Russia–Ukraine War
Background and Timeline
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, following the initial seizure of Crimea in 2014 and support for separatist forces in eastern Donbas from 2014 onwards. The 2022 invasion constitutes one of the largest armed conflicts in Europe since the Second World War.
- Russia recognised the Donetsk and Luhansk "People's Republics" as independent entities on 21 February 2022, and launched the full invasion three days later.
- The UN General Assembly passed Resolution ES-11/1 (2 March 2022) by 141 votes, demanding that Russia immediately cease hostilities and withdraw forces — one of the strongest UNGA condemnations in history.
- Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the invasion (25 February 2022), underscoring the structural limitation of the P5 veto in collective security enforcement.
- As of May 2026, the war has entered its fifth year with no ceasefire; front lines have shifted across eastern and southern Ukraine.
● Tracked since February 21, 2026 · last seen May 15, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief