Fact Check: Russia started the war on Ukraine

Fact Check: "Russia started the war on Ukraine"

What We Know

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that began in 2014. This invasion is widely recognized as the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II. Prior to the invasion, there was a substantial build-up of Russian military forces along Ukraine's borders, and Western intelligence agencies had warned that an attack was imminent (source-1). Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the invasion by claiming it was a "special military operation" aimed at protecting Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine and "liberating" the country from its leadership, which he described as "Nazi" (source-1).

The conflict's roots trace back to 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. This earlier phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with over 14,000 deaths reported by 2021 (source-1). The invasion in 2022 was characterized by widespread atrocities, including civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure, which further galvanized international support for Ukraine (source-1).

Analysis

The assertion that "Russia started the war on Ukraine" is supported by a substantial body of evidence. The invasion on February 24, 2022, is a clear act of aggression initiated by Russia, following years of military and political maneuvers aimed at undermining Ukrainian sovereignty. Putin's speech on February 21, 2022, which outlined grievances against Ukraine and the West, serves as a pretext for the invasion, reflecting a long-standing belief among Russian leadership that Ukrainian statehood is illegitimate (source-2).

The credibility of the sources providing this information is high. Reports from established institutions like Harvard University and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) offer detailed analyses of the conflict's origins and implications. These sources are backed by extensive research and expert insights, making them reliable for understanding the complexities of the situation (source-1, source-2). Furthermore, the timeline of events leading up to the invasion, documented by multiple news outlets, corroborates the claim that Russia was the aggressor in this conflict (source-4).

Conclusion

The claim that "Russia started the war on Ukraine" is True. The evidence clearly indicates that Russia initiated the conflict with its invasion in February 2022, following years of escalating tensions and military actions that undermined Ukraine's sovereignty. The invasion has been widely condemned internationally and is recognized as a significant violation of international law.