On February 24, 2022, on this day, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. The morning of every Ukrainian began with the terrible words: "Wake up, the war has begun." Moscow started the war back in 2014, when Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions were occupied. The whole civilized world faced an aggressor pretending to be a "peacemaker".
Russia's war against Ukraine — prerequisites
Since the declaration of Ukraine's independence, Moscow officials have begun to express territorial claims to Ukraine. With the coming to power of V. Putin, active activities of the Russian special services against Ukraine began - creation of pro-Russian organizations, economic pressure, propaganda. February 2014 — during the change of power in Ukraine, Russia annexed Crimea, then Russian mercenaries began to capture Donetsk and Luhansk.
The "hot phase" of the war, which began in 2014, was suspended. Already in the spring of 2021, significant military forces of the Russian army were concentrated near the borders of Ukraine, as a result of which the war between Russia and Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
The goal of the Russian government is not just the annexation of territories, but the destruction of Ukrainian national identity, the genocide of the Ukrainian people.
Russian propagandists deny the existence of Ukrainians as a separate nation. In the occupied territories, the Russians carried out mass executions, mocked civilians, and carried out deportations. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which Putin called a "special military operation," is a war crime against humanity.
These actions of Russia not only violated international law and the sovereignty of Ukraine, but also caused a deep geopolitical crisis in Europe, affecting the security situation in the region. The international community, in response, introduced a series of economic sanctions against Russia, trying to force it to abandon its aggressive actions. Despite this, the conflict in eastern Ukraine continues to remain unresolved, and its solution requires complex negotiations and international mediation.
The beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine
Four in the morning of February 24, 2022 — Putin announces in his video message the beginning of the so-called "special military operation" in Ukraine. Immediately after the address, the Russian occupying forces carried out a large-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine from various directions. Massive missile attacks were carried out on almost all airports of our country.
Everything happened very quickly, people were scared. Around seven o'clock in the morning, the Ukrainian border services of various regions reported attacks by the Russian army - Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Luhansk, Kyiv and others. At that time, the President of Ukraine announced the introduction of martial law throughout the country and the closure of the airspace.
Zmiiny Island, Gostomel and Kakhovska HPP
Two Russian warships approached the Snake Island and demanded the border guards to surrender, to which they refused. Around eleven o'clock on February 24, the Russian army advanced deep into the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions.
Gostomel Airport was stormed, but control over it was quickly lost. In the south, the occupiers seized the main structure of the North Crimean Canal and the Kakhovskaya HPP. On this day, battles were fought for Henichesk, Skadovsk, Chaplynka, Okhtyrka, Sumy and other cities. The occupiers captured the Chornobyl NPP.
Men were stopped being released abroad and a decree on general mobilization was signed. The first week of the full-scale war was the most difficult for Ukraine. Events that took place:
February 25 — the first battles took place in Kyiv;
February 26 — an attack on a high-rise building in the capital, the enemy attacks the CHP-6, multiple shelling of residential areas of Kyiv;
February 27 — Russia is trying to destroy the infrastructure of Ukraine, there is a threat of drawing Belarus into a war with Ukraine, the Russian occupation forces destroyed the AN-225 Mriya;
February 28 — the first negotiations with the Russian Federation, President V. Zelensky signs the application for our country's accession to the EU;
On March 1 , Freedom Square in Kharkiv was shelled, the hottest areas are Mariupol, Kherson, Kharkiv;
The greatest achievement of the Ukrainian army in the first months of the war was the victory in the battle for Kyiv. The enemy's priority target was the capital itself. The fighting around Kyiv continued until the end of March 2022.
The tragedies of the Ukrainian people — Bucha, Mariupol, the occupation of Kherson and the atrocities of the occupiers throughout Ukraine
On April 1, our troops entered Buchi , it was then that the world learned about the terrible atrocities of the "Rashists", that's how people called the inhumans who mocked them. The bodies of the dead were everywhere - on the streets, dozens of mass graves. All the dead had traces of torture and ill-treatment, many had their hands tied. The occupiers burned the bodies in an attempt to hide their crimes. Mass rapes of women and minor children were also found out. Footage from Buchi was shown all over the world so that everyone finally realized that the Russian military are barbarians. Hundreds of cities, towns, and villages were under occupation, where the "Rashists" mocked the civilian population.
Mariupol is a city that has forever gone down in history as an example of the heroism of Ukrainian defenders. On February 24, 2022, the first explosions rang out in the city, and very soon the fighting began. The Ukrainian army steadfastly held its defense until the last, even after being surrounded. On March 9, there was an attack on civilian houses, including the maternity hospital, where mothers and newborns were. As a result of the Russian strike, three people died, including a child.
