Putin announced that he was launching a special operation in Ukraine and introducing Russian troops into Donbas. This happened after the leaders of the so-called DPR and LPR appealed to Putin for military assistance.
This was followed by missile strikes on a number of Ukrainian cities and attacks on border guards near the border with Belarus.
Colleagues from RBC-Ukraine told the chronology of events - what is now happening in Donbas, the situation in Ukraine and on the Ukrainian borders, the world's reaction to the events.
16:17 The Ministry of Energy reports: "Unknown armed men entered the territory of Kakhovska HPP at 11:28, unmarked tanks stand on the dam of the HPP. Explosion at the Tripolskaya TPP plant the plant is in operation."
16:13 Interior Ministry reports that Snake Island was attacked from Russian ships.
"The occupants fired at the island with gunship weapons. Border guards and the AFU are holding the defense! In the area of the island are two ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet "Moscow" and "Vasily Bykov"," - said in the message.
16:00 Klitschko said that those Kiev metro stations that are closed can be used by citizens as a shelter.
"These are the stations: "Beresteyskaya", "Nivki", "Svyatoshyn" and "Zhitomirskaya".
I will also report that all stations of the Kiev subway during the alarm are available to people at any time of the day. - To sit out the danger.", - he reported.
15:51 AFU commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny reported that there are fights for Gostomelsk airfield, as well as the towns of Genichesk, Skadovsk, Chaplynka.
15:33 Four ballistic missiles were fired from the territory of Belarus.
15:02 The Interior Ministry reports that there is fighting near Sumy.
"Border guards with the AFU and the National Guard engaged in battle with the Russian occupants in the vicinity of Sumy. The Ukrainian military is holding the defense. According to available information, the Russian Federation is making an offensive from the direction of Konotop", - said in the message.
14:50 "In this difficult period, PrivatBank decided to cancel the fee for cash withdrawal from credit cards of individuals. We will inform you about further decisions of PrivatBank," the bank said.
14:29 The Army on Facebook reports the spread of fakes.
"Attention fake! Our guys are not laying down their weapons!", the post said.
14:11 The president's office said Russian troops may try to occupy the government quarter.
"The situation is absolutely manageable. Russia is not going for any talk, they made themselves a fatal decision. They will try to inflict maximum damage on us. There may be an attempt to penetrate the government quarter," said adviser to the head of the OP Mikhail Podolyak.
13:56 State Emergency Service reports that between the village. Zhukovtsy and Tripillya Obukhov district a military aircraft of the AFU fell down, there were 14 people on board, 5 people died.
13:53 KSCA reported that the information about the restriction of entry and exit from Kiev is a fake.
13:40 Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said under what conditions Russia is ready to stop the operation in Ukraine. According to him, the operation has its goals, they must be achieved. The timing of this operation will be determined by its "effectiveness and consistency."
He also said that "ideally it is necessary to liberate Ukraine and cleanse it of pro-Nazi people."
13:36 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: "We are strengthening our presence on the eastern flanks, with hundreds of aircraft and ships ready to repel the attack. The Kremlin's goal is to reshape influence on the world stage and blow up all diplomatic values."
13:26 Ukraine captured the first Russian military.
"Military 93 OMBr Kholodnyi Yar captured Russian occupants. They are from 91701 Yampol motorized rifle regiment," the Army said.
13:10 Interior Ministry reports that Russian equipment went to break the border in the Kiev region.
"Military equipment of the enemy entered through the checkpoint "Vilcha".
Border guards together with the Ukrainian military accepted the battle. In addition, at the place of deployment of the border service department "Mlachevka" Zhytomyr detachment fired from grads," - said in the message.
13:06 In the Odesa region 18 dead as a result of a military strike on a military unit in the village of Lipetskoye, Podolsk district, said the Odesa Regional State Administration.
12:53 Ka-52 helicopter shot down over Mezhyhirya Kiev region.
12:35 Zelenskyy submitted to the Rada a bill on general mobilization.
