Piatykhatky (map), Stepnohirsk ("municipality"), Vasylivka, Zaporizhzhia
Lobkove (map), Stepnohirsk ("municipality")
Dachi (map), Kherson ("municipality"), Kherson raion, Kherson
Ukrainian soldiers attacked (during the counteroffensive)
eastwards, toward Kermenchyk (map), Staromlynivka ("municipality"), Volnovakha, Donetsk
near Kozachi Laheri (map), Oleshky ("municipality"), Kherson, Khersonhttps://www.interfax.ru/915263. Retrieved 2023-08-08
across the Konka River, and (eastwards) towards Oleshky (map), Kherson oblast
and captured a fortification at Zverinets on the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line (related page: Donetsk (city)), near Marinka (map)https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-updates. Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2023-07-15
in the direction of Novodanylivka-Shyroka Balka (map)
Berkhivka (map), Bahkmut ("municipality"), Bakhmut, Donetsk
Yahidne, Bahkmut ("municipality")
the Levadne-Pryiutne (map) line, and arrived at Pryiutne.
the Mala Tomachka-Ocheretuvate (map) line
"the lines in the Pryvillia-Zaliznianske direction North of Bakhmut
the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line (related page: Battle of the Svatove-Kreminna line) and "around Kreminna"
the Rivnopil-Volodyne (map) line;
Krasnohorivka (map), Marinka ("municipality"), Pokrovsk, Donetsk
Staromlinivka (map), Staromlynivka ("municipality"), Volnovakha, Donetsk; Ukrainian soldiers have arrived at the village, media said.
west of Novopokrovka (map), Mala Tokmachka ("municipality") (map without English), Polohy, Zaporizhia
Verbove (map), Polohy ("municipality"), Polohy, Zaporizhzhia; Media said (in June) that it is on "the Mala Tokmachka-Polohy line".
"The defensive lines" of the Russian forces have mines that can stop soldiers and mines that can stop vehicles; The lines also have "trenches [...], razor wire, earthen berms and dragon's teeth" for obstructing (or getting in the way of) infantry and battle tanks and armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. Those defensive lines "are over 24 km deep in some" places (as of July).
Mines have been put on top of mines, and that destroys (or breaks) equipment for mine clearing.
Worldwide reactions
U.S. President Joe Biden said there would be sanctions on banks VEB.RF and Promsvyazbank.
On 24 February 2022, 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".
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 announced a ban on Russian flights in their airspace.
On 28 February, Switzerland, Monaco, Singapore, and South Korea put in place economic sanctions on Russia such as controlling exports and assets. These countries were once seen as neutral during global conflicts.
Tugan Sokhiev, the musical director and conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre [quit his job, or] did resign because he [wanted to stay neutral] or not take side in the conflict.
In response to the invasion, on 15 May 2022, President of Finland Sauli Niinisto says Finland would apply for membership in NATO. The following day, Sweden confirms it will apply to join NATO, after years of supporting being neutral.
Chinese authorities are stopping "Russian Boeing and Airbus aircraft, which foreign leasing companies own, from flying through or landing in its airspace"; That policy started in May 2022.
C. 60 military recruitment offices in Russia, have been attacked (as of January 2023);https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/EaPO6j/putin-sender-pensjonister-til-fronten-det-kan-bety-et-vendepunkt-i-krigen. Aftenposten. Retrieved 31 May 2022 Some of those were set on fire; Some of the fires were a result of use of Molotov cocktails.
Finland became a member of NATO in April 2023.
A Finnish newspaper (Helsingin Sanomat) made a virtual room in the game Counter-Strike. That room has news articles about the war, in English and Russian. The room was made to avoid censorship of news media, in Russia.
The president of the United States said yes to a plan, for training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets.
The making "of a new Ukraine-NATO Council", was announced at the summit meeting for member-countries of NATO (or 2023 Vilnius summit).
In regard to Sweden becoming a member of NATO: Turkey is one of the two member-countries of NATO that has not yet given permission for Sweden to become a member. Turkey's parliament is supposed to be closed until October. Turkey's president has said that when parliament opens again in October, then "I believe our parliament speaker will bring this forward".https://www.nettavisen.no/tyrkia/nato/sverige/erdogan-tyrkia-kommer-ikke-til-a-godta-sveriges-nato-soknad-for-oktober/s/5-95-1216425. Retrieved 2023-07-12 Previosly (July 10), "Turkey's president ... agreed to support Sweden's bid to join Nato", according to the secretary-general of NATO.https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/i/2Bw0wa/stoltenberg-om-sverige-medlemskap-vi-har-gjort-gode-fremskritt. VG.no. Retrieved 2023-07-06
There was a meeting in Hungary's parliament on July 31 (regarding Sweden becoming a member of NATO).https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/ungarn-stemmer-over-svensk-natomedlemskap-pa-mandag-1.16498715. NRK.no. Retrieved 2023-07-29https://direkte.vg.no/nyhetsdognet/news/stoltenberg-medlemskap-for-finland-og-sverige-har-hoey-prioritet-i-nato.1r86TdXpr?utm_source=vgfront&utm_content=direktewidget&utm_medium=direktewidget_nyhetsdognet. Vg.no. Retrieved 2023-03-01
The Ukraine-NATO Council [did] meet on July 26, to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The council has [close] contact with Ukrainian authorites and NATO.
