In the early hours of February 24, 2022, the first Russian tanks entered the outskirts of Kyiv in what many predicted would be a “blitzkrieg” invasion lasting weeks, if not months. His sirens war in Ukraine they played and since then, a year later, continue.
Tens of thousands of people died, civilians and soldiers from both sides of the front. Millions more have been forced to leave their homes. Entire cities were wiped off the face of the earth. The invasion was a test of international interstate relations, caused a split among traditional allies, disrupted the international grain trade and, of course, the export of natural gas, affecting the lives of millions of people outside the zone of fire.
The Associated Press sums up the year of conflict.
February 2022
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin orders an invasion of Ukraine from the north, east and south. As he explains, the goal of the “special military operation” is to “demilitarize” and “denazise” the country in order to protect the Russians living there, prevent the country from joining NATO and keep it within Russia.” sphere of influence”.
Ukraine and the West are talking about the illegal act of attacking a country with a democratically elected government.
Traffic jams outside Kyiv as thousands try to leave the capital on the first day of the war – Source: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti
Operationally, Russian troops are advancing to the outskirts of Kyiv, but attempts to capture the capital and other cities in the northeast are met with strong resistance.
Volodymyr Zelensky filming his first video message outside his headquarters to prove that he is staying in the country and resisting.
March
March 2 Russia claims to have taken control of Kherson in the south of the country. In the first days of this month, Russian troops take over the rest of the Kherson region, as well as much of neighboring Zaporozhye, including Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
The Russian army was soon stuck near Kiev, its convoys stuck on the roads leading to the capital, and became easy prey for Ukrainian artillery and drones.
On March 16, Russia strikes the theater of war in the strategic port city of Mariupol, where civilians have taken refuge, killing hundreds in one of the deadliest raids of the war.
Moscow announced the withdrawal of its troops from Kiev and other areas on March 29, saying it would focus fighting in the east, in the Donbass, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014, following the annexation of Crimea.
April
The withdrawal of Russian troops from Kyiv exposes hundreds of dead civilians in mass graves or on the streets, many with signs of torture. To the shock of the international community, foreign leaders say Russia must be held accountable for possible war crimes.
On April 9, a Russian rocket hit the Kramatorsk railway station, killing 52 civilians and injuring more than 100.
At the same time, fighting is underway for control of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, and incessant Russian bombardments have razed many parts of it to the ground.
On April 13, the missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, was hit by Ukrainian missiles and sank the next day, dealing a severe blow to the advancing Russians.
Maybe
On May 16, the Ukrainian occupiers of the huge Azovstal steel plant, remaining in the last Ukrainian enclave of Mariupol after a nearly three-month siege, agree to surrender.
The fall of Mariupol cuts off Ukraine from the Azov coast and provides Russians with a land corridor from the Russian border to Crimea.
On the 18th of the same month, this time on the diplomatic field, Russia, which does not want the expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance, receives another blow: Finland and Sweden officially apply to join NATO.
June
More weapons are coming to help Ukraine from abroad, including HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems from the United States.
On June 30, Russian troops leave Fidonisi, located near Odessa on the Black Sea and occupied from the first days of the invasion.
Ukrainian soldiers return the Ukrainian flag to the Black Sea island of Fidonisi, which has been under Russian occupation for several months – Source: Ukrainian Defense Ministry press service via AP
July
On July 22, Russia and Ukraine, brokered by Turkey and the US, reached an agreement on grain stuck in Black Sea ports, ending a months-long crisis that threatened global food security.
August
On August 9, powerful explosions thundered at the air base in Crimea. A week later, new explosions occur at the electrical substation and ammunition depots. Both attacks show that the peninsula, which Russia uses as its main supply hub for the war, is far from safe.
On August 20, Darya Dugin, daughter of Russian nationalist Alexander Dugin, was killed in a car bomb explosion near Moscow, and Russian authorities blame Ukraine for her death.
September
On September 6, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise counterattack in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, forcing them to quickly withdraw from areas that had been controlled by Russia for several months.
On the 21st, Putin orders the mobilization of 300,000 reservists, forcing hundreds of thousands of Russians to flee to neighboring countries to avoid being drafted. At the same time, Moscow is organizing illegal “referendums” in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to ask if they want to become part of Russia. A few days later, Putin signs the annexation of these four regions at a special event in the Kremlin.
October
A truck loaded with explosives exploded on a bridge connecting Crimea with Russia on October 8. Putin blames Ukraine for the attack. Russia is responding with missile strikes on power plants and other critical infrastructure.
november
On November 9, in a humiliating retreat and under pressure from a Ukrainian counterattack, Russia announces the withdrawal of its troops from the city of Kherson.
December
On December 5, the Russian military said Ukraine had used drones to strike two long-range bomber bases deep inside Russian territory. A few days later, another similar attack occurs as Ukraine exposes gaps in Russia’s defenses.
On the 21st, the Ukrainian president visits the United States, his first foreign trip since the start of the war. Zelensky is meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden to secure Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems and other equipment.
January 2023
After several months of fierce fighting, on January 12, Russia announces the capture of the city of Solentar, where salt is mined. Kyiv recognized this event only a few days later. Moscow is also moving forward to capture the Ukrainian fortress of Bakhmut.
On the 14th of the month, during a new wave of airstrikes on Ukrainian energy facilities, a Russian missile hit a residential complex, killing 45 civilians.
Source: Associated Press.
Source: Kathimerini
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.