The Russian attack on Ukraine began very early in the morning of Thursday, February 24. According to Moscow, the reason was the situation in eastern Ukraine, where it had just recognized two areas of separatists as independent. There were also civilian casualties, but it is not known how many.
Thousands of Russians have been killed, according to the Ukrainian government. It is not known how many soldiers were killed on both sides.
Russia has advanced in the north to the outskirts of Kiev, occupying border areas in the east and northeast. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, is under attack. In the south, Russian troops have advanced from Crimea to the port city of Kherson on the Dnieper River and threaten the city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov further east.