On March 16 , the Russians dropped a bomb on the city's drama theater, where hundreds of city residents took shelter. About three hundred people died then. A large number of civilians died in Mariupol, twenty-two thousand dead are reported. The Russian military brought great grief to every Ukrainian family. For more than eighty days, the defenders of Mariupol kept the city from full occupation. The heaviest battles were fought on the outskirts of Azovstal, where many of our soldiers died, and a large number were captured. Until now, for two years, the families are waiting for their defenders from Russian captivity.
Kherson is the only city that Russia managed to occupy since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Although the city was under the control of the invaders for a long time, pro-Ukrainian rallies were constantly held there. The townspeople did not give up and constantly declared their pro-Ukrainian position. Residents openly told the Russian military that no one was waiting for them here.
During the two years of the full-scale invasion of Russia, many events took place. Our troops achieved considerable success on the front line. Many of our settlements were deoccupied. People will never forget — Irpin, Bucha, Kherson, Izyum and Kharkiv. But the struggle continues, thanks to help from many countries, our indomitable people continue to fight for the right to freedom and peaceful life in their country. Having stood up at the beginning, Ukraine will surely win.
Chronology of events on February 24
Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine began at approximately 3:40 a.m. , when the first column of Russian tanks appeared in the Luhansk region, signaling the beginning of an unprecedented aggression. At the same time, the first signs of a future direct conflict were recorded using webcams at checkpoints in Crimea.
Around 3:59 am, movements of security guards and civilians were observed at the checkpoint in Kalanchak, which indicated an increase in tension. Shortly after that, the checkpoint was in the dark, and the camera switched to infrared mode. After 4:08, four people in camouflage were seen, and after a few minutes the video recording stopped.
At 4:35 a.m., the armed forces of the Russian Federation struck the Velika Pisarivka international checkpoint in the Okhtyr district of the Sumy region, emphasizing the seriousness of their intentions.
Around 4:50 a.m. , the broadcast of the pre-recorded address of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the start of the so-called "special military operation" in eastern Ukraine began.
At approximately 5:00 a.m. , rocket attacks were carried out across the country, covering dozens of cities, including the capital of Ukraine - Kyiv. The Ukrainian Border Service announced that its posts were shelled by Russia and Belarus. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the introduction of martial law around 03:00.
At 03:35 Russian troops surrounded the city of Konotop, trying to establish control over it. Despite the enemy's efforts, the city held out and the attack was repulsed, but control of Konotop was lost later that day. In the south, Russian troops advanced through Perekop and Chongar, captured Nova Kakhovka together with the facilities of Kakhovskaya HPP, which changed hands for several days, and approached Kherson. Another column approached Melitopol. In Donbas, there were attacks on Volnovakha, Mariupol, and Shchastya.
Around 10:00 a.m. Rosmorrechflot, referring to the command of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, announced a ban on shipping in the Sea of Azov and the northwestern part of the Black Sea, starting a blockade of Ukrainian seaports.
Around 4:00 p.m., Russian helicopter troops captured the Antonov airport, but later a Ukrainian counteroffensive repelled the airport, destroying the Russian landing force.
At 17:00 Russian troops captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the city of Pripyat.
At 10:00 p.m., the State Border Service of Ukraine reported the capture of Zmiiny Island in the Black Sea after sea and air shelling.
Chronology of events on February 25
By 01:24 Kyiv time, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, issues an order on the full mobilization of the Ukrainian armed forces for a period of 90 days. According to his directive, all men between the ages of 18 and 60 were ordered to remain in the country, barring them from traveling abroad.
At 03:27 near Chernihiv, a captain and a corporal from the 11th Guards Airborne Assault Brigade and the reconnaissance platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were captured by the Ukrainian side.
Around 05:14 in the village of Primorskyi Posad, Zaporizhzhia region, a Russian missile strike damaged a Ukrainian border post, resulting in casualties among the Ukrainian military.
At 05:40, Russian military equipment began an offensive in the direction of the Sumy district, later, combat operations began near Okhtyrka at 07:30.
At 06:25, as a result of artillery shelling by the Russian army, a gas pipeline was damaged in the city of Starobilsk.
At 06:46 Rivne International Airport in Rivne suffered minor damage as a result of a Russian missile attack.
At 06:47, Ukrainian troops blew up a bridge in Ivankiv, near Kyiv, effectively stopping the advance of the Russian tank column. The movement of Russian soldiers through the villages of Katyuzhanka and Dymer in the Kyiv region was also recorded.
At 08:15, the Russian military approached the city of Kherson.
At 08:34 Ukrainian armed forces successfully repelled the attack on Chernihiv, capturing Russian military equipment and documents.
At 08:43, the Russian side restored the water supply to the annexed Crimea, unblocking the North Crimea Canal.