Sanctions
The EU has put sanctions on Putin and the Russian foreign minister, as of March 3, 2022.
AIIB, or Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, is stopping loans to Russia and Belarus, media said on March 4, 2022.
EU countries have closed their airspace for Russian aircraft; On June 6, 2022 Montenegro and North Macedonia closed their airspace for the plane that was supposed to fly - Russia's foreign minister - to Serbia.
Russian cargo trucks do not have permission to drive into the European Union; However, it is okay to have a tractor unit that does not have Russian license plate, pull Russian semi-trailers into and within the EU.
Other protests
Pro-Ukrainian protests have happened in many Ukrainian and Russian embassies. There have been 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.
On March 14, 2022, a woman held a sign with an anti-war message on the set of a news program on Channel One Russia during prime time; The sign said: "NO WAR. Stop the war. Do not believe propaganda they tell you lies here"; The sign also said "Russians against war". Marina Ovsyannikova was arrested by police. She got a fine the next day, and was then free to go from jail.
Businesses
On March 3, 2022, Lukoil's board of directors said that it supported a stop (right now) to the armed conflict. On 8 March, some famous brands including McDonald's, Coca-Cola and Starbucks stopped sales in Russia, in response to its attacks on Ukraine.
The production of Lada cars stopped - and was in suspension, media said in March 2022.
On 16 May 2022, McDonald's said that it will permanently shut down its fast food operations in Russia due to the "humanitarian crisis" and "unpredictable operating environment" caused by the invasion.
Since June 2023, Scandinavian Airlines has stopped selling products from Mondelez on its flights; That company owns the companies Toblerone, Freia and Daim.
Adding soldiers to the Ukrainian forces
About foreign soldiers maybe getting Ukrainian citizenship if they fight for the International Legion: Yevhen Yenin (First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs) has said that the laws of Ukraine allow (or give permission) for that; The press agency Ukrinform said that [in March] 2022.
In March 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces published the first picture of International Legion soldiers; The picture showed some of those soldiers in a trench on the outskirts of Kyiv.https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2273483/thais-heed-call-to-help-ukraine. Bangkok Post. Retrieved March 4, 2022
As of the same month, foreigners are given military training at Yavoriv military base.
Supplying weapons and other military equipment
The United States and European countries are taking supplies to an airport near the Ukraine border - but on the outside of Ukraine; Things that are being supplied are anti-tank rockets, Stinger rockets (can be used against aircraft, and can be fired while resting on the shoulder of a soldier), armoured vehicles, automatic weapons, ammunition, MREs (food for soldiers, and the food does not need [more] cooking before eating), and fuel. It does not take a long time for the rockets to be moved into Ukraine, media said.
Norway
A transport plane flew (March 3, 2022) out of Norway with M72 anti-tank weapons - 2,000 of those rocket launchers; Each weighs either 2 kg or 3 kg.
Shells for howitzers: 10,000 were sent by January 4, 2023; The shells are 155mm wide.
Rebuilding infrastructure
10 bridges are being sent (and paid for) by Norway's authorities, media said in December 2022.
Financial aid
Many countries have given financial aid to Ukraine's government.
In February 2023, Norway's prime minister said that Norway will give Norwegian kroner 15 billion, for one year's (financial aid or) "assistance package": half of the money will be spent on things related to the military; The other half will be spent on (civilians or) the civil sector. After the first year, Norway will give (over a four-year period), 60 billion Norwegian kroner.
Visits by the leaders of countries
Leaders of other countries have visited the leadership of Ukraine. After the start of the 2022 invasion, those who visited are: the French president, British prime minister (visited in August 2022), the German leader, and Norway's prime minister. In 2023, the United States' president, came.
Reactions in Ukraine
The national teams of Ukraine, are not allowed to compete (in sports) against teams from Russia and Belarus; The laws of Ukraine are saying that (as of 2023).
War crimes
The International Criminal Court has started an investigation into crimes against humanity in Ukraine since 2013, as well as war crimes in the 2022 invasion.
