International Writing (EFE).- At 3 in the morning (GMT time) on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the entry of Russian troops into Ukrainian territory: a “special operation” began that was intended to be quick but which, to this day, one year later, has claimed more than 8,000 civilian lives, countless military casualties, has caused 8 million refugees and has led the world to a military escalation and an economic crisis like not seen since the end of the Second World War.
US diplomacy had already been warning that the invasion was imminent.
This was the sequence of events (GMT hours) on the day the invasion of Ukraine began and once again Europe was torn apart by war.
- 02.50 GMT.– UN Secretary General António Guterres has appealed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin not to launch an attack on Ukraine amid repeated reports of an imminent invasion.
- 03.00 GMT.– Russia launches a military operation in eastern Ukraine to, in Putin’s words, protect people from “abuses and genocide” by the Ukrainian government for eight years.
- 03.07.- At the extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vasili Nebenzia, stresses the objective set by Putin to justify the invasion.
- 03.31.- The president of the United States, Joe Biden, accuses Vladimir Putin of launching an “unprovoked and unjustified” attack against Ukraine and of betting on a “premeditated war” that will cause “catastrophic” losses.
- 04.20.- In his speech announcing the “special military operation” in Ukraine, Putin urges the Ukrainian military to lay down their arms and go home, and ensures that those who do so will be able to freely leave the combat zone and return to their families .
- 04.29.– The Ukrainian government assures that Ukraine will defend itself against the invasion and that it will win.
- 04.57.- The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, imposes martial law throughout the country after the start of a military operation by Russia.
- 04.58.- Russia closes airspace to civil aircraft on its western border with Ukraine and Belarus, according to a notice issued by Russian aviation authorities.
- 05.08.– The UN asks Russia to back down and says that “this war does not make sense”
- 05.10.- In a video posted on his Telegram account, the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, reports Russian attacks against the infrastructure of his country’s Armed Forces.
- 05.25.- Ukraine orders the closure of its airspace after the start of the military operation launched by Russia.
- 05.27.– US President Joe Biden talks to Volodymyr Zelensky, promising to work for international condemnation of the attack on Russia.
- 05.31.- The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) classifies Ukraine as an active conflict zone.
- 05.35.- The Russian stock index MOEX suspends all trading on the floor until further notice, after Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine.
- 06.00.- The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, assured in a telephone conversation with Zelenski that “the West will not wait” while Russia attacks Ukraine.
- 06.22.- The Russian Armed Forces assure that they have neutralized the anti-aircraft defense of Ukraine and destroyed the infrastructure of the air bases of this country.
- 06.46.– The price of Brent crude for delivery in April shoots above 102 dollars, its highest value since July 2014.
- 07.02.- French President Emmanuel Macron calls for Russia to “immediately” suspend its military operations in Ukraine.
- 07.17.– The Bank of Russia announces that it will take additional measures to stabilize the financial market after the 10% drop in the ruble, the national currency.
- 08.17.- Ukraine claims that its army recaptured the city of Shchastia in the Lugansk region, and annihilated 50 Russian troops.
- 10.37.– NATO holds a meeting under Article 4 of the Alliance, which is activated when one of the member countries feels threatened.
- 11.00.- NATO announces that it “will not intervene” directly in Ukraine, but will act with a “deterrent” role in neighboring coalition partner countries.
- 16.21.- The MOEX index of the Russian Stock Market closed with a fall of 33.28% on the first day of the war.
- 06.18.- The Russian Army occupies the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant after heavy fighting against the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
- 18.55.- The Moscow police detain some 600 people who participated in an unauthorized protest against the war.
- 20.22.– The leaders of the European Union (EU) agree to new sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, which affect the financial sector, energy, dual-use goods, transport or visas.
- 22.55.- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reports the death of 137 Ukrainians on the first day of the Russian attack on the country.