TIMELINE - Russia-Ukraine war hits 3-year mark amid ongoing turmoil (4)

Record ID: 1964067

  • Title: TIMELINE - Russia-Ukraine war hits 3-year mark amid ongoing turmoil (4)
  • Date: 20th February 2025
  • Summary: TIMELINE - Russia-Ukraine war hits 3-year mark amid ongoing turmoil (4) ***FILE FOOTAGE*** RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “(RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES 7RD SP MARINES , STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE, RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY, ODESA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION, UKRAINE INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY, 18TH SLAVIC BRIGADE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF UKRAINE, ” HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO —EDITORIAL USE ONLY— SHOTLIST: NEAR LYMAN, UKRAINE - (RELEASED ON JULY 18, 2023) (MUST CREDIT FRUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY – FOR EDITORIAL USE) 1. RUSSIAN SU-25SM FIGHTER JETS FLYING TO TARGETS 2. POV SHOT OF SU-25 FIRING MISSILES (TWO SHOTS) KRYVYI RIH, KHERSON, UKRAINE (JULY 31) (MUST CREDIT UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY – FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) 3. MASSIVE SMOKE RISING FROM DESTRUCTED PART OF MISSILE-HIT RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON AUGUST 7, 2023) (MUST CREDIT UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES 7RD SP MARINES – FOR EDITORIAL USE) 4. BOMB FALLING NEAR VEHICLE DRIVING ON DIRT ROAD ON FRONTLINE POKROVSK, UKRAINE (AUGUST 9, 2023) (AAVN - ACCESS ALL) 5. DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION IN RESIDENTIAL AREA (TWO SHOTS) 6. BICYCLE AMONG RUINS 7. CIVILIANS TALKING NEAR RUBBLE POKROVSK, UKRAINE (AUG. 1, 2023) (AAVN - ACCESS ALL) 8. VARIOUS OF OTHER CIVILIANS WALKING TOWARDS TRAIN, GETTING ON TRAIN, OR WAITING AROUND TRAIN ODESA, UKRAINE (AUGUST 14, 2023) (MUST CREDIT STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE – FOR EDITORIAL USE) 9. FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISHING FIRE DNIPRO, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON AUGUST 17, 2023) (MUST CREDIT RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY – FOR EDITORIAL USE) 10. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF MASSIVE FLAMES RISING FROM HIT TRAIN ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON AUG. 22, 2023) (MUST CREDIT STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE – FOR EDITORIAL USE) (NIGHT SHOTS) 11. VEHICLE ON FIRE 12. FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISHING FIRE KHARKIV, UKRAINE (NOV. 3, 2023) (AAVN - ACCESS ALL) 13. FLAMES RISING FROM BURNING BUILDINGS 14. FIRE FIGHTERS RESPONDING FIRE LVIV, UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 25, 2023) (AAVN – ACCESS ALL) 15. PARTICIPANTS LIGHTING CANDLES 16. VARIOUS OF CLERICS CHANTING HYMNS AS PEOPLE LISTENS THEM KYIV, UKRAINE (DECEMBER 13, 2023) (AAVN-ACCESS ALL) 17. DAMAGED BUILDING AND DEBRIS ON STREET ODESA, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON DEC. 29, 2023) (MUST CREDIT ODESA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION – FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) 18. FIRE FIGHTER RESPONDING FIRE (2 SHOTS) KUPIANSK, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON FEB. 28, 2024) (MUST CREDIT RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) 19. VARIOUS OF MILITARY VEHICLE WITH ROCKET LAUNCHER IN ITS TRUNK UNKOWN LOCATION, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON MARCH 7, 2024) (USERS MUST CREDIT TO UKRAINE INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY - EDITORIAL USE) 20. MOMENTS OF AIRSTRIKE FALLS NEAR CAR / DRIVER GETTING WOUNDED KHARKIV, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON APRIL 4, 2024) (IHOR VOLODYMYROVYCH KLYMENKO - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (NIGHT SHOTS) 21. RESCUE WORKER TALKING WITH CRYING MAN AND HUGGING HIM ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON APRIL 6, 2024) (NATIONAL POLICE OF UKRAINE - FOR EDITORIAL USE) 22. SMOKE RISING FROM BURNING VEHICLE 23. TEAM CARRYING INJURED PERSON AND PUTTING BACK OF PICKUP UKRAINE (OCT. 17, 2024) (MUST CREDIT TO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (FILE VIDEO) (NIGHT SHOTS) 24. VIDEO SHOWING ATACMS MISSILES BEING FIRED UKRAINE (RELEASED ON MAY 15, 2024) (MUST CREDIT TO RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) 25. VARIOUS OF GRAD MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHER SYSTEM TARGETING UKRAINIAN POSITIONS KYIV, UKRAINE (JULY 08, 2024) AAVN - ACCESS ALL) 26. SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS AFTER RUSSIAN ATTACK ON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN KYIV (2 SHOTS) DONETSK, UKRAINE (RELEASED ON AUG. 9, 2024) (MUST CREDIT TO 18TH SLAVIC BRIGADE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF UKRAINE - FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) 27. DRONE SHOTS OF DESTRUCTED BUILDINGS AND STREETS, WRECKAGE AND DEBRIS SCATTERED AROUND (2 SHOTS) KHARKIV OBLAST, UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 15, 2024) (AAVN – ACCES ALL) 28. SMOKE AND FLAMES RISES FROM BUILDING HIT BY RUSSIAN STRIKE 29. VARIOUS OF EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND FIREFIGHTERS AT STREETS TAKING SECURITY MEASURES AND HELPING CIVILIANS FOR EVACUATION UKRAINE (RELEASED ON OCT. 22, 2024) (STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE - RESTRICTED) 30. VARIOUS OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING