Russia-Ukraine War enters 4th year: A lowdown of key events

Zelenskyy said he could exchange his departure for Ukraine's entry into NATO.

He said he wanted to see US President Donald Trump as a partner to Ukraine, a role more than being just a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow.

"I really want it to be more than just mediation... that's not enough," he told a press conference in Kyiv.

Massive Attack

Ahead of the third anniversary, Russia launched 267 drones against Ukraine, one of the major attacks in the three-year timeline of the war.

In a Facebook post, Ukraine's Armed Force said: "On the night of February 23, 2025 (from 19.00 February 22) the opponent attacked 267-ma striking bpla type Shahed and imitatorami drones of different types from directions: Eagle, Bryansk, Kursk, Shatalovo, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia. , Chauda - Crimea, as well as three ballistic missiles iskander-m / kn-23 from Crimea."

According to media reports, the attacks caused damage to infrastructure in the war-hit country.

Thirteen regions in Ukraine were targeted by the attack.

Ukraine-Russia conflict completes third anniversary. Photo Courtesy: UNOCHA/Dmytro Filipskyy

Major events since 2022

Full-scale invasion: In 2014, two Ukrainian regions of  Donetsk and Luhansk broke away from the country in a move that is believed to be backed by Russia.

After the breakdown of the relationship with NATO and the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the territories as independent states in February 2022.

Days after Russia recognized the breakaway territories, Putin also declared a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

The invasion commenced in the Ukrainian territory of Donbas.

Apart from severing diplomatic ties with Russia, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law in his nation.

September 11, 2022:  Months after the Russian invasion, Ukrainian forces successfully pushed back opponent forces on September 11, 2022, reclaiming a large area which was occupied.

Ukraine regained a large portion of Kharkiv, forcing Putin to attack Ukrainian infrastructures and leaving the nation struggling without power and water.

October 5, 2022: Putin signed official papers to annex Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine. Putin took the stance after orchestrating 'referendums' that West and Ukraine dismissed as shams. The US and its allies responded by slapping sanctions on more than 1,000 Russian people and companies.

January 25, 2023: The United States and Germany announced the decision to send advanced battle tanks to aid Ukraine in its defence against Russian forces at a time when the war was nearing its first anniversary.

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

February 20, 2023: Former US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine and spent some time in Kyiv with Zelenskyy, walking around the city ahead of the first anniversary of a Russian invasion. During his joint remark with his Ukrainian President, Biden announced $500 million in additional assistance to the Eastern European country.

February 8, 2024: With counter-offensives not yielding much result, Zelenskyy announced on February 8, 2024 his decision to replace top army leader, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

April 20, 2024: The US House of Representatives passed a foreign aid package on April 20, 2024. It included a bill that provided more funding to aid Ukraine. The Ukraine bill, however, received less support from Republican members of Congress who voted against it. Despite opposition, the bill received enough support in favour for it to be passed.

August 6, 2024: Ukraine launched a surprising incursion in Russia's Kursk region, close to the border. It was claimed by certain media reports as the largest foreign attack launched on Russia since World War II. Amid the offensive, Ukraine took control of some Russian territory. Russia launched a counteroffensive against Ukraine in September. While Russia claimed the Ukraine incursion left several civilians dead, Kyiv responded by saying it did not target civilians.

October-November 2024: The war took a major turn late 2024 when Ukraine claimed North Korean troops were seen joining Russian forces in the fight against Kyiv.

Officials from the U.S., Ukraine and South Korea have since said there were 10,000 North Korean forces in Russia as of mid-November, with some engaging in combat in Kursk, reported US News.

UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson VII Photo | A woman walks past destroyed apartment buildings and vehicles in Chernihiv, Ukraine.

The future of the conflict was expected to take a new turn after Donald Trump's election as the new President who repeatedly criticized the scale of Western aid to Ukraine. He vowed to swiftly end the war after his inauguration on January 20, 2025. 

February 2025: The war did not end swiftly as promised by Trump but Russian and American officials met in Saudi Arabia on February 18 when they agreed to work towards ending the conflict. Surprisingly, no Ukrainian representative was invited to the meeting.

Zelenskyy told reporters as quoted by US News that the meeting was a “surprise” to him, and that Ukraine wants “no one to decide anything behind our backs.”

Meanwhile, Trump demanded full access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for further U.S. support.

In a social media post, Trump hit out at Zelenskyy by calling him a 'dictator without elections'.