The Ukrainian court system has held trials regarding war crimes:
The first war crimes trial was held in May 2022, regarding a Russian soldier who was ordered [or told] to shoot a civilian; He said that he is guilty; His punishment is a lifetime prison sentence; His case is under appeal (as of 2022's second quarter).
Two Russian soldiers were found guilty of having fired rockets at 2 towns; 11 years and 6 months in prison, is the punishment.
At least one Russian is under arrest (as of 2023) in an EU-country, and waiting for the court system to say if he will be extradited (or sent) to Ukraine, because of charges of war crimes. (In 2022, the Rusich Group and its commanders Milchakov and Yan Petrovsky were included in the US sanctions list for their "special cruelty" in the battles in the Kharkiv oblast.)
Weapons
Ukraine is using
Storm Shadow cruise missiles; The missiles in Ukraine, can fly more than 250 km (155 mi), and they are launched from a kind of bomber aircraft.
GMLRS rockets; The rockets in Ukraine have a range of at least , 227mm is the diameter of the rocketsHIMARS is an often used name for a kind of rocket launcher: M142 HIMARS. It can carry 6 GMLRS rockets, at a time. The launcher is sometimes called MLRS.
M270, a multiple rocket launcher; It can carry 12 GMLRS rockets, at a time. The launcher is sometimes called MLRS.https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/fredag-annonseres-ny-vapenpakke-til-ukraina-da-kan-krim-bli-truet/s/5-95-864336. Nettavisen.no
Excalibur, these shells (projectile) have a "range of up to 40 kilometers"; Its projectile can be steered after being fired.
M777 howitzers (a kind of cannon)
M109 howitzer and shells with a range of 30 km.
Phoenix Ghost, a kind of drone that can blow up (or explosive drone) or loitering munition (see munition); It can fly for up to 6 hours
UJ-22, a combat drone, or an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), or battlefield UAV; picture
Bayraktar TB2, combat drone
NLAW, shoulder-fired missile (or rocket); Battle tanks are one kind of target for those weapons.
Javelin anti-tank missile system
AMX-10RC, armored fighting vehicle (related page: military vehicle)
Marder 1, infantry fighting vehicle
MaxxPro, a kind of MRAP (combat vehicle)
HARM, a missile that can find a radar system, and then blow up the radar
AMRAAM rockets (for NASAMS II); Ukraine has NASAMS air defense system.https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-11-07/ukraine-receives-first-delivery-of-nasams-air-defence-systems-minister#:~:text=Ukraine%20Receives%20First%20Delivery%20of%20NASAMS%20Air%20Defence%20Systems,-By%20Reuters&text=%7C-,Nov.,2022%2C%20at%207%3A11%20a.m.&text=KYIV%20(Reuters)%20%2DUkraine%20has,Oleksii%20Reznikov%20said%20on%20Monday. Usnews.com. Retrieved 2022-12-12
Gepard, anti-aircraft gun; The vehicle has its own propulsion and two machine cannons or automatic cannons. Picture.
IRIS-T, surface-to-air missile; It can go up to above sea level. It can travel (but not higher than 20 km).
Hellfire (rockets or) surface-to-surface missiles; each of those missiles (in Ukraine) is fired from a tripod that is put on the ground;https://www.tu.no/artikler/attende-vapendonasjon-fra-norge-denne-gang-er-det-hellfire-missiler/522074/. Retrieved 2023-01-04 weight of the missile: 45 kg.
On February 3, 2023, U.S. authorities said that Ukraine will get Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (or GLSDB), a kind of weapon that has a range of 151 km (94 miles).https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3287992/biden-administration-announces-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20Department%20of%20Defense,Assistance%20Initiative%20(USAI)%20funds. Retrieved 2023-02-03 Late 2023, is when Ukraine can possible have this kind of weapon.
Russia is using
TOS-1 (TOS-1), a multiple rocket launcher that can also use rockets with thermobaric warheads; Those warheads kill thru "pressure wave, and more importantly, the subsequent [ decompression of air - sometimes called a vacuum ...], which ruptures the lungs.... If the fuel [burns or] deflagrates but does not [... explode], victims will be severely burned and will probably also [... breathe] the burning fuel".
Geran-2 and Shahed-136, a family of drones that can blow up (or explosive drone; see explosive)
T-90 tanks, and T-90S which is the kind which Russia sells to other countries (or export version)
Lancet, a family of drones; Lancet 3'' has a range of 50 km.
MT-LBV, a kind of armoured personnel carrier, which is a kind of combat vehicle
Kinzhal ('dagger'), missile; This kind has been used 3 times in 2022; and six times in 2023's first quarter However, The Financial Times said that "about 15" had been fired at Ukraine, until the rocket attacks on March 9.
