Four years of eternity.
BBC World Service – Continuing Coverage – Invasion of Ukraine (3 Hours) – February 24, 2022
Echo Of Moscow – Vladimir Putin Address (in progress) – February 21, 2022 – In Russian.
Four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s advance has settled into a slow war of attrition. A new report warns that the number of soldiers killed, injured or missing on both sides could soon hit 2 million.
Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022 saw rapid advances toward Kyiv, but Ukrainian resistance pushed Russian troops back. Kyiv later reclaimed Kherson, while Russia captured Bakhmut after a brutal siege. Ukraine’s counteroffensive brought limited gains, followed by a brief incursion into Russia’s Kursk region. By 2026, Russia held about 20% of Ukraine, amid heavy casualties and renewed Ukrainian advances.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “conse-quences they have never seen.” He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine — a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion. In a televised address, Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and o er Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia’s goal was not to occupy Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the “unprovoked and unjustified” attack on Ukraine and said the world will “hold Russia accountable.” As Putin spoke, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine.
A full-blown Russian invasion could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. And the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent. He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a “de-militarization” of Ukraine. Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to “immediately put down arms and go home.” Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian “aggression.” The announcement immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned. A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.
“The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. “But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.” Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.
As a reminder – two audio clips: The first is a three hour snippet of continuous coverage from the BBC World Service from February 24, 2022 and the second is Vladimir Putin’s address (in progress) via Echo Of Moscow Radio from February 21, 2022. The Putin address and commentary are in Russian and recorded as they happened. Sadly, there is no translation.
