In 1999, Russia was one of the signatories of the Charter for European Security, which "reaffirmed the inherent right of each and every participating State to be free to choose or change its security arrangements, including treaties of alliance, as they evolve". In return, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US) agreed to uphold the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine through the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. Former Soviet nuclear weapons in Ukraine were removed to Russia and dismantled. In 1994, Ukraine agreed to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and become a non-nuclear-weapon state. See also: Colour revolution, Russia–Ukraine relations, and Ukraine–European Union relationsĪfter the dissolution of the Soviet Union (USSR) in 1991, Ukraine and Russia maintained close ties.
Numerous companies withdrew their products and services from Russia and Belarus. Protests occurred around the world those in Russia have been met with mass arrests and increased media censorship, including banning the terms "war" and "invasion". Various countries provided humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. Many countries imposed new sanctions, which have affected the economies of Russia and the world. The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations, and the Council of Europe expelled Russia. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which condemned it and demanded a full withdrawal. The invasion was widely condemned internationally. Three weeks after launching the invasion, the Russian military had enjoyed more success in the south, while incremental gains or stalemates elsewhere forced them to adopt a strategy of attrition, resulting in mounting civilian casualties. Russian forces have approached or besieged key settlements, including Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Mariupol, and Sumy, but met stiff Ukrainian resistance and experienced logistical and operational challenges that hampered their progress. The Russian military has also carried out air and missile strikes far into western Ukraine.
Four major war theatres developed: the Kyiv offensive, the Northeastern Ukraine offensive, the Eastern Ukraine offensive, and the Southern Ukraine offensive. Multi-pronged assaults were launched from Russia, Belarus, and the two occupied territories of Ukraine ( Crimea and Donbas). In response, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted martial law and general mobilisation. Minutes later, missiles and airstrikes struck throughout Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, shortly followed by a large ground invasion from multiple directions. On 24 February, at about 5:00 EET (UTC+2), Putin announced a " special military operation" to " demilitarise and denazify" Ukraine. The following day, the Federation Council of Russia authorised the use of military force abroad, and Russian troops entered both territories. On 21 February 2022, Russia recognised the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic, two self-proclaimed statelets in Donbas controlled by pro-Russian separatists. The United States (US) and others accused Russia of planning to attack or invade Ukraine, which Russian officials repeatedly denied as late as 23 February 2022. Putin said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a Western military alliance, had threatened Russia's security by expanding eastward since the early 2000s – a claim disputed by NATO – and demanded Ukraine be barred from ever joining the alliance. Russian president Vladimir Putin espoused irredentist views, questioned Ukraine's right to statehood, and falsely accused Ukraine of being dominated by neo-Nazis who persecute the Russian-speaking minority. In 2021, Russia began a large military build-up along its border with Ukraine. įollowing the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity in February 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, and Russian-backed separatists seized part of south-east Ukraine, starting the war in Donbas. The invasion has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since that war, with over 3.4 million Ukrainians fleeing the country.
Internationally considered a war of aggression, it is the largest military assault on a European state since World War II. On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict that began in 2014.
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