At 09:01, the Ukrainian military destroyed a column of Russian troops in Starobilsk, forcing them to retreat.
At 10:30 Russian troops entered Melitopol, where street fighting began. Later, the local authorities surrendered, and the city came under Russian control.
At 2:25 p.m. , the Russian Ministry of Defense said that Chernihiv was surrounded and besieged, while the British Ministry of Defense said that Russian forces had failed to capture Chernihiv and were forced to find another route to Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported the movement of Russian troops towards Sedniv and Semenivka.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, announced on Friday morning about the Russian attacks on a kindergarten and an orphanage in the Sumy region, calling them war crimes.
By mid-morning, Russian troops had reached the northern district of Kyiv. The government urged citizens to prepare Molotov cocktails, reporting numerous explosions. The London Stock Exchange suspended trading of VTB Bank shares, and the Tether cryptocurrency became popular among Ukrainians after the introduction of martial law.
Ukrainian forces destroyed two Russian planes during the shelling of the Millerovo airbase in Russia.
President Putin addressed the Security Council of the Russian Federation, calling on Ukrainian soldiers to "take power into their own hands", mentioning neo-Nazis and drug addicts.
NATO's Rapid Reaction Force was deployed for the first time as a defensive measure against a Russian invasion.
Chronology of events on February 26
At midnight, intense fighting took place south of the capital of Ukraine, in the area of the city of Vasylkiv. According to information provided by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a Russian Il-76 military transport plane carrying paratroopers was shot down by a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter near Vasylkov. Another plane of the same type was shot down near Bila Tserkva, about 85 kilometers south of Kyiv, according to two US officials with direct knowledge of the situation on the ground. However, no confirmation of these claims was provided.
Around 03:00 Kyiv time, within 30 minutes, more than 48 explosions were registered in connection with hostilities near TPP-6, which is located on the northern edge of the Troyeshchyna housing estate. The BBC notes that this attack was probably aimed at disconnecting the city's electricity supply. It was also reported about intense fighting in the area of the Kyiv Zoo and in the Shulyavka neighborhood.
On the morning of February 26, the Ukrainian military announced the successful repulsion of an attack on a military base located on Beresteyskyi Avenue, one of the main transport arteries of Kyiv, as well as the repulsion of a Russian attack on Mykolaiv, which is located on the Black Sea coast. These events testify to the high level of tension and complexity of the military conflict, which requires maximum concentration, ingenuity and courage from the Ukrainian military in responding to the challenges posed by the aggressor.
Chronology of events on February 27
As a result of Russia's night attack, significant destruction was recorded: a gas pipeline outside Kharkiv was blown up, and an oil depot in the village of Kryachki, near Vasylkov, caught fire due to a missile strike. The situation near the Vasylkiv air base, where fierce battles were taking place, made it difficult for the fire services, which were trying to control the fire. The Office of the President of Ukraine reported on the bombing of Zhulyany airport. At the same time, Russian-backed separatists in the Luhansk region announced that a Ukrainian missile had hit an oil terminal in the city of Rovenki.
The escalation reached a new level when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff to put the country's nuclear deterrent on special alert. In response to the aggression, several Russian banks were disconnected from the SWIFT international payment system, which was a significant blow to the Russian economy. Turkey, in turn, announced the introduction of martial law in the Black Sea, which gave it the right to intercept ships of the Russian Navy. The European Union, supporting Ukraine, imposed a ban on flights of Russian aircraft in its airspace.
Victory of Ukraine
The fire of will burns in the heart of every Ukrainian woman and every Ukrainian man, which no enemy can extinguish. This is a story about unwavering courage, about a struggle that has been going on for centuries, about a dream that lives in the hearts of millions — the dream of a free, independent and sovereign Ukraine.
Today, more than ever, this struggle has united Ukrainians all over the world. We stood up to defend our land, our history, our future. Every day, Ukrainian soldiers stand guard of our freedom, not sparing their lives. They are true heroes, symbols of indomitability and courage, who lead the nation to victory.
We are proud of our courage, our unity and our will to win. Despite the trials, we continue to believe in a peaceful sky over Ukraine, in the streets where children's laughter will once again resound, in the green fields of the free and happy.
We are a nation that has nurtured its identity through the ages, preserving its culture, language and traditions. We are a nation that not only fights for its right to exist, but also defends the right to live with dignity on its land.
In this struggle, we are more united than ever. Support for Ukraine is coming from all over the world. Each of us contributes to the common victory - some with a sword, and some with a word. But together we are a force capable of overcoming any obstacles.
May the faith in our hearts never fade. We are Ukraine. We are fighting not only for ourselves, but for the future of all generations of Ukrainians. We fight for the right to live in a free country where justice reigns, where every child can dream and achieve their dreams.
