2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking the beginning of a new phase in the Russo-Ukrainian war. This military action was characterized as the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the invasion in a televised address, referring to it as a 'special military operation' intended to support the Russian-backed separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. He made unfounded claims regarding the Ukrainian government, alleging it consisted of neo-Nazis committing genocide against Russian speakers in the Donbas.

Initially, Russia's strategy involved a rapid victory aimed at capturing Kyiv and eliminating the Ukrainian government within ten days. However, by April 2022, this objective had failed as Ukrainian forces successfully repelled the northern invasion and prevented the capture of the capital.

In response to the invasion, Ukraine declared martial law, initiated a general mobilization of its military, and severed diplomatic ties with Russia. The conflict transitioned to more conventional warfare in the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine.

The invasion drew widespread international condemnation. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution demanding a full withdrawal of Russian forces. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to cease military operations, while the Council of Europe expelled Russia.

Numerous countries imposed sanctions against Russia and Belarus and provided humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. The Baltic states and Poland classified Russia as a terrorist state, and global protests erupted, with anti-war demonstrators facing repression in Russia.

Despite failing to achieve its primary goal, Russia maintained military control over parts of southeastern Ukraine and later unilaterally declared the annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts. The International Criminal Court initiated an investigation into potential war crimes, including the abduction of Ukrainian children and acts of genocide against Ukrainians.

The invasion can be traced back to earlier tensions, including the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia and the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region. These events were preceded by Ukraine's Euromaidan protests and the Revolution of Dignity, which led to a shift in Ukraine's orientation towards the West and increased tensions with Russia.