Already in 2014, Russia annexed the peninsula of Crimea, just as now followed the announcement of a so-called referendum on joining Russia.
Shortly afterwards, they took control of parts of eastern Ukraine where they proclaimed two people's republics.
Eight years of low-intensity war followed.
Click on the clip for a timeline of Russia's war against Ukraine and hear more in the Foreign Office at 20:00 on SVT Play and at 22:00 on SVT2.