Doctors treat an injured person in Kharkiv, Ukraine, January 23, 2024 (Reuters)

Two years ago, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, and a massive war broke out, in which about 10,000 civilians and about 200,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers were killed, according to Ukrainian and Western sources, and it greatly affected the lives of... Ukrainians and international relations in general.

To shed light on this war, Lopes magazine - in a report written by Romain Ferrer - reviews 10 dates that it considered to have constituted decisive moments in this conflict that continues until now.

February 24, 2022.. The beginning of the invasion

In a surprise televised speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation,” and the Russian invasion of Ukraine was launched, and the bombing of the capital, Kiev, began at dawn. But Moscow did not mention the terms “war” or “conflict,” and the Russian leader said that the goal was to “remove... Weapons” and “denazification” of Ukraine.

May 18, 2022.. Sweden and Finland request to join NATO

On this date, the two Scandinavian countries simultaneously issued an official letter requesting membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) motivated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, “This day is a great day, and it comes at a crucial time for our security,” and that was the end of Sweden and Finland have been neutral since 1945.

April 1, 2022.. Discovery of the Bucha massacre

After the first Ukrainian counterattack on March 25, 2022, the Kiev army was able to enter Bucha on April 1, a town located northwest of Kiev, and the Ukrainian authorities discovered a massacre there, and they counted more than 400 bodies in the streets, houses and mass graves, and raised The pictures outraged the international community, and French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the massacre as a “war crime.”

September 30, 2022.. Annexation of 4 Ukrainian states

During a ceremony held in the Kremlin, Putin formalized the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye oblasts to Russia, after a series of referendums that Ukraine described as “fake” and were not recognized by the international community.

However, this annexation - according to the magazine - gave Russia the opportunity to threaten to use nuclear weapons to defend “its lands” “by all means,” considering that these four regions are Russian lands.

November 11, 2022.. Recapture of Kherson

After the start of a Ukrainian counterattack on August 29, 2022, the Ukrainian army entered Kherson, which constituted a great victory in Kiev, because this was Moscow's only location beyond the Dnieper River, and therefore it was difficult to defend, according to the magazine.

May 20, 2023.. Wagner claims control of Bakhmut

After months of faltering and slow progress for the Russian army, the late leader of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced that Bakhmut had been “completely captured,” but Ukrainian authorities confirmed that the city was not completely under Russian control, and that “some industrial facilities and infrastructure” were in the area. Bakhmut remains under its defence, stating that the “situation is critical” and that “intense fighting” continues.

June 8, 2023.. The beginning of the counterattack

Through this attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to penetrate the Russian defense between Zaporozhye and Donetsk, to reach the Sea of ​​Azov. For this purpose, Kiev mobilized 12 brigades, or about 35 thousand soldiers, but the operation was considered a failure by Putin and the Ukrainian General Staff itself, and indeed Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaloghny declared that Russia "will maintain superiority in weapons, equipment, missiles and ammunition for a long time."

June 23 and 24, 2023.. Wagner Rebellion

The Wagner paramilitary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, rebelled against Russia, and its leader accused Moscow of killing a large number of his forces by issuing orders to launch strikes on its camps. It advanced towards Moscow, but stopped about 200 kilometers from the capital, and it was announced that an agreement had been reached between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Prigozhin, and then between Putin and Prigozhin, despite promises of mutual annihilation.

On August 23, 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash with his partner, Dmitry Utkin, and the Wall Street Journal revealed on December 22, 2023 that the matter was planned, and that a bomb was placed under one of the wings of the plane.

February 1, 2024.. European assistance

European Union countries have reached an agreement on aid to Ukraine worth 50 billion euros over 4 years, ensuring “stable and long-term financing,” according to European Council President Charles Michael.

February 19, 2024.. Russia seizes Avdiivka

Russian forces occupied the town of Avdiivka, located in the Donetsk region, which is considered a major success for Moscow since the seizure of Bakhmut. Kiev holds Washington responsible for its absence from the front two months ago. The Ukrainian president condemns the “erosion of solidarity” of the international community, and admits that “the situation is very difficult at several points.” On the front line."

Source: Loops