At 5:00 AM on February 24, 2022, Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Missiles strike Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities. Columns of tanks enter from the north (Belarus), east and south.
Putin justifies the invasion with the need to "denazify" Ukraine — a baseless claim considering that President Zelensky is Jewish and the far right received 2% in elections.
The UN General Assembly condemns the invasion with resolution ES-11/1: 141 countries vote in favor, only 5 against (Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Syria).
The International Court of Justice orders Russia to immediately suspend military operations. Russia ignores the ruling.
The invasion causes the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, with over 6 million Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.