EFFORTS / DEBRIS, RUBBLE UNKNOWN LOCATION (RELEASED ON OCT. 28, 2024) (RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY - RESTRICTED) 31. SMOKE RISING FROM TARGETED AREA SCRIPT Three years into the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict that has devastated communities, claimed countless lives, and left no sign of resolution amid escalating tensions. The war's third-year milestone is marked by Donald Trump's harsh words directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump stepped up his attacks on Zelenskyy, branding him a “dictator” and saying he “better move fast” on a deal to end the war with Russia. Trump called on Wednesday, Feb. 19, for Ukraine to hold elections as the US engages in peace talks with Russia that have so far excluded Kyiv. "It's wonderful to say, you know, we can't have an election, but it's time for elections, and it's also time to find out what happened with all the money, because he made the statement that half the money, he doesn't know where it is, or something like that," Trump said, referring to comments made by the Zelenskyy during a press interview earlier this month. "And I can tell you, we're doing very well with Russia. We're going to do something with Russia that he was unable to do. We could make a deal with Russia to stop the killing of potentially additional millions of people," he added. The president's comments came after US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia for the first high-level talks since Russia began its war on Ukraine in February 2022. The talks concluded with the delegations agreeing to hold additional rounds of discussions aimed at ending the war and improving bilateral ties. Zelenskyy bristled at not being included in the negotiations, as well as Trump's claims that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that began the ongoing war. Here are some of the major events that have taken place regarding both Moscow and Kyiv since the war began in Feb. 2022, with certain events changing the dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine war: - ‘Special military operation’ Russia started its "special military operation" on Feb. 24, 2022 and claimed that it is aimed at protecting people in the eastern region of Ukraine. Luhansk and Donetsk together comprise the Russian-speaking Donbas region, which has remained a focus of Moscow’s ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine. Just before launching its war in February last year, Moscow recognized both territories as “independent people’s republics.” In the initial phase of the war, Russian forces made significant advances toward Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. Fierce clashes occurred in Irpin and Bucha, with the latter gaining global attention as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of committing war crimes there, a claim denied by Moscow. In late March, Russia announced it would “radically reduce activity” in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, while Ukraine said on April 2 that it retook control of the entire Kyiv region. Bakhmut is also one of the hardest-hit regions of the Ukraine-Russia war. It is a large transport hub through which Ukrainian troops in Donbas are supplied with weapons, military equipment and ammunition. Shortly after the war started on Feb. 24, the city of Izium in the northeastern region of Kharkiv also became the hotspot of intense fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian forces. - Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant On Mar. 1, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest and one of the world’s 10 biggest nuclear power plants, went under Russian control, which was also confirmed by Ukrainian authorities on March 3. Zaporizhzhia has been under threat from military fire due to its proximity to the conflict zone between Moscow and Kyiv. Moscow and Kyiv have since regularly accused each other of shelling the plant and its surroundings, stoking fears of a nuclear catastrophe. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been under Russia's control since March 2022. - Bucha events In the early stages of the war, reports of vehement criticism targeted Russia for what Ukraine has said was a “genocide” and “war crimes” in Bucha, a town near the capital Kyiv. In early April, Ukrainian presidential aide Podolyak said civilians in Bucha were found dead with their hands tied as Russian troops withdrew from their offensive toward Kyiv. Zelenskyy said that the killings of civilians in Bucha are tantamount to "genocide," and that those responsible should be held accountable. - Grain deal Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine reached an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports that were suspended due to the war. Under the deal, a coordination center was established to conduct joint inspections at entrances and exits of harbors and ensure the safety of routes. The deal, initially set for a period of 120 days, was renewed several times, before Russia eventually pulled out in July 2023. - Explosion at Crimean Bridge On Oct. 8, a powerful blast shook the Crimean Bridge, a critical connection between mainland Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. The explosion killed three people and exposed the vulnerability of strategic infrastructure in the region. Putin described the explosion as a “terrorist attack” and put the responsibility on Ukrainian intelligence, while Kyiv has not explicitly claimed responsibility. However, multiple statements by top Ukrainian officials in the hours after the attack pointed to such a possibility, including one from presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak, who said the blast was just “the beginning.” In retaliation, Russia began to undertake daily strikes on key Ukrainian infrastructure, including energy and military facilities, resulting in air raid alerts being sounded by Ukrainian authorities. - Withdrawal from Kherson On Nov. 9, 2022, Russia ordered its troops to withdraw from Kherson, a port city in southern Ukraine, to the left bank of the Dnieper River. Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said the decision was taken to save the lives of Russian soldiers. Two days later, the Defense Ministry announced that Russian forces had completed their withdrawal across the river. The Ukrainian military entered Kherson after Russia's withdrawal from the region, a retreat President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of several Western countries hailed as a “significant victory.” - Drones above the Kremlin On May 3, 2023, Moscow said it had shot down two Ukrainian drones over Putin’s Kremlin residence, calling it a “terrorist” plot to assassinate the Russian president. Zelenskyy flatly denied any involvement, emphasizing that Ukraine's focus was on reclaiming its own territories rather than attacking foreign nations. - Cluster bombs, depleted uranium shells, longer-range missiles On July 8, President Biden announced that the US had started deliveries of cluster munitions to Ukraine due to a lack of conventional shells, calling it “a temporary measure.” On Sept. 6, the US unveiled another $175 million military assistance package for Ukraine, which included depleted uranium shells. Ukraine also received Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles from Western allies, with a target range of over 800 kilometers (500 miles), forcing Russia to pull out warships of its Black Sea Fleet from the port of Sevastopol. - US approves Ukraine's use of long-range missiles for strikes inside Russia Outgoing US President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the US for "limited strikes" within Russian territory in a major policy shift, US media reported Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. The decision follows reports of North Korea sending troops to support Moscow’s war effort, The Washington Post reported, citing two US officials. A senior US official said the move also aims to deter further North Korean involvement in Russia's war on Ukraine, which was launched in February 2022. Previously, Washington opposed Ukraine using the long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against Russian targets, citing concerns over potential retaliation from Russia. - Clashes in Kursk region In November 2024, both Ukrainian and Western officials claimed that over 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed in Kursk to push out Kyiv's forces from the border region. Neither North Korea nor Russia has commented on the allegations, though the Kremlin has asserted its right to build relations with Pyongyang, describing it as a matter of Russian sovereignty. In December, Ukraine claimed that its forces inflicted over 30 North Korean casualties in Russia’s border region of Kursk, where Kyiv launched an incursion back in August. In January, the Russian army in the Kursk region claimed that its forces were advancing in all directions, having liberated 63.2% of the territory initially occupied by Ukrainian troops. The ministry claimed in a statement that Ukraine has suffered significant losses and is retreating from previously held positions. Kyiv's incursion into the Kursk region began on the night of Aug. 5-6, when Ukrainian forces entered near the town of Sudzha, approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the border. Putin condemned the incursion as a “large-scale provocation” and an act of “indiscriminate shooting,” calling it a “terrorist attack.” Zelenskyy later said the aim was to create a “buffer zone” to protect against cross-border attacks from Russia. - Moscow's advance in Ukraine’s Donetsk region Russia has frequently reported gains in recent months in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, where the Russian army is reportedly making advances amid ongoing clashes. The areas around Pokrovsk and Kurakhove have seen heightened military activity. In January, Russia also claimed that its forces had captured the city of Kurakhove, a key Ukrainian stronghold and supply hub in the Donetsk region. The Russian Defense Ministry, in a statement, said the settlement was defended by some 15,000 Ukrainian troops. - NATO launches Ukraine support command in Germany In December, NATO's new Ukraine command in Germany started operations. The NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) in Wiesbaden, staffed by 700 personnel from across the alliance, was set to oversee weapons deliveries and training programs for Ukrainian forces, taking over from a smaller US-led mission. The command took over from the 300-person US-led Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) that managed support operations since the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022. NATO leaders approved the creation of the NSATU command in Germany during their Washington summit in July. - Zelenskyy says he wants Trump to help end war with Russia On Dec. 19, Zelenskyy voiced hope that the then-US President-elect Donald Trump could play a role in bringing an end to the war with Russia. "I want very much for Trump to help