When Did War In Ukraine Begin

So, you've been wondering, "When did the whole Ukraine-Russia thing kick off?" Well, buckle up, 'cause we're about to dive into a little history lesson that's as easy to digest as your grandma's apple pie. Grab a cup of joe, get comfy, and let's chat about this like we're old pals.

Let's Set the Stage

Imagine you're at a big, fancy party. Russia and Ukraine are like two cousins who've always been close, but lately, they've been having some... tensions. They've been sharing the same dance floor for centuries, but now, Russia's starting to feel like Ukraine's getting a little too cozy with some other partners. You know how it is, right? Awkward family dynamics.

Fast Forward to 2014

Now, picture this: Ukraine's president at the time, Viktor Yanukovych, is like the DJ at our party. He's been playing Russia's tunes all night, but suddenly, he decides to switch it up and play some Western tracks. Russia's not too happy about this musical change, and pretty soon, the dance floor's a mess of pushing and shoving.

Yanukovych gets ousted in a revolution called Euromaidan, and Ukraine's new DJs start playing a whole different tune. They want to join the EU and NATO, which is like inviting some new friends to the party that Russia's not too keen on. Tensions are rising, and it's getting harder to ignore the elephant in the room.

When the Music Stopped

In February 2014, Yanukovych flees the country, and a few months later, Crimea - a region in southern Ukraine - starts feeling a little too left out of the party. It's like the kid at the back of the classroom who's had enough of being ignored. With a little help from Russia, Crimea decides to throw its own party next door. They hold a referendum and, ta-da, Crimea joins Russia.

But wait, there's more! Ukraine's not too happy about this sudden departure and sues Russia at the International Court of Justice. It's like when your friend borrows your favorite shirt without asking and you have to set some boundaries.

Ukraine war in maps: Tracking the Russian invasion - BBC News

When the Party Moved to the East

Now, let's fast forward to April 2014. Eastern Ukraine starts feeling like it's missing out on the fun too. With a little Russian encouragement, pro-Russian separatists start causing a ruckus in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. It's like they're trying to start their own mosh pit, but Ukraine's not having it.

Ukraine's army starts trying to restore order, and that's when things start getting serious. The separatists are getting help from Russia - weapons, soldiers, you name it. It's like Russia's decided to join the mosh pit too, but it's getting way too crowded, and people are starting to get hurt.

When the Party Got Too Wild

In July 2014, a Malaysian Airlines flight gets shot down over eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board are killed. It's like someone threw a Molotov cocktail into the middle of our party, and now everyone's scrambling to put out the flames.

The Russo-Ukrainian war | The University of Tokyo

International sanctions are imposed on Russia, and the United Nations gets involved. It's like the party's gone from a wild rave to a serious intervention. But Russia's not backing down. It's still supporting the separatists, and the fighting in eastern Ukraine continues.

Where We Are Now

Fast forward to 2022, and Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, is making some big announcements. He recognizes the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine. It's like he's decided to invite those separatists to his own private party, and Ukraine's not invited.

Then, on February 24, 2022, Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The party's gone from a wild b