February 24, 2022, the day when Russia invaded Ukraine, will always remain in everyone’s memory.
Timeline of events on February 24
At 3:40 a.m., the first column of Russian tanks entered the Luhansk region, marking the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This was preceded by signals of a possible conflict received from webcams at Crimean checkpoints, where guards and civilians were panicking.
At 4:35 a.m., Russian troops attacked the Velyka Pysarivka international checkpoint in Sumy region.
At approximately 4:50 a.m., a pre-recorded address by Russian President Vladimir Putin began to be broadcast, in which he announced the start of a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine.
At 5:00 a.m. (03:00 UTC), dozens of cities across Ukraine, including the capital, were hit by rocket attacks. The Ukrainian Border Guard Service reported shelling of border posts with Russia and Belarus. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law.
During the day:
Russian troops surrounded and laid siege to the town of Konotop, but Ukrainian troops later repelled the offensive.
In the south, Russian troops captured Perekop, Chongar, Nova Kakhovka, and approached Kherson and Melitopol.
In the Donbas, the enemy attacked Volnovakha, Mariupol, and Shchastya.
Rosmorrechflot announced a ban on shipping in the Azov Sea and the northwestern part of the Black Sea, starting a blockade of Ukrainian seaports.
Russian helicopter forces seized Antonov airport. However, a later Ukrainian counteroffensive successfully recaptured the airport and destroyed the Russian landing force.
Russian troops seize the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and the abandoned town of Pripyat.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that Russian troops captured Zmeinyi Island in the Black Sea as a result of naval and aerial bombardment.
Casualties:
17 civilians were killed during the day, as well as at least 40 Ukrainian soldiers.
Global reaction:
In response to the Russian invasion, the United States announced a complete freeze on the assets of several Russian banks in the United States. However, Joe Biden did not impose sanctions on Putin himself and did not call for Russia to be separated from the SWIFT global banking exchange.
February 24, 2022, was a black day in the history of Ukraine, a day when the peaceful lives of millions of people were destroyed by Russia’s invasion.