us and to finish this war," Zelenskyy said at a news conference in Brussels, where he is attending an EU Council meeting. He emphasized the critical importance of US support for peace and its role for shaping the outcome of the conflict with Russia. "We are waiting for the inauguration of the new president, Donald Trump, and we would like to start having a serious plan of how to stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," he added. Zelenskyy also pointed to the possibility of negotiations with Putin, saying: "I very much want peace. But how to end the war without negotiations with Putin?" Trump previously stated that if reelected, he could end the conflict within 24 hours, but he has yet to elaborate on the specifics of his plan. On the same day, Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s willingness to negotiate with Ukraine, asserting that Russia has consistently sought a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Speaking at his annual year-end news conference and call-in show in Moscow, Putin criticized Ukraine and its Western allies for what he described as their refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue. - Russia, Ukraine swap 300 prisoners of war On Dec. 30, Russia and Ukraine swapped 300 prisoners of war, the Russian Defense Ministry announced. Moscow and Kyiv have carried out almost 60 prisoner exchanges since the Russia-Ukraine war began on Feb. 24, 2022. - Zelenskyy says he has no doubt Trump is ‘willing, capable’ of ending Ukraine war Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his New Year address to the nation that he has no doubts that US President-elect Donald Trump is “willing and capable” of ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. “I have no doubt that the new American President is willing and capable of achieving peace and ending (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s aggression. He understands that the first is impossible without the second. Because this is not a street fight where you have to calm down both sides,” Zelenskyy said in the video address shared on his social media accounts. Expressing that Ukraine is not alone in the conflict, thanks to its partners, Zelenskyy particularly pointed to Washington’s position alongside his country, expressing that he believes the US will also stand with Kyiv “in the first minutes of peace.” - Putin says Ukraine war will end in month or two if West cuts support for Kyiv On Jan. 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Ukraine war will end in a month or two if Kyiv runs out of ammunition, pointing out to Western military aid that he claims has prolonged the conflict. “They will not last a month if the money and, in a broad sense, the bullets stop. That's it! It will all end in a month or a month and a half, two,” Putin said in an interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin during a visit to the Samara region. He said his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy is "illegitimate," whose term in office was supposed to end in May 2024, but no presidential election has since been held. Ukrainian authorities say wartime conditions do not allow for a vote to take place. - UN report from February 2022 to February 2025 The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine released a fact sheet on Feb. 17 which "summarizes the cumulative impact of the Russian Federation's full scale invasion of Ukraine on human rights and civilian protection". At least 12,654 civilians have been killed (including 673 children) and 29,392 injured since 24 February 2022, according to the report, with the majority of the casualties (84 per cent) were recorded in territories controlled by Ukrainian authorities. The number of civilian casualties increased by 30 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023, the report noted. Millions have been displaced, thousands have lost their homes, and hundreds of medical and educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed, significantly impacting people’s rights to health and education, the UN report reveals. Earlier reports also revealed that over 14 million people – nearly one third of Ukraine's population – have fled their homes since the start of the conflict. Families have been separated, children left homeless, and communities destroyed.  - Over 200,000 people fled their homes in eastern Ukraine in last 6 months The UN refugee agency on Tuesday, Feb. 18, said more than 200,000 people have fled their homes in eastern Ukraine as attacks increased in the last six months alone. "As human suffering continues, providing immediate life-saving assistance to those most affected as well as opportunities to recover is more needed than ever," Philippe Leclerc, the UNHCR director of the regional bureau for Europe, told a UN briefing in Geneva. Leclerc said the agency estimated that 10.6 million Ukrainians are displaced -- almost a quarter of its pre-war population. Inside Ukraine, he added, as many as 3.7 million have been uprooted and 6.9 million refugees continue to receive protection abroad. More than 2 million homes across Ukraine, 10% of the housing stock, have been damaged or destroyed, he said, adding that repeated attacks on energy infrastructure continue to plunge people into cold and darkness, while further disrupting strained local services. As the three-year-long war continues, the regional director said children are particularly vulnerable, with 1.5 million at risk of long-term mental health consequences.
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