"Russian invasion of Ukraine" redirects here.

For other uses, see List of invasions

and occupations of Ukraine.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Part of the Russo-Ukrainian War
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.svg
Military situation as of 26 June 2022
Controlled by Ukraine Occupied by Russia
For a more detailed map, see the Russo-Ukrainian War detailed map
Date 24 February 2022 – present
(4 months and 3 days)
Location
Ukraine[c]
Status Ongoing (list of engagements · control of cities · timeline of events)

Belligerents
Russia
Donetsk PR[a]
Luhansk PR[a]
Supported by:
Belarus[b]
Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Russia Vladimir Putin
Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Strength
Russia: ~175,000–190,000[12][13]
Donetsk PR: 20,000[14]
Luhansk PR: 14,000[14]
Ukraine:
196,600 (armed forces)
102,000 (paramilitary)[15]
Strength estimates are as of the start of the invasion.
See also: Order of battle for the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Casualties and losses
Reports vary widely.
See Casualties and humanitarian impact for details.
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2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
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Russo-Ukrainian War
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Post-Soviet conflicts
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-
Ukrainian War that began in 2014. The invasion caused Europe's largest refugee
crisis since World War II,[16][17] with more than 8 million Ukrainians fleeing the
country[18] and a third of the population displaced.[19][20] The invasion also
caused global food shortages.[21][22]

In 2014, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, and Russian-backed separatists seized
part of the Donbas region of south-eastern Ukraine, consisting of Luhansk and
Donetsk oblasts, sparking a regional war.[23][24] In 2021, Russia began a large
military build-up along its border with Ukraine, amassing up to 190,000 troops and
their equipment. In a televised address shortly before the invasion, Russian
president Vladimir Putin espoused irredentist views,[25] challenged Ukraine's right
to statehood,[26][27] and falsely[28] claimed Ukraine was governed by neo-Nazis who
persecuted the ethnic Russian minority.[29] On 21 February 2022, Russia recognised
the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, two self-
proclaimed breakaway statelets in Donbas controlled by pro-Russian separatists.[30]
The following day, the Federation Council of Russia authorised the use of military
force, and Russian troops overtly entered both territories.[31]

The invasion began on the morning of 24 February,[32] when Putin announced a

"special military operation" to "demilitarise and denazify" Ukraine.[33][34]
Minutes later, missiles and airstrikes hit across Ukraine, including the capital
Kyiv. A large ground invasion followed from multiple directions.[35][36] Zelenskyy
enacted martial law and a general mobilisation of all male Ukrainian citizens
between 18 and 60, who were banned from leaving the country.[37][38] Russian
attacks were initially launched on a northern front from Belarus towards Kyiv, a
north-eastern front towards Kharkiv, a southern front from Crimea, and a south-
eastern front from Luhansk and Donetsk.[39][40] During March, the Russian advance
towards Kyiv stalled. Amidst heavy losses and strong Ukrainian resistance, Russian
troops retreated from Kyiv Oblast by 3 April. On 19 April, Russia launched a
renewed attack on Donbas, with simultaneous missile attacks directed at Kyiv in the
north and Lviv in western Ukraine.[41]

The invasion has received widespread international condemnation. The United Nations
General Assembly p that in March 2020, there were nearly 1,500 medical cyclotrons
(example pictured) in operation worldwide?
... that Lorenzo Passerini, who has conducted several operas in Sydney, revived
Giordano's Fedora at the Oper Frankfurt?
... that John Cranko's ballet Initials R.B.M.E. is named after the four original
lead dancers, Richard Cragun, Birgit Keil, Marcia Haydée and Egon Madsen, who were
his close friends and muses?
... that the winter quarters of a circus owned by Benjamin Wallace are now the site
of the Circus Hall of Fame?
... that live broadcasts of the deciding frame of the 2020 World Seniors
Championship were replaced by golf highlights?
... that trombonist Big Chief Russell Moore was the first member of the Pima tribe
to receive an obituary in The New York Times?
... that Ed Sheeran wrote "Remember the Name" as a homage to the "cheekier songs"
on early Eminem albums?