12:28 Kyiv Metro reported that the red metro line runs from Shulyavskaya station to Lesnaya station due to organizational reasons.
12:25 OP Advisor Arestovich reported that today the location of the command of the Special Operations Forces in Brovary was hit by a rocket attack.
"According to our data, there are no casualties so far, the information is being verified," he said.
He also added that in the near future there may be a wave of airstrikes on objects in Kiev.
12:16 The Office of the President said that there is a small problem in fuel, and food stocks in the warehouses in the stores will suffice for 10-15 days.
12:15 The OOS headquarters reported that the AFU has already shot down the seventh enemy aircraft.
12:08 Explosions are heard again in Kiev. Eyewitnesses report explosions in Brovary, on the Left Bank, was heard in many districts of the capital.
11:43 The General Staff reports that heavy fighting is taking place in the Kharkiv direction and in the area of the United Forces operation. In Chernihiv region it was possible to repel the attack.
The situation is also difficult in the Kherson direction.
11:33 Zelensky urged Russian citizens to come out to protest Russia's attack on Ukriana. Also asks to contact Russian bloggers he knows, so that they broadcast truthful information about the situation in Ukraine and bring information to the citizens of Russia.
11:30 Zelensky makes an address. He said that Ukraine is ready to remove sanctions from all those citizens who are willing to join the territorial defense and defend our country.
He also said that Ukraine has severed diplomatic relations with Russia.
11:15 Police ask to report suspicious people on the street. Especially pay attention to people with red elements on clothing. Also ask citizens not to go out on the street in camouflage clothing.
11:08 Monobank stopped conducting transactions in the account of credit funds. The rest of the systems work as usual.
"The main goal is the safety of depositors' and customers' money. Credit limits have been temporarily limited. We decide how to return them," said Oleg Gorokhovsky.
11:00 Border guards report that two unidentified targets approached Snake Island, demanding surrender.
10:45 Traffic jams remain at the exits from Kiev. On Zhytomyr highway - both on the entrance and exit.
In addition, the authorities ask people to remain calm, do not panic and if possible stay at home.
10:40 According to the AFU Ground Forces, the 6th Russian aircraft was destroyed near Kramatorsk.
The General Staff reports that 4 tanks of the Russian occupants were burned on the Kharkiv bypass road.
10:32 Head of the Ministry of Defense Alexei Reznikov said that all who are ready can join the Territorial Defense Forces.
"To get weapons, apply directly to the brigades and battalions of the Territorial Defense Forces in your region. You only need to have your passport with you."
10:26 In Uman, a shell hit the central part of the city. One person was killed, 5 more were wounded.
"The evacuation of the population in the radius of the military unit - 30 km from the Rasseshki," said the Head of the Cherkasy Regional State Administration Skichko.
10:18 Ukrzaliznytsia organizes evacuation flights. For security reasons, the time and place of destination are not reported. Are urged to follow the updates of the site and listen to the announcements at the stations.
Luhansk region:Two evacuation trains will depart from Svatovo, Rubizhne and Lisichansk this afternoon.
Donetsk region:Two trains will depart from Kramatorsk, two from Mariupol, and one from Konstantinovka.
Odesa region:One evacuation train will depart today from Odesa.
10:08 Alexei Arestovich, an adviser to the Office of the President, reported that the enemy in two directions has inched up to 5 km. This is observed in the north of the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions.
10:07 As reported by border guards, a column of Russian equipment entered the Luhansk region at the line Krasnaya Talovka, Milovo, Gorodishche.
"The enemy insidiously put white cars with OSCE symbols in the column. At the moment there is fighting at this boundary," - said in the message.
10:02 The NBU reported that the banking system is working as usual.
"We do not limit any non-cash transactions, limit cash withdrawals from the account of customers 100 thousand a day, this does not take into account salaries and social payments. This amount is quite sufficient to meet the needs of any of us. Cash withdrawals from customer accounts in foreign currencies are prohibited. Government payments are made without limit. ATMs are supported with cash without restrictions," said the head of the National Bank Kirill Shevchenko.
