Three days after his recognition of the pro-Russian separatist republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, in the Donbass region, President Vladimir Putin announced the start of the Russian invasion and his intention to “denazify” Ukraine.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
Situation as of February 24, 2022
Beginning of the Russian invasion
The main Ukrainian cities wake up under the fire of the bombardments: Kyiv, Mariupol, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Odessa. President Volodymyr Zelensky then calls on the Ukrainians to take up arms and establishes martial law.
Situation in March 2022
Change in Kremlin strategy
PHOTO IVOR PRICKETT, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVES
Ukrainian soldier near the remains of a Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv on March 24.
The Russian army is retreating more than 30 km in Kyiv and says it is concentrating on the “liberation” of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. The Russian General Staff claims that its strategy has been to spread the Ukrainian defenses on different fronts to prevent them from massively defending Donbass.
Situation as of August 19, 2022
As of Friday
PHOTO AMMAR AWAD, REUTERS
Two Ukrainians repair the roof of their house hit by Russian shelling on Thursday in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region
Six months after the start of the invasion, war is raging in the Donbass, particularly in the province of Donetsk, where the Russian army is trying to take the last two major cities still under Ukrainian control, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Before February 24, Ukraine controlled 50% of the territory of Donbass. He only has about 20% left. In recent weeks, Russia has moved some of its troops to step up its aggression against cities in southern Ukraine, including Mykolaiv, which has been pounded relentlessly this summer. The situation remains very tense around the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant, which has been subjected to bombardments since the end of July.
