Fact Check: "Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022"
What We Know
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that had begun in 2014 with Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine (Wikipedia). This invasion involved extensive military operations across multiple regions of Ukraine, including missile strikes on major cities and ground troop movements (New York Times). The invasion was characterized by Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a "special military operation," which he claimed was aimed at supporting the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk (Wikipedia).
The invasion resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with millions of Ukrainians displaced and significant civilian casualties reported (BBC). By April 2023, over 8 million Ukrainians had fled the country, creating one of the largest refugee crises in Europe since World War II (Wikipedia).
Analysis
The claim that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022 is supported by multiple credible sources. The Wikipedia entry on the Russian invasion provides a detailed timeline and context, confirming that the invasion commenced on February 24, 2022, following a buildup of Russian troops along Ukraine's borders in late 2021 (Wikipedia). The New York Times also corroborates this timeline, noting that the invasion marked a dramatic escalation of the conflict that had been ongoing since 2014 (New York Times).
Additionally, BBC reports detail the initial military actions taken by Russia, including missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, which align with the timeline established by other sources (BBC). Reuters further confirms that the invasion was characterized by targeted attacks on urban areas, as stated by Ukrainian officials (Reuters).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations and encyclopedic entries that are regularly updated and fact-checked. The information presented is consistent across various platforms, reinforcing the accuracy of the claim.
Conclusion
The claim that "Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022" is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources consistently supports this assertion, detailing the events leading up to and following the invasion on February 24, 2022. The invasion represents a significant escalation in the conflict that has had profound humanitarian and geopolitical implications.
