90 articles
Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine: the 2014–2022 run-up to the 24 February 2022 full-scale attack, covering Crimea, the Donbas war, the 2021 buildup, December 2021 ultimata, and Western intelligence prebuttal.
Putin khuylo!
Putin khuylo! (Путін — хуйло) is an obscene Ukrainian anti-Putin chant with a la-la-la refrain, first documented at a Kharkiv Metalist–Shakhtar ultras march on 30 March 2014, derived from a 'Surkis khuylo' football chant, spread by viral video, and revived as a hashtag after 2022.
Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts
Russia's September–October 2022 declared annexation of the Ukrainian oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia after staged 23–27 September referendums; unrecognized internationally, vetoed at the Security Council, condemned by UN General Assembly resolution ES-11/4 (143–5).
Russian invasion of Ukraine (Російське вторгнення в Україну)
Russian invasion of Ukraine (Російське вторгнення в Україну), also called the full-scale invasion, began 24 February 2022 from Belarus, Russia, and Crimea, escalating the 2014 Russo-Ukrainian war; Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine with over one million casualties.
Russian occupation of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Partial Russian occupation of Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, also called the Dnipropetrovsk region incursion, beginning late June 2025 with the village Dachne; Russia claims a buffer zone, Ukraine counterattacked in 2026.
Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast
Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast (Херсонська область): Russia's March-November 2022 occupation of southern Ukraine's only captured regional capital, its attempted annexation, documented abuses, and the continuing left-bank occupation and drone campaign.
Russian warship, go fuck yourself (Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй)
Snake Island phrase (Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй) spoken by border guard Roman Hrybov to the Russian cruiser Moskva on 24 February 2022; became Ukraine's rallying slogan, Ukrposhta stamp, and a refused EU trademark.
Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine
Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine: Crimea (annexed 2014) and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, about 20% of Ukraine, annexed by Russia but unrecognized internationally.
Russo-Ukrainian war
Russo-Ukrainian war: conflict between Russia and Ukraine beginning with the 2014 annexation of Crimea and Donbas fighting, escalating with Russia's full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022; marked by attrition warfare, massed drone use, heavy casualties, energy-infrastructure strikes, and shifting Western support.
Second Battle of Donetsk Airport
Second Battle of Donetsk Airport (September 28, 2014 to January 21, 2015): Ukrainian "cyborgs" defended the ruined Donetsk airport against DPR and Russian forces until the new terminal was blown up; 101–109 Ukrainians killed.
Siege of Chernihiv
Siege of Chernihiv: Russian encirclement and bombardment of Chernihiv, Ukraine, February 24 to early April 2022; about 350 civilians reported killed, city held until Russian withdrawal.
Siege of Mariupol
Siege of Mariupol: Russian encirclement and bombardment of the Ukrainian port city, February 24 to May 20, 2022, ending with the Azovstal surrender; theater strike, mass destruction, thousands of civilian deaths.
Siege of Sloviansk
Siege of Sloviansk (Слов'янськ), 12 April to 5 July 2014: first battle of the War in Donbas, where Igor Girkin's pro-Russian fighters seized the city and Ukrainian forces besieged it for 84 days until the separatists withdrew.
Sinking of the Moskva
The Moskva (ex-Slava), Slava-class Project 1164 cruiser and flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, sank 14 April 2022 after two Ukrainian Neptune missiles hit it; the largest Russian warship lost in combat since World War II.
Support for Russia in the Russo-Ukrainian war
Support for Russia in the Russo-Ukrainian war: military, economic, and diplomatic backing from Iran, North Korea, China, and Belarus, including Shahed drones, millions of North Korean shells and up to 12,000 troops, Chinese technology flows, sanctions evasion, and UN abstentions.
Timeline of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Timeline of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (Russo-Ukrainian War, 24 February 2022 to present): Kyiv assault, Mariupol, Kharkiv and Kherson counteroffensives, Bakhmut, 2023 counteroffensive, Kursk incursion, US mediation.
Timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war (1 January 2025 – 31 May 2025)
The timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war covering 1 January to 31 May 2025 traces the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion, including the end of the Kursk campaign.
Timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war (1 January 2026 – 31 May 2026)
The Russo-Ukrainian war in 2026 was defined by a high human cost, with over 500,000 deaths since 2022, and a strategic focus on mass drone production and long-range strikes.
Timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war (1 June 2026 – 31 August 2026)
Timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war, 1 June to 31 August 2026: Kostiantynivka battles, 28-hour Kyiv strikes, Myla warehouse attack, Black Sea ceasefire refusal, Russian fuel-export bans, and the G20 diplomacy on the 28-point peace plan.
Timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war (1 September 2025 – 31 December 2025)
Timeline of the Russo-Ukrainian war, September to December 2025: record 805-drone attack on Kyiv, energy-infrastructure strike campaign, Pokrovsk fighting, Ternopil missile strike, US-Russia peace plan and Florida talks, and 2025 civilian casualty totals.
Ukrainian attacks on the Russian shadow fleet
Ukrainian attacks on the Russian shadow fleet are drone and special-operations strikes by the SBU against the aging tankers Russia uses to export sanctioned oil and fund its war effort.
Ukrainian occupation of Kursk Oblast
The Ukrainian occupation of Kursk Oblast was a 2024–2025 military offensive into Russia. It involved Ukrainian forces and North Korean troops, and marked the first foreign army penetration since WWII.
Ukrainian strikes on Wildberries warehouses
Ukrainian drone campaign begun 17–18 July 2026 against Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer ("Russia's Amazon"). About 20 sites struck, seven of ten biggest hubs knocked out, over a fifth of warehouse capacity damaged; Ukraine cites military supply role, which the company denies.
United Kingdom and the Russo-Ukrainian war
The UK is a leading supporter of Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian war: £25 billion pledged since February 2022, £16 billion military including the £2.26bn ERA loan, Operation Interflex training, over 3,500 sanctions designations, and the 100 Year Partnership.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1
UNGA Resolution ES-11/1, "Aggression against Ukraine", adopted 2 March 2022 at the eleventh emergency special session under Uniting for Peace; passed 141-5-35, demanding Russia cease force and withdraw.
Viktor Bout–Brittney Griner prisoner exchange
The Viktor Bout–Brittney Griner prisoner exchange: December 8, 2022 one-for-one swap at Abu Dhabi airport freeing the WNBA star detained for cannabis oil in Russia for the convicted arms dealer, with Paul Whelan excluded.
Violations of non-combatant airspace during the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)
Airspace violations of countries neighboring Russia and Ukraine by war-connected drones, missiles, and military aircraft since 24 February 2022, documented in the Pleines Zenodo dataset and ACLED, escalating with the September 2025 Polish drone incursion and NATO's Eastern Sentry response.
War in Donbas
War in Donbas: 2014-2022 armed conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk; over 14,000 killed, Minsk agreements unimplemented, ended by Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion.
Z (military symbol)
The Z military symbol is a white Latin-letter marking first seen on Russian vehicles around 19 February 2022 before the invasion of Ukraine; it became the chief pro-war symbol, promoted by the Russian Defense Ministry and RT, and declined after 2023.
Zapad 2025 (Запад-2025»)
Zapad 2025 (Запад-2025), the Russia-Belarus joint strategic exercise held September 12-16, 2025, was a scaled-down wartime iteration with about 7,000 troops in Belarus, below OSCE observation thresholds, rehearsing Ukraine lessons, TNW and Oreshnik planning.