09:52 The Ukrainian military recaptured the town of Schastye in the Luhansk region.
09:45 During a briefing at the Office of the President said that the AFU is fighting hard, but they are. In some directions Russian troops are pushed back, although there are losses.
09:43 Ukraine asks Turkey to close the Dardanelles ducts for Russia.
09:35 The National Police asks citizens in case of an accident to exchange phones, make photo-video and if possible not to call the police. Due to the situation in the country, the police will not respond to reports of road accidents without victims.
09:22 Verkhovna Rada called a fake information about the possible disruption of mobile communications and the Internet. It also noted that disruptions in communication are possible, but because of the overload of networks.
09:18 The Ministry of Internal Affairs has published instructions on what to do in case of a sound alarm.
If the signal sounds for several minutes, it is necessary to turn on the TV or radio, they will promptly provide all the necessary information.
09:10 UZ reports on the stoppage of train traffic in Kharkiv.
"For safety reasons, changes were made to the movement of trains:
No. 10 Kiev - Mariupol is following with reduced speed at Volnovakha, No. 11 Kiev - Novoalekseevka, No. 86/88 Lviv, Kovel - Novoalekseevka are following Fedorovka station
No. 44 Ivano-Frankivsk - Kyiv stopped at Irsha station
No. 112 Kiev - Avdeevka stopped on the station Pokrovsk.Trains to Kharkiv temporarily stopped.", - reports Ukrzaliznytsia.
09:00 According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Russian troops' offensive across the state border is preceded by artillery shelling, followed by the movement of military equipment.
Russian equipment crossed the Ukrainian border in Chernihiv, Sumy, Lugansk and Kharkiv regions.
08:57 The mayor of Brovrov reported 6 wounded as a result of the shelling.
08:57 Zelensky recorded another address. Said he would report important information every hour. Also reported that he had a conversation with Biden.
The president asked to check any information, because now there may be a lot of fakes.
08:45 Border guards are reporting that there is movement of Russian military equipment from the Crimean side.
"Currently, the movement of military equipment is being recorded across the administrative border from the peninsula."
08:30 Ukrenergo told RBC-Ukraine that Ukraine's power system is working.
"The Ukrainian power system is disconnected from the power systems of Russia and RB. The frequency in the system is 50Hz. All grid facilities are operational, under enhanced security, operational dispatch personnel are at their places," Ukrenergo reported.
08:25 Interior Ministry reports that two settlements have been seized in the Luhansk region.
"The villages of Gorodyshche and Melovoye of Luhansk region have been seized," the report said.
08:17 Rada imposed martial law throughout Ukraine.
08:12 State Emergency Service reports operational information about the consequences of the attack on Ukrainian cities.
08:10 Video of the consequences of the bombing of Kulbakino in Nikolaev
08:05 The head of the Ministry of Digital Affairs said that there are cyber-attacks on the basic Ukrainian sites.
"All night we defended cyberspace. Attacks on all basic information resources took place and are taking place without stopping. So far, everything is stable. All teams are in place. Keep calm and don't panic!" he wrote.
08:04 Fare in public transport in Kiev is free.
08:00 "In the OOS zone shot down 5 enemy aircraft, 1 helicopter," the Ministry of Defense reported.
08:00 "Kiev Vasilkovskaya street, 20 minutes ago. Either a drone remains or a cruise missile. In any case, hello from Putin," Anton Gerashchenko wrote on his Telegram.
07:54 The airport of Lutsk was shelled.
07:50 Witnesses report sirens sounding in Lviv and Lutsk.
07:46 CNN reports troops in a convoy of military equipment entering Ukraine through the border crossing with Belarus.
"The live broadcast was filmed at the crossing of Senkovka, Ukraine, with Veselovka, Belarus. The convoy was spotted at the entrance to Ukraine around 6:48 local time," the publication reported.
