February 24, 2022
PHOTO ARIS MESSINIS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Helena, a 53-year-old teacher, is discharged from the hospital where she was treated after the bombing of the town of Chuhouyv, near Kharkiv, on February 24, 2022, the first day of the war.
At 5:48 a.m. Moscow time, Vladimir Putin announced the start of the war, which he described as a “special military operation”. He says he wants to “denazify” Ukraine and defend the self-proclaimed independent republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, in the Donbass. Large Ukrainian cities (Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharviv, Odessa) are bombed. The Russians attack from the north, east (Donbass) and south (Crimea).
February 25, 2022
Russia faces an avalanche of economic and political sanctions. Two days later, Canada announced the shipment of military equipment worth $25 million to Ukraine. This is the first in a series of Canadian announcements of military, humanitarian and financial assistance. On the same day, Canada announced the closure of its airspace to Russian planes.
March 2, 2022
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, opens an investigation into the crimes committed in Ukraine. The process is launched following the request made by 41 States, including Canada.
March 3, 2022
To the south, Kherson becomes the first major Ukrainian city to fall. One million Ukrainians have already fled to neighboring countries. The Canadian government announces that it will grant emergency travel authorization to Ukrainians and imposes a 35% tariff on imports from Russia and Belarus.
March 3, 2022
Close neighbors of Russia and hosting tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, Moldova and Georgia are applying to join the European Union.
March 9, 2022
PHOTO EVGENIY MALOLETKA, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Symbolic image of the horror of war: Rescue workers transport a pregnant woman, Irina Kalinina, seriously injured in the bombardment of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, March 9, 2022. Mme Kalinina would later succumb to her injuries, as would her baby.
The Russians bomb a maternity hospital in Mariupol, killing at least 4 people and injuring 16. The Ukrainians call the gesture a war crime.
March 15, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Canadian parliamentarians via videoconference. “We want to live. We want to be victorious,” he said.
April 2, 2022
PHOTO RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Corpses litter a street in Boutcha on April 2.
The Ukrainians retake the town of Boutcha, northwest of Kyiv, and discover with horror many corpses in the streets.
May 8, 2022
PHOTO ADAM SCOTTI, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accompanied on his surprise visit to Kyiv by ministers Mélanie Joly (left) and Chrystia Freeland (right).
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travels to Kyiv, accompanied by Chrystia Freeland and Mélanie Joly.
May 22, 2022
After weeks of fierce struggle, especially in the enclave of the Azovstal steelworks, the city of Mariupol falls. This symbolic victory for the Russians comes after an 86-day siege.
July 4, 2022
PHOTO ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A Ukrainian flag flies over Bile, the only village on Serpents’ Island, on July 7.
Ukrainian forces recapture Serpents’ Island off Odessa. This tiny island, taken by the Russians at the start of the war, is a symbol of Ukrainian resistance.
July 17, 2022
Russian missile fire damages five power lines and gas pipelines in Nikopol. They are part of the first strikes intended to destroy Ukraine’s energy networks. This tactic has continued throughout the year and up to 9 million Ukrainians are without power.
September 21, 2022
PHOTO BY ILYA PITALEV, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Vladimir Putin delivers a speech in Novgorod to mark the 1160e anniversary of the creation of the Russian state, September 21, 2022, a few hours after announcing the mobilization of 300,000 reservists.
Vladimir Putin announces the mobilization of 300,000 civilian reservists. This decision results in an exodus of many Russians to Georgia, Turkey, etc.
September 26, 2022
Acts of sabotage are committed on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, which transport gas from Russia to Germany. The damage was observed in international waters near the Danish island of Bornholm. Russia is singled out.
September 30, 2022
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENCY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council in Kyiv on September 30, 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces that his country intends to apply for accelerated NATO membership.
October 8, 2022
The Kerch Strait Bridge, the only land link between Crimea and the Krasnodar region in Russia, is partly destroyed by an explosion. Three people are killed. Moscow and Kyiv blame each other.
November 11, 2022
PHOTO BULENT KILIC, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
A woman hugs a Ukrainian soldier as residents of Kherson celebrate the liberation of their city on November 13.
Russian troops evacuate Kherson, the first major Ukrainian city they had conquered on March 3, and retreat to the left bank of the Dnieper River. “A historic day”, welcomes President Zelensky.
December 22, 2022
PHOTO MANDEL NGAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses US congressmen as Vice President Kamala Harris and outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi wave a Ukraine flag.
President Zelensky is visiting Washington. He is received by US President Joe Biden and addresses members of Congress.
1er January 2023
PHOTO ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Rescuers and workers work on the ruins of the Makiivka building destroyed by a HIMARS missile on January 3.
A HIMARS missile fired by Ukrainian forces hits a building in Makiivka (Donetsk) where hundreds of Russian soldiers are sheltering. Russia announces the death of 89 soldiers. But some sources speak of 400 dead.
January 5, 2023
Vladimir Putin decrees a 36-hour ceasefire to allow Orthodox Christmas celebrations. Kyiv tells Putin to keep “his hypocrisy”. The truce is not respected.
January 10, 2023
Justin Trudeau announces that Canada will purchase a NASAMS surface-to-air missile system for the benefit of Ukraine. The purchase of this American-built system is valued at 406 million.
January 24, 2023
PHOTO ANATOLII STEPANOV, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Artillery fire by Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in the Luhansk region on January 16
After weeks of procrastination, Americans and Germans agree on sending Abrams and Leopard 2 heavy tanks to Ukraine. Several countries are concerned.
With Agence France-Presse, Reuters and EuroNews