This timeline of the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine covers a period of heightened tensions between Russia an

This timeline of the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine covers a period of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine from early 2021 until the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Prelude
(up to 23 February 2022)
Initial invasion
(24 February – 7 April 2022)
Southeastern front
(8 April – 28 August 2022)
2022 Ukrainian counteroffensives
(29 August – 11 November 2022)
Second stalemate
(12 November 2022 – 7 June 2023)
2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive
(8 June 2023 – 31 August 2023)
2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive, cont.
(1 September – 30 November 2023)
2023–2024 winter campaigns
(1 December 2023 – 31 March 2024)
2024 spring and summer campaigns
(1 April – 31 July 2024)
2024 summer–autumn offensives
(1 August – 31 December 2024)
2025 winter offensive
(1 January 2025 – present)

2021

2 September – Russia refuses to extend the mandate of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe mission at the Gukovo and Donetsk border checkpoints from 30 September onward.
11 November – The United States reports an unusual movement of Russian troops near the borders of Ukraine. By 20 November 2021, Ukraine had reported a build-up of 92,000 Russian troops.
7 December – US President Joe Biden warns President of Russia Vladimir Putin of "strong economic and other measures" if Russia attacks Ukraine.
17 December – Russian President Vladimir Putin proposes prohibiting Ukraine from joining NATO, which Ukraine rejects.

2022

January

17 January – Russian troops begin arriving in Russia's ally Belarus, ostensibly "for military exercises".
19 January – The US gives Ukraine $200 million in security aid.
19 January – President Biden states in a press conference: "Russia will be held accountable if it invades. And it depends on what it does."
24 January – NATO puts troops on standby.
25 January – Russian exercises involving 6,000 troops and 60 jets take place in Russia near Ukraine and Crimea.

February

10 February – Russia and Belarus begin 10 days of military maneuvers.
17 February – Fighting escalates in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine.
21 February – Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to enter the separatist republics in eastern Ukraine. He also announced Russian recognition of the two pro-Russian breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine (the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic). This announcement led to the first round of economic sanctions from NATO countries the following day.^{[citation needed]}

In Putin's televised "address concerning the events in Ukraine" before the announcement, he stated his belief that Vladimir Lenin was the "author and architect" of Ukraine and labeled Ukrainians who had taken down Lenin's monuments "ungrateful descendants", saying "This is what they call decommunization. Do you want decommunization? Well, that suits us just fine. But it is unnecessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunization means for Ukraine."

References

"Росія відмовилась продовжити мандат місії ОБСЄ на українсько-російському кордоні - ЗМІ". www.eurointegration.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-04-02.
"Soldiers, Separatists, Sanctions: A Timeline Of The Russia-Ukraine Crisis". Agence France-Presse. NDTV CONVERGENCE LIMITED. Agence France-Presse. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
Altman, Howard (November 20, 2021). "Russia preparing to attack Ukraine by late January: Ukraine defense intelligence agency chief". Military Times. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
"Remarks by President Biden in Press Conference". The White House. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
Roth, Andrew; Borger, Julian (2022-02-21). "Putin orders troops into eastern Ukraine on 'peacekeeping duties'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
Putin, Vladimir (2022-02-21). "Address by the president of the Russian Federation". Kremlin.ru. Moscow. Archived from the original on 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
"Extracts from Putin's speech on Ukraine". Reuters. 21 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.

[1] "Росія відмовилась продовжити мандат місії ОБСЄ на українсько-російському кордоні - ЗМІ". www.eurointegration.com.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-04-02.

[ndtv-2] "Soldiers, Separatists, Sanctions: A Timeline Of The Russia-Ukraine Crisis". Agence France-Presse. NDTV CONVERGENCE LIMITED. Agence France-Presse. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.

[3] Altman, Howard (November 20, 2021). "Russia preparing to attack Ukraine by late January: Ukraine defense intelligence agency chief". Military Times. Retrieved January 29, 2025.

[4] "Remarks by President Biden in Press Conference". The White House. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2023-09-30.

[5] Roth, Andrew; Borger, Julian (2022-02-21). "Putin orders troops into eastern Ukraine on 'peacekeeping duties'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-02-21.

[6] Putin, Vladimir (2022-02-21). "Address by the president of the Russian Federation". Kremlin.ru. Moscow. Archived from the original on 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-03-03.

[Reuters-2022-02-21-7] "Extracts from Putin's speech on Ukraine". Reuters. 21 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.