After months of rising tension and uncertainty, Russia has launched an invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, 24th February 2022. Below is a timeline (EET) of how today’s events have unfolded.
4:50 a.m: Putin announces invasion as ‘operation’.
Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia, addressed the country, announcing that he had decided to ‘conduct a special military operation’. The full transcript of the speech can be viewed here.
5:07 a.m: First Strikes
A series of missile attacks are lunched by Russian forces, targeting locations near Kyiv. Long-range artillery is used against the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Russian forces quickly spread across central and eastern Ukraine, attacking from the North, East and South. Huge blasts were reported from Odessa, Dnipro Mariupol and Kramatorsk.
The main international airport of Boryspil is pummelled by missiles, whilst several detonations in the east of Kyiv sent plumes of grey smoke into the sky.
Airports in Kharkiv, Ozerne, Kulbakino, Chuhuiv, Kramatorsk and Chornobaivks were also targeted, with video footage showing a middle hitting a military installation at the airport at Ivano-Frankivsk.
Six people are said to have been trapped in rubble in Nizhyn, The State Emergency Service reported.
5:29 a.m: America Speaks
American President Joe Biden releases statement: The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.
President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.
Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.
I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team.
Tomorrow (Thursday), I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.
We will also coordinate with our NATO allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.
6:00 a.m: Airport evacuated
Kyiv airport cancels all flights, and evacuates staff and passengers.
Ukraines military command centres are attacked In Kyiv and Kharkiv.
6:05 a.m: Ukraine‘s Foreign Minister takes to Twitter
He wrote: Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.
6:13 a.m: Russian troops spread
Russian troops land in Mariupol and Odessa
6:48 a.m: Ukrainian President responds
The President of Ukraine responds to the the invasion. The speech can be read in full here. 6:56 a.m: Johnson takes to Twitter
I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskyy to discuss next steps. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.
6:58 a.m: Ukrainian Foreign Minister speaks out
Dmytro Kuleba: The world must act immediately. Future of Europe & the world is at stake. To do list: 1. Devastating sanctions on Russia NOW, including SWIFT 2. Fully isolate Russia by all means, in all formats 3. Weapons, equipment for Ukraine 4. Financial assistance 5. Humanitarian assistance
7:00 a.m: Air Raid Sirens sound
Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, with sirens across the western city of Lviv going off at 7:45am.
Shortly afterwards, a single unidentifiable plane roared across the capitol.
7:13 a.m: UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace speaks
The Russian Federation has today further violated Ukrainian Sovereignty.
Despite the efforts of the international communities, Russia has chosen conflict. No one has been fooled by the Kremlin's false flags and fake narratives.
This is naked aggression against a democratic country which had dared to express a different aspiration than being a supine neighbour to Russia.
No one should forget this day.
Putin thinks this land grab is about securing his legacy - it will be, but not the one that he wishes. 7:24 a.m: Cobra meeting scheduled
Boris Johnson is to chair a Cobra Committee meeting at 7.30am UK time To discuss the “horrific acts” in Ukraine. 7:45 a.m: People Flee
Photos show queues of traffic as civilians flee Ukraine.
8:00 a.m: Ukraine fights back
Ukraine claims to have shot down a helicopter and 5 Russian aircraft, something that Russia denies.
Civilians in Kyiv begin to make their way out of the city, heading West. Others seek shelter in subway stations.
Ukraine’s military also say they have shot down another Russian plane in eastern Ukraine. 8:15 a.m: Lviv under attack
Shelling is reported to have begun in the western city of Lviv, 70km from the border with Poland.
8:24 a.m: President of the Europian Council tweets:
Spoke with President Zelenskyy to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unjustified large scale military aggression against Ukraine and express our strongest solidarity with Ukraine.
Today both the European Council and G7 leaders will meet to agree on further steps against Russia’s illegal acts and in support of Ukraine. I call on (the Russian President) to stop this war immediately.
9:18 a.m: Airlines instructed to avoid Ukraine airspace
9:44 a.m: Kyiv on fire
A fire breaks out in Kyiv as Russian troops invade Ukraine.
9:55 a.m: Russia attacks North
The National Police of Ukraine report there has been a “deep breakthrough” of Russian troops in northern Ukraine. Russians have brought in armoured vehicles and military equipment.
10:20 a.m: Border Guards fight Russian Forces
Three Boarder Guards are killed and others injured after Ukrainian government forces fight Russian forces in Kopani and Ivanovo Kherson.
10:25 a.m: Ukraine urge for those who are willing to fight to join the ranks of the territorial defence forces
10:47 a.m: Russian troops death toll
Ukraine‘a military claims that 50 Russian troops have been killed and six planes destroyed. Russia deny the claims.
10:57 a.m: Zelenskyy holds emergency meeting with ministers
11:03 a.m: Polish sirens sound
Sirens could be heard in the Polish town Medyka, which acts as a border crossing between Poland and Russia.
11:09 a.m: There will be no blitzkrieg
An advisor from the Ukrainian presidential office say the situation is under control, adding that there will be no blitzkrieg.
Blitzkrieg, meaning "lightning war" in German, is a term used to describe a forceful, rapid and surprise attack that seeks to overwhelm opposition quickly.
11:23 a.m: COBRA meeting ended.
The COBRA meeting held in the UK has finished, with ministers seen leaving Downing Street.
11:26 a.m: UK Prime Minister will speak
Boris Johnson has said he will give statement on Ukraine at 5pm UK time.
11:28 a.m: Zelenskyy makes televised address
Zelenskyy makes a televised address, calling on everyone who is able to join the military.
From today our countries are on opposing sides of world history. Russia is on the side of evil, but it depends on the Russian people
The people of Russia will have to choose which path each of them takes. Everyone in Russia who has not lost their honor, they have time to come out and protest this war.
12:37 p.m: Death Toll
Over 40 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed, according to Ukrainian authorities.
11:40 a.m: Child killed
A child has reportedly died after shelling in Kharkiv hit an apartment building.
11:50 a.m: Boris calls for NATO meeting
Boris took to Twitter to call for a NATO meeting.
This is a catastrophe for our continent. I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible.
11:57 a.m: Ukraine report civilian casualties
The Ukraine government has reported civilian casualties, as well as more than 40 soldiers dead and several dozen injured.
12:06 p.m: Ukraine President’s tweet to country
Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. has embarked on a path of evil, but is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.
12:15 p.m: Explosion heard in Kyiv
12:22 p.m: Ukraine take out enemy tanks
Ukraine armed forces took to Twitter to announce that four Russian tanks have been burned.
12:31 p.m: Second wave begins
Ukraine have been hit my a second wave of missive, with another explosion heard in Kyiv.
12:45 p.m: More strikes are reported, although said to be less severe than earlier explosions. 12:48 p.m: Russian ambassador summoned
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss takes to Twitter to announce:
I have summoned the Russian ambassador to meet me and explain Russia’s illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We will be imposing severe sanctions and rallying countries in support of Ukraine.
12:54 p.m: 18 killed in missile attack
At least 18 people have been killed in Odessa, as a missile attack targeted the port city.
1:01 p.m: 6 killed in Brovary
The Mayor of Brovary reports that at least six people have been killed in the city.
1:15 p.m: Boris to address UK
Boris Johnson is set to address the nation at 12pm UK time. He will still be speaking in the Commons at 5pm.
1:24 p.m: Russian helicopters downed
Three Russian helicopters have been downed, according to Ukraine’s internal ministry.
1:39 p.m: Home Secretary tweets:
Priti Patel: Russia's unjustified and unjustifiable attack on a democratic sovereign nation makes this a dark day in Europe. The people of Ukraine have our unwavering support.
As we monitor developments, we will be especially mindful of the potential for cyber attacks and disinformation emanating from Russia.
Be in no doubt there is work ongoing across government 24/7 to maximise our resilience to any such attacks, which would be met with a suitably robust response.
1:47 p.m: State of Emergency declared in Lithuania
Lithuania, a member of NATO, declare a state of emergency effective from this afternoon.
2:00 p.m: Russian helicopter A K-53 shot down in Kyiv region.
It is announced that Russia has attacked Ukraine with more than 30 strikes on civilian and military infrastructure.
2:00 p.m: Boris addresses nation
Boris Johnson addresses the nation at 12pm UK time.
2:05 p.m: Boris announces sanctions
Boris Johnson announces the UK will agree massive package of sanctions on Russia.
Our mission is clear: diplomatically, politically, economically and, eventually, militarily, this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.
2:10 p.m: 5 killed after plane downed
Ukraine has announced that five people have been killed after a Ukraine military jet was downed.
2:22 p.m: Hungary offers help
Victor Orban, Hungary’s leader, says the country is ready to accept Ukrainians as asylum seekers.
2:33 p.m: Turkey condemns invasion
Turkeys President Recap said:
I would like to start by stating that we find the military action unacceptable and reject it.
This step, which we see as an infringement to international law, is a heavy blow to the peace, tranquillity and stability of the region.
We are in close political, economic and social relations with Russia and Ukraine, which we see as friendly countries, and we sincerely regret that Russia and Ukraine came face to face in this way.
I just talked to Mr Zelenskyy and reiterated Turkey's support in Ukraine's struggle to protect its territorial integrity, we will do our part to ensure the safety for everyone living in Ukraine, especially our Tatar brothers and sisters in the region.
We repeat our call to seek a resolution through dialogue within the Minsk agreement. I had spoken to Mr Putin yesterday, and I expressed these to him too.
2:43 p.m: French President announces sanctions
Emmanuel Macron has announced sanctions for Russia, including the energy sector.
There will be longstanding consequences" for Russia.
2:45 p.m: NATO and EU news conference
NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, hold a joint news conference.
Sanctions for Russia are announced, with Ms von der Leyen adding they will "seriously degrade the Russian economy" and cut its access to new technology.
3:05 p.m: Russia announces they are ready to ride-out sanctions. 3:13 p.m: 203 attacks so far by Russia
It has been announced that 203 attacks have so far been carried out by Russian forces.
3:35 p.m: Air Raid Sirens can be heard for second time
Air Raid sirens can be heard across Kyiv for a second time since the invasion began. The city has already faced shelling.
3:38 p.m: Mariupol under attack
Residential areas have come under attack in Mariupol. Casualties are unconfirmed at this time.
3:46 p.m: Belarus fires missiles
Four ballistic missiles have been fired from Belarus, heading towards the southwest direction.
Belarus is an ally to Russia and had been taking part in joint military drills with Russian forces in the days leading up to the invasion.
4:04 p.m: Ukraine power station explosion
An explosion has been reported at Trypilska power station. The power station is still going to continue to operate for now.
It is based 40 kilo-meters from Kyiv.
4:12 p.m: 74 Ukraine military facilities destroyed
Russia’s defence military claim that it has destroyed 74 Ukraine military facilities, which includes 11 air bases.
4:36 p.m: Liz Truss kicks Russian ambassador out of meeting early
Liz Truss has held a heated meeting with the Russian ambassador, and has reportedly kicked him out early.
A Foreign Office source said:
It was a heated meeting. Liz kicked him out early. Said he should be ashamed of himself, that Russia has lied repeatedly and lost its last shred of credibility with the international community
4:38 p.m: Russian forces hit hospital, four killed
Four people are said to have died after an attack on a hospital in Donetsk.
4:54 p.m: Ukraine looses control of Kherson
The regional authority has said parts of Ukraine's southern Kherson region are no longer under Ukrainian control.
5:02 p.m: Joe Biden to give address
American President Joe Biden is to address the US at 5:30 p.m UK time.
5:06 p.m: Russia attempts to capture Chernobyl
Zelenskyy announces that Russia is attempting to capture Chernobyl. He took to Twitter to say:
Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the #Chornobyl_NPP. Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated. Reported this to @SwedishPM. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.
5:43 p.m: Auschwitz Memorial release statement
This morning, Russia attacked Ukraine. This act of barbarity will be judged by history, and its perpetrators, it is to be hoped, also by the International Court of Justice.
As we stand at the Aushwitz-Birkenau Memorial, it is impossible to remain silent while, once again, innocent people are being killed purely because of insane psuedo-imperial megalomania
We express our absolute solidarity with the citizens and residents of the free, independent, and soverign Ukraine and with all Russians who have the courage to oppose this war
At this moment, the free and democratic world must show if it had learned its lesson from the passivity of the 1930s. Today, it is clear that any symptom of indifference is a sign of complicity 5:57 p.m: Ukraine ambassador asks for UK to add further sanctions
Ukraine's ambassador Vadym Prystaiko has asked the UK to impose further sanctions on Russia. His list included:
Ban energy trade with Russia - stop buying Russian oil and gas
Ban foreign investment in Russia and prohibit Western government pension funds from investing in Russian assets
Sanction all secondary trading in Russian debt and equities - public and private sector including existing holdings
Sanction the Russian Central Bank, Russian state owned and private banks
Sanction all rouble transactions with Western banks
Withdraw Russia out of bond and equity investment indices
Block Russia from SWIFT system for payments
Disconnect Russia from VISA and MasterCard payment system
Freeze Russian foreign assets, sanction Russian Direct Investment Fund
Expand personal sanctions to all those in Western list of sanctions and their families - asset freeze, visa cancellations, passport revocation and repatriation back to Russia.
6:17 p.m: Russian troops moving towards Kyif
Military troops in Belarus are moving in towards Kyif, a Ministry of Defence Intelligence update has said.
