TOPIC: A Timeline of The First Hours of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

 At 22:14pm (GMT) on the night of February 23rd, 2022, images came through which seemed to show a mass build up of Russian military forces around ten miles from the border of Ukraine. At 23:11, President Zelenksyy of Ukraine made an address in both Ukrainian and in Russian in which he urged for peace. He also mentioned that he had attempted to contact Russia, but was met with silence. At 03:03 on the 24th of February, President Putin of Russia appeared suddenly, declaring that Russia will conduct military operations in Ukraine, calling on the Ukrainian military to surrender. By 04:16, loud explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev as it became clear that Russia was launching a full scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The Russian Invasion

By 05:48 there were reports of intensive shelling into Ukraine, as well as fighting in the air as the Ukrainian air force attempted to repel Russian attacks. Though early reports were sketchy, it appeared that the Russian invasion was occurring from the North via Belarus, across the large eastern border as well as from the south via the annexed Crimean peninsula. 

At 06:07, Ukraine declared martial law, with President Zelenskyy boldly stating, 'We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will over everybody because we are Ukraine." In the following minutes air raid sirens were blaring across the capital, as cruise missiles rained down upon the city. Ukraine went on to declare that it had downed at least five Russian planes, as well as a helicopter, with Russian denying the claim. 

By 09:00, the situation was already developing rapidly. Ukraine had requested that Turkey close the Dardanelle straits to Russian shipping, whilst Russia closed the Azov Sea to all commercial shipping. Herein Ukraine stated that fifty Russian troops had been killed, whilst six planes had been downed. The stock market began to plummet across the world and other nations began announcing the formation of heavy sanctions against Vladimir Putin's Russia. 

At 10:08, Ukraine announced its severing of diplomatic relations with Russia. This followed a call by the Ukrainian President for Ukrainians to fight, declaring that weapons would be issued to anyone who wants them. It was becoming clear already that this would be a total war for the Ukrainian people. 

At 10:35, the mayor of Mariupol, a Ukrainian coastal city near the Russian border, stated that three civilians had been killed as Russian forces initiated an attack on a nearby village as well as the cities airport. "Don't Panic." He said. "We are ready to fight for Mariupol and Ukraine."

Ukrainian tanks near Mariupol

At 10:57, the Russian political opponent, Alexei Navalny declared his opposition to the war, calling it a deliberate act to distract from President Putin's domestic failures. Other key Russian anti-war activists have been arrested in the following hours. 

By 12:44 fighting appeared to be intensifying near the Ukrainian capital region at Russian forces attacked from the Belorussian border. Three Russian helicopters were said to have been shot down as Russian Grad rocket systems rained down heavy fire upon Kiev's airport. Not too long later, Wladimir Klitschko, the former boxing heavyweight champion from Ukraine appeared live to beg plead for help from the international community. He pleaded for the world to stop 'the killing of Ukrainians' and called the invasion, 'terrifying.' His brother, Vitali, is the current mayor of Kiev. 

Klitschko appeals for help.

13:47, Russia declared that 74 Ukrainian military facilities had been completely destroyed. Ukrainian police stated that attacks were occurring from all across the country, with 204 attacks logged just that morning. 

15:14, Kiev's mayor imposed a curfew on the capitol. Conflicting reports were emerging, but it is certain now that at least to some extent, Russian paratroopers have or are in control of elements of the capitals air infrastructure. Ukraine is attempting to initiate a counter attack, but these early signs are ominous when viewing Ukraine's defensive capabilities in the medium term. 

15:31, Battles are raging inside the former nuclear disaster site of Chernobyl, in northern Ukraine, whilst in the southern Kherson region, it is reported that Russia has seized significant swathes of territory.  

A Ukrainian woman injured by Russian airstrikes. For more images of the conflict see: https://news.sky.com/story/russia-ukraine-crisis-in-pictures-aftermath-of-explosions-and-tanks-on-the-streets-12550083

As things stand, the situation looks bleak for the people of Ukraine, Europe and the world. To keep up-to-date on the key happenings in Ukraine, please observe live reporting at:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/23/ukraine-declares-state-of-emergency-amid-fears-of-invasion-liveblog

Or 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60454795