07:30 Border guards report an attack by Russian troops on the Ukrainian border from the direction of Belarus.
07:26 The head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, Pavel Kirilenko, denied information about a Russian landing in Mariupol.
He also reported about 4 wounded local residents in the city
07:18 The head of the Mykolaiv regional state administration Vitaly Kim said that the shelling of military infrastructure will continue.
"Raiding and shelling of military infrastructure!!! Either stay home or take cover. Stay away from airports!!! They are additionally guarded! Panic hurts. There are queues at gas stations," he wrote.
07:18 In Cherkasy the evacuation in one of the districts is announced.
"UMAN DISTRICT: We announce the evacuation of the population in the radius of the military unit - 30 km from Rasseshki. Buses will be arriving soon. If you have your own transport - use it!", - said Skichko.
07:13 An air threat has been recorded! In case the sirens turn on, we ask everyone to urgently proceed to the civil defense shelter, - said the KSCA
07:07 Civil defense sirens sound in Kiev.
07:05 Anton Gerashchenko posted a photo in himself in Telegram and wrote:
"For information:
Obolonsky district, Dneprovska street, 2, 25-DPRCH is extinguishing an object that looks like a UAV."
07:00 Ukrzaliznytsia reported that all trains are running according to schedule.
"Eastbound trains continue to run at a safe speed, with possible slowdowns and stops for safety reasons at stations equipped with shelters," the UZ added.
06:52 Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Gaidai said that the evacuation of local residents in Luhansk region has begun.
06:46 Kyiv Mayor Klitschko urged citizens not to panic and all those who are not involved in the critical infrastructure to stay at home.
06:43 Zelensky announced the introduction of martial law throughout Ukraine. He also asked citizens to stay at home if possible. He also promised to get in touch again soon and stay calm.
06:38 Eyewitnesses report explosions at the 222nd central artillery ammunition base of the AFU in Rossoshki, Cherkasy region.
06:33 Zelensky will soon make an emergency address to the nation.
This was reported to RBC-Ukraine by an informed source.
06:18 Ukraine closes the sky for civil aviation.
06:12 Boryspil Mayor Volodymyr Borysenko said that the explosions heard in the city are the work of the Ukrainian air defense. According to him, the army is shooting down unknown drones.
06:03 An adviser to Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko says Russia is launching missile strikes on military command centers, airfields, and military depots in Kiev, Dnipro, and Kharkiv.
05:43 Video from Mariupol appears online.
05:39 U.S. President Joe Biden says the world will hold Russia responsible for the invasion of Ukraine.
05:30 Meanwhile, the UN Security Council holds an emergency meeting in New York on the situation in Ukraine.
05:25 Eyewitnesses report strong explosions were heard. In Kiev on the Left Bank - 5 powerful explosions, and after a pause two more.
In Kharkiv - near the Studencheskaya metro, in the Saltovka area. In addition, the sounds of airplanes can be heard.
05:20 UN Secretary General António Guterres called on Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine.
"Mr. Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died," the statement said.
05:15 The skies over Ukraine have been closed to civil aviation flights. A ban has also been imposed on flights over Russian and Belarusian regions bordering Ukraine.
Putin officially introduced Russian troops in Donbas
Putin officially introduced Russian troops into Donbas and announced the start of a special operation in Ukraine. This happened after a request to him for military assistance from the wagons of the unrecognized republics.
Earlier, the leader of the so-called "DPR" Denis Pushilin demanded that Ukraine voluntarily withdraw troops from the Donetsk region. He also stated that "now there are no Minsk agreements, "DPR" and "LPR" are recognized.
Putin gave an ultimatum to Ukraine, Zelensky responded
Vladimir Putin said during his Feb. 22 press conference that Ukraine should abandon its plans to join NATO and also recognize Crimea as Russian. He called Ukraine's demilitarization another demand.
In his turn, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needed urgent security guarantees.
