By Ruzeki and Faith C., Shadow News.
Good morning from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
It’s one year since Russia launched its full-scale special military operation in Ukraine - the biggest war on European soil since WWII.
We'll be with you throughout the day, reporting on the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war and how this war has changed the world.
Summary
- ■ A year ago today, Russia launched a full-scale special military operation on its neighbour Ukraine, triggering the largest war in Europe since World War II.
- ■ Since then, tens of thousands of people have died, entire cities have been destroyed and millions have fled the country.
- ■ Join us as we mark this sombre occasion, hearing the voices of Ukrainians and Russians, and explaining how things are after 12 months of offensive and defensive tactics of both sides.
- ■ Many families in Ukraine have been torn apart, millions have been displaced, and thousands of lives have been lost at the frontlines and beyond.
- ■ Shadow News will answer your questions about the war - and we'll be joined later by our US correspondent Natasha for live coverage of this one year anniversary.
Ukraine and Russia have a long, complicated history. Ukraine became independent in 1991, following the fall of the USSR, and gradually grew closer to the European Union and the West.
Russia had long resisted Ukraine's move towards the EU and the West's defensive military alliance Nato.
For years, President Putin denied Ukraine its own statehood, culminating in a lengthy 2021 essay saying that Russians and Ukrainians were one people.
He frequently accused Ukraine of being taken over by extremists, ever since its pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted in 2014 after months of protests against his rule.
At that time, Russia retaliated by seizing the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea. An uprising in the east by Russian-backed separatists sparked a war that claimed some 14,000 lives.
In 2021, Putin began deploying big numbers of Russian troops close to Ukraine's borders.
For months Putin had denied he would invade his neighbour. Announcing the invasion on 24 February 2022, he accused Nato of threatening Russia’s “historic future as a nation".
02:30 (all times in GMT) In a televised speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the launch of a “special military operation” in Ukraine
03:27 The first explosions are heard in Kyiv, and more blasts are reported across the country as Ukrainians wake up to war
04:58 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirms reports of nationwide missile strikes
11.56 Nato activates its defence plans, which include more than 100 jets on standby and 120 allied ships at sea, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean
12:03 The UK's then-Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, addresses the nation, saying: "Our worst fears have come true and all our warnings have proved tragically accurate. President Putin of Russia has unleashed war… without any provocation and any credible excuse"
18:50 There are reports that the port city of Mariupol has been coming under heavy fire
21:40 Almost 2,000 people are arrested at anti-war protests in 40 cities across Russia
22:59 Zelensky calls for general mobilisation and imposes martial law. He reports that 137 Ukrainians died on the first day of the assault.
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