6:21 p.m: Turkish Ship hit
A Turkish ship on the coast of Ukraine has been hit whilst on route from Odessa to Romania.
6:36 p.m: Three people injured by Ukrainian shells
Three people have been injured by Ukrainian shells, Russia’s investigative committee has said.
The shells are said to have hit residential areas in the southern Belgorod region.
6:37 p.m: Russion platoon surrenders
A Russian Platoon has surrendered in Ukraine earlier today. It is said that troops are claiming to have been unaware they would be fighting Ukrainians.
6:40 p.m: Putin defends invasion
At a meeting with his security officials, Putin said:
We were not given any other chances to act otherwise. We had to do it, because the risks were really serious for the whole existence of our country.
9:01 p.m: Boris Johnson addresses the Commons
At this stage, Ukrainians are offering a fierce defence of their families and their country.
Earlier today, President Putin gave another televised address and offered the absurd pretext that he sought the de-militarisation and de-Nazification of Ukraine.
In fact, he is hurling the might of his military machine against a free and peaceful neighbour in breach of his own implicit pledge and every principle of civilised behaviour between states.
He will never be able to cleanse the blood of Ukraine from his hands. I'm driven to conclude that Putin was always determined to attack his neighbour, no matter what we did.
Now we see him for what he is, a blood-stained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest.
Boris Johnson has announced that further steps will be taken to impose economic sanctions on Russia.
These include a full asset seize on the Russian state-run VBT Bank.
These powers will enable us to totally exclude Russian banks from the UK financial system... stopping them from accessing sterling and clearing payments through the UK.
With around half of Russia's trade currently in USD and sterling, I'm pleased to tell the House that the United States is taking similar measures.
The UK’s sanctions for Russia include:
An intention to impose asset freeze on all major Russian banks with an immediate freeze against VTB which has assets totalling £154bn
To introduce legislation on Tuesday that will prohibit the ability of all Russian companies to raise finance on UK markets
To issue sanctions against individuals, entities and their subsidiaries which include Rostec - Russia's largest defence company
Look to imminently ban the ability of Russian airline Aeroflot to land in the UK
To immediately suspend the use of export licences to Russia - an example being electrical components or parts of military trucks
To lay legislation "within days" that will prohibit a wide range of high tech exports to Russia.
Look at introducing legislation that would limit the amount of deposits Russian nationals will be able to hold in UK bank accounts.
To work with G7 and NATO allies to shut off Russia's access to the SWIFT payment system
To extend this full range of measures to Belarus
Look at bringing forward the Economic Crime Bill which will take action against Russians who raise funds in the UK.
7:47 p.m: Hundreds of explosions in Ukrainian City
Mariupol is under heavy fire this evening, with hundreds of explosions reported.
7:48 p.m: Subway Stations turned into Bomb Shelters
Subway stations have been turned into bomb shelters in Kyif, with many civilians expected to spend the night there.
7:52 p.m: Russia take over Chernobyl
Russian forces have captured Chernobyl nuclear power plant after an evening of battles see Ukraine lose control.
An adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office has said:
It is impossible to say the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe after a totally pointless attack by the Russians.
This is one of the most serious threats in Europe today.
8:20 p.m: Refugees arrive in Poland
Ukrainian refugees have reportedly began arriving in Poland.
8:51 p.m: Biden imposes sanctions
We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximise a long-term impact on Russia and to minimise the impact on the United States and our allies.
I want to be clear, the United States is not doing this alone.
For months we've been building a coalition of partners representing well more than half the global economy.
And today we're also blocking four more major banks. That means every asset they have in America will be frozen. This includes VTB, the second largest bank in Russia which has $250bn in assets.
As promised, we're also adding names to the list of Russian elites and their family members that we're sanctioning as well.
10:08 p.m: Ukraine requests urgent Human Rights Council debate
10:37 p.m: Ukraine appeals for supplies
Ukraine‘s government are appealing for medical supplies and equipment. The full list can be viewed below.
10:40 p.m: Ukraine take back airfield
Ukrainian troops have managed to recapture a crucial airfield near Kyiv, a presidential advisor has said.
10:53 p.m: $3.5m realised by WHO for medical supplies
The World Health Organisation has released $3.5m to purchase medical supplies for Ukraine.
11:40 p.m: 1,700 arrested for Russian protests
1,702 people have been arrested in 53 Russian cities for protesting against Putin’s actions.
137 civilians and military personal have died during the first day of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said those who died are heroes.
They're killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets. It's foul and will never be forgiven.
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