Fact Check: Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Fact Check: "Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022"

What We Know

On February 24, 2022, Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that had begun in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the war in the Donbas region. This invasion has been described as the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II, leading to widespread military and civilian casualties. Reports indicate that tens of thousands of soldiers from both Ukraine and Russia have been killed, with civilian deaths exceeding 12,000 as of early 2025 (Three Years of the Russia-Ukraine War). The invasion involved simultaneous attacks by land, air, and sea, targeting major Ukrainian cities (Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia).

Analysis

The claim that Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, is supported by multiple credible sources. The Wikipedia entry on the Russian invasion of Ukraine explicitly states that this date marks the beginning of a full-scale military operation ordered by President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, a report from Reuters on the same day confirmed that Russian forces were targeting Ukrainian cities with missile strikes, further substantiating the claim (Russia has launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv says).

The reliability of these sources is high. Wikipedia is a well-regarded resource for initial information, although it should be supplemented with primary sources for in-depth research. The Reuters article is a direct news report from a reputable international news agency, known for its journalistic standards. Furthermore, the Britannica and Al Jazeera articles corroborate the timeline and details of the invasion, emphasizing its scale and impact.

While there are varying perspectives on the motivations behind the invasion, the factual occurrence of the invasion itself is well-documented and widely accepted in international discourse.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, is accurate. This date is recognized as the beginning of a significant military escalation in the ongoing conflict, supported by multiple reliable sources that detail the events of that day and the subsequent impact on Ukraine and Europe.

Sources

1. Three Years of the Russia-Ukraine War
2. Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia
3. Russian invasion of Ukraine - Wikipedia
4. Russia has launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv says
5. Russia-Ukraine War | Casualties, Map, Causes, & Significance | Britannica
6. Russian forces launch full-scale invasion of Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine
7. War in Ukraine | Global Conflict Tracker
8. Conflict in Ukraine: A timeline