When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” on February 24, 2022, few could have predicted the sheer scale, duration, and global repercussions of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. More than three years on, the war has evolved into a grinding, high-intensity conflict reshaping European security, global energy markets, defence alliances, and geopolitical dynamics far beyond the region.
What began as a swift attempt to topple Kyiv and install a pro-Moscow regime turned into a prolonged war of attrition marked by shifting frontlines, devastating human tolls, and increasingly sophisticated weaponry. The Ukrainian resistance – fuelled by Western military aid, battlefield innovation, and strong national resolve – has defied Russian expectations, reclaiming large swaths of territory and mounting cross-border strikes deep inside Russia itself. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has responded with massive drone and missile barrages targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, conscripting hundreds of thousands into its military, and leaning on countries like North Korea and Iran for supplies and support.
This timeline tracks the key events in reverse chronological order – from Ukraine's most recent long-range drone strikes on Russian airbases to the earliest days of the invasion. It offers a detailed look at how the war has unfolded, highlighting the turning points, the battles, the international responses, and the evolving strategies on both sides.
2025 - A year of peace talks, escalation, drone warfare
June 2: Russia and Ukraine on Monday swapped plans for ending their three-year war during talks in Istanbul aiming to find a way out of Europe's largest conflict since World War II.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said any deal must not "reward" Russian leader Vladimir Putin, but said Kyiv was willing to take the "necessary steps for peace".
Urged on by US President Donald Trump, Moscow and Kyiv have opened direct negotiations for the first time since the early weeks of Russia's invasion, but have yet to make progress towards an agreement.
June 2: Ukraine and Russia commence negotiations in Istanbul following significant military escalations. Ukraine demands a full ceasefire, the return of prisoners, and the repatriation of abducted children. Russia maintains its territorial claims over occupied Ukrainian regions.
June 1: In a covert operation named "Spider Web," Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) launches drone attacks on four Russian airbases, destroying over 40 military aircraft, including strategic bombers. Drones were reportedly launched from concealed compartments in trucks smuggled into Russia.
May 31: Russia launches 472 drones and seven missiles at Ukraine, marking the largest drone assault since the war's inception. Ukraine's air defenses intercept 385 drones.
May 18: Ukrainian forces launch a cross-border operation into Russia's Belgorod region, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. Ukraine confirms the presence of its troops in the region.
April 14: A day after a major Russian attack kills 35 people and injures 117 others in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, Trump again blames Zelensky for starting the war, saying: “You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles.”
April 10: Defence ministers from 30 nations meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss a “coalition of the willing” peacekeeping force to guarantee Ukraine’s security once a peace deal is agreed.
April 8: President Zelensky announces that Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting with the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region.
April 1: Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, says Moscow cannot accept the US peace proposals as they currently stand.
March 30: In an interview with NBC News, President Trump says he was “very angry” when President Putin criticised the credibility of President Zelensky’s leadership, adding that the comments were “not going in the right location.”
March 28: Speaking in the northwestern Russian city of Murmansk, Putin proposes the establishment of an interim government in Ukraine under UN supervision, “in order to hold a democratic election there, in order to bring in a competent government trusted by people.” Putin cites the UN’s involvement in countries such as East Timor, New Guinea, and parts of the former Yugoslavia as examples in which the UN took over the administration of and transition to independence.
March 19: Presidents Trump and Zelensky hold a “very good telephone call” in what is their first conversation since clashing at the White House three weeks earlier.
March 18: Presidents Trump and Putin hold direct talks on the telephone “about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.” Putin agrees to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily, and the two leaders commit to negotiations on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.
March 11: The US and Ukraine release a statement backing an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, following further talks in Saudi Arabia. The joint statement also says the US has reinstated intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
February 28: President Zelensky visits President Trump at the White House. The two leaders clash during a televised meeting in the Oval Office, with Trump telling Zelensky he needs to be more thankful and that Zelensky is “gambling with World War Three”. After the meeting ends, Trump posts on his Truth Social platform that he has “determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace.” A scheduled press conference is later cancelled. Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, says Zelensky’s visit to Washington was a “complete diplomatic failure of Kyiv” and that the Ukrainian president is “obsessed” with prolonging the war.
February 24: A dozen foreign leaders visit Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. They include then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, several European prime ministers, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa.
February 23: Speaking to reporters during a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky says he is prepared to resign from his post in exchange for peace or NATO membership for Ukraine.
2024: The rise of drone warfare and tactical deadlock
December: A winter wave of Russian missile and drone attacks devastates Ukraine’s energy grid, leaving millions without electricity. Ukrainian cities rely heavily on generators and international aid.
September: Ukraine claims progress around the towns of Robotyne and Verbove in the southern front, penetrating Russian defensive lines, though gains remain limited and costly.
July: At the NATO summit in Washington, allies reaffirm long-term support for Ukraine but decline to offer formal membership, citing risks of direct war with Russia.
June 27: The European Union signs a security agreement with Ukraine.
April–June: Ukrainian forces use unmanned naval drones and precision strikes to hit Russian ships and infrastructure in occupied Crimea, including the Sevastopol naval base.
March 15-17: The presidential election in Russia takes place. Putin wins the election, securing a fifth term in office.
January: Ukraine and Russia both increase reliance on drones for surveillance and strikes. Ukraine begins developing long-range drones with Western components to target Russian assets deep behind the lines.
2023: Counteroffensives and stalled progress
November: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Washington amid concerns of war fatigue. He secures a new aid package, including air defense systems and long-range munitions.
June–October: Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive begins, targeting Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. Despite new Western-supplied tanks and weapons, progress is slowed by dense Russian minefields and layered defenses.
May: After months of brutal fighting, Ukrainian forces pull back from the city of Bakhmut. Russian troops, including Wagner mercenaries, claim control but suffer major losses.
2022: Invasion, resistance, and early turning points
December: Russia intensifies attacks on energy infrastructure, using drones and missiles to plunge cities into darkness during winter. Ukraine begins constructing underground shelters and power stations.
November: In a major strategic victory, Ukrainian forces reclaim the southern city of Kherson. Russian troops withdraw across the Dnipro River.
June–October: Advanced weapons systems, including HIMARS, begin arriving in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces conduct successful counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson regions.
May: After nearly three months of siege, Russian forces seize the devastated port city of Mariupol. The last Ukrainian defenders at the Azovstal steel plant surrender.
March–April: Ukrainian resistance forces Russia to withdraw from the Kyiv region. Civilian massacres in Bucha and other suburbs spark global outrage and war crimes investigations.
February 24: Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, striking from the north (via Belarus), the south (via Crimea), and the east. Major cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mariupol come under immediate attack.
As the war enters its fourth year, both Ukraine and Russia show no signs of backing down. Drone warfare, hybrid strikes, and sabotage have replaced large-scale offensives. Talks in Istanbul offer a flicker of diplomacy, but mutual distrust runs deep. With the West recalibrating its support and Russia doubling down militarily, the path to peace remains elusive.
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