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Fact Check: Russia didn’t start war on Ukraine

Fact Check: "Russia didn’t start war on Ukraine"

What We Know

The claim that "Russia didn’t start war on Ukraine" is factually incorrect. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated significantly on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking the largest war in Europe since World War II (source-1). This invasion followed years of conflict that began in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in eastern Ukraine, specifically in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions (source-2).

Prior to the invasion, there was a significant military buildup along Ukraine's borders, which Western intelligence agencies had warned about (source-1). The Russian government, under President Vladimir Putin, framed the invasion as a "special military operation" aimed at "liberating" Ukraine from its leadership, which they falsely characterized as "Nazi" (source-1).

The conflict has resulted in severe humanitarian crises, including mass civilian deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure (source-1).

Analysis

The assertion that Russia did not start the war contradicts a wealth of documented evidence. The invasion on February 24, 2022, was a clear act of aggression that escalated a conflict that had already been ongoing since 2014. The Russo-Ukrainian War began with Russia's annexation of Crimea, which was widely condemned as illegal by the international community (source-7).

Furthermore, the timeline of events leading to the invasion indicates a pattern of Russian aggression, including military buildups and demands for Ukraine to abandon its aspirations for NATO membership (source-5). The claim lacks credible support and is often propagated by sources that may have a pro-Russian bias, which diminishes their reliability.

In contrast, reputable sources such as the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute and Britannica provide thorough accounts of the events leading up to the invasion, emphasizing that Russia's actions were premeditated and aggressive (source-1, source-7).

Conclusion

The claim that "Russia didn’t start war on Ukraine" is False. The evidence overwhelmingly indicates that Russia initiated the conflict with its invasion on February 24, 2022, following years of aggressive actions beginning with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The historical context and documented events clearly demonstrate that Russia is the aggressor in this ongoing war.