Russia has
TOS-2, a thermobaric weapon (also called aerosol bomb, a vacuum bomb or a fuel air explosive (FAE))
Used by both sides
Cluster bombs
UR-77 Meteorit, mine clearing vehicle; It has also been used to clear a way - 6 metres wide and up to 90 meters long, for Russian forces to get into trenches that are held by Ukrainian forces.
Strength
Soldiers and other people in the military
:
209,000 (armed forces)
102,000 (paramilitary)
20,000 foreign volunteers
:
":~175,000-190,000
Donetsk PR:
20,000
Luhansk PR:
14,000
In May 2022, Ukraine authorities says it has 700,000 servicemembers on active duty fighting the Russian invasion.
The number of women that have an enlistment contract (they are soldiers) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces: 50,000 (as of December 2022).
Reserves (or soldiers not on active duty):
:
900,000 according to media in 2021
At the start of the invasion
:
175,000-190,000 (armed forces)
34,000 (separatist militias)
:
196,600 (armed forces)
102,000 (paramilitary)
Loss of weapons and equipment
Russia has lost at least 64 aircraft (as of January 6, 2023), according to Oryx (an organisation).
Casualties
:
to Russia 1,351 soldiers killed, 3,825 wounded
to NATO 30,000-40,000 soldiers killed, wounded, missing or captured (7,000-15,000 killed)
to the United States 15,000-22,500 soldiers killed and wounded
Donetsk PR:
to the Donetsk PR 349 soldiers killed, 1,930 wounded
:
to Ukraine 1,300 soldiers killed
to the United States 2,000-4,000 soldiers killed
Treating wounded soldiers in other countries
No injured Ukrainian soldiers had yet been taken into Norway (as of May 31, 2022); On May 31, the (Norwegian) minister of justice was ordered (or told) to come to parliament, later that day to answer questions about that. That evening, the justice minister said that Norway will let injured Ukrainian soldiers come to Norway; Those soldiers will be part of a total of 550 injured Ukrainian civilians and soldiers. On June 12, 2022, the first wounded soldiers came to Norway.
Civilians
The UN said that at least 7,031 civilians have died, because of the war.
Refugees
to the UN 4.3 million+ refugees and 6.5 million internally displaced person.
The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, said over 4,000 Ukrainian citizens had crossed into Moldova since the invasion started. Poland [did get ready for] 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.
Overall
Overall Russia has done best in the East. It has kept most of the ground it took over in 2022. Its defensive arrangement in the East have stood up to Ukrainian efforts.
Some of the ships of the Russian Navy, have been attacked (and damaged) in the Black Sea.
The overall picture is that Russian aims have only partly been met.
Details about the warfare
Dead soldiers have been buried in graves; In some incidents, a body in a grave has been connected to a booby trap: when a grave is opened and a body is touched, then a grenade or other explosive weapon (see explosive), blows up.
Ideas about peace
In May 2023, Ukrainian authorities said that all Russian forces must leave Ukraine, before there can be any negotiations about peace.
In regard to using NATO membership (for Ukraine) as a bargaining card (or something to trade for something else): at least one NATO member-country has shared the idea with authorities outside its own government. In August 2023, the Director of the Private Office of the NATO Secretary General said that "I think that one solution could be that Ukraine gives up [land or] territory, and gets a NATO membership" [as part of that deal or] in return".
Officials from many countries, have attended meetings about peace; In August 2023, there was a (meeting or) conference in Saudi Arabia, without Russian officials. Earlier (June), there was a meeting in Denmark, without Russian officials.
Idea about elections (during war)
In August 2023, Ukraine's president said that Ukraine has money for [fighting against invaders and buying] weapons; Ukraine authorities do not expect to take some of that money to set up (wartime) elections.
Martial law (in Ukraine) is "due to expire on November 15"; Also, "Elections can not ... be held in Ukraine under martial law, which must be [made longer or] extended every 90 days".
Parliamentary elections will not happen in October (2023), because of the war; a new date (and after November 15), has not been chosen.
About a presidential election for March 2024: under normal circumstances, there would be an election.
If other countries pay for elections (in Ukraine, during this war), and if Ukrainian the lawmakers understand that we need elections during the war, then laws can be changed to make those elections possible, according to Ukraine's president. He also said that the cost of elections during times of peace, is around 5 billion Hryvnja (Ukrainian money).
Related pages
Spillover of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
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
March 2022 events
April 2022 events
May 2022 events
June 2022 events
July 2022 events
August 2022 events
September 2022 events
October 2022 events
January 2023 events
February 2023 events
March 2023 events
April 2023 events
Conflicts in 2023