Fact Check: Ukraine started the war

Fact Check: "Ukraine started the war"

What We Know

The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is fundamentally inaccurate. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia began on February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" under the pretext of protecting Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine and countering alleged threats from NATO expansion (source-1). This invasion marked a significant escalation of an ongoing conflict that had roots in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine, leading to a protracted conflict in the Donbas region (source-1).

Prior to the invasion, Ukraine had been engaged in a defensive struggle against Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which had resulted in over 14,000 casualties and significant displacement of people (source-1). The notion that Ukraine initiated the war ignores the context of Russian aggression and the historical grievances articulated by Putin, which were used to justify the invasion (source-2).

Analysis

The assertion that Ukraine started the war is not supported by credible evidence. The timeline of events clearly indicates that Russia was the aggressor, launching a full-scale military invasion after years of escalating tensions and conflict initiated by its actions in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine (source-1).

Putin's rhetoric leading up to the invasion emphasized a denial of Ukrainian sovereignty and identity, suggesting that Ukraine's existence as a separate nation was a construct of Western influence (source-2). This perspective reflects a broader historical narrative used by Russian leadership to justify military action against Ukraine, rather than any legitimate claim of provocation by Ukraine itself.

Moreover, the international community widely recognized Russia's actions as an unprovoked act of aggression. The United Nations General Assembly passed resolutions condemning the invasion and affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity (source-1). The overwhelming consensus among historians and political analysts is that the war was initiated by Russia, not Ukraine.

Conclusion

The claim that "Ukraine started the war" is False. The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Russia initiated the conflict through its invasion in February 2022, following years of aggressive actions against Ukraine. This narrative is reinforced by historical context, international law, and the consensus of credible sources.