The Battle that Continues: A Brief Timeline and what Remains of the Russo-Ukraine War
- Haarshitaa Chandra
- Sep 23, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 17, 2024
Will there ever be a morning of peace in Ukraine? When will the bloodshed stop? The invasion might perhaps end in a dissolution. This article brings to your attention the timeline of events that have taken place so far and highlights the chunks that are left after several tries to improve the conditions of the war.
The Russo-Ukraine war, which set out in 2014 when Russia enthralled and annexed Ukraine after its revolution of quality, re-emerged as a global conflict in 2022 and has been active since. Before the significant tension in 2022, Russia kicked off the invasion by establishing military forces along Ukraine's eastern borders at the end of 2021, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the enterprise pressure failed.
Eventually, in February of 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion from the northern, southern, and eastern front. The military targeted major metropolises like Kyiv and Kharkiv. At this time, Ukraine tried its best to resist the fleetly advanced forces of Russia while also calling for transnational support. After facing resistance from Ukraine and logistical challenges within the Russian military, by April, there was a pullout of troops from Kyiv and northern Ukraine, but then the Russian army directed on the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. Then there was the Siege of Mariupol, where the Russian military targeted the southern port of Mariupol and used heavy bombardment to destroy the whole megacity. Ukrainian defenders, including the Azov Battalion, ultimately surrendered after several sweats to fight against the destruction that nearly destroyed the Avozstal Steel Plant. This battle occurred on the site, culminating in the rendition of the remaining Ukrainian protectors after over a month of resistance.
Amid this situation, there was international support from Western nations, particularly the U.S. and European Union, which helped increase military aid to Ukraine, including transferring advanced artillery like HIMARS (M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System- a light multiple rocket launcher developed by USA) and drones.
The next event that escalated the invasion was the Bucha Massacre, where, although the Russian military withdrew from Kyiv, there were pieces of substantiation of war crimes and carnage that resulted in international outrage, also leading to investigations into the war crimes by the comparative government, this was followed by the Russians capturing the strategic cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in Luhansk Oblast, controlling utmost of the Luhansk region, performing in the fall of both cities. Then came the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Crisis, the largest power plant in Europe, which was in peril of a nuclear disaster. Russian forces occupied the plant, after which the Ukrainian workers found it challenging to work.
The counteroffensives then come into play where first, Ukraine launches a surprise counterattack in the Kharkiv region, liberating large areas and forcing Russian troops into retreat, and then, Ukrainian forces successfully recaptured Kherson (the only regional capital taken by Russian forces since the irruption), and this led to Russia withdrawing from the west bank of Dnipro river making it a notable victory for Ukraine. The winter of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 was an attritional warfare in Donbas, specifically around the town of Bakhmut. The Russian military got back at making gains even though both sides faced heavy casualties as they engaged in fosse warfare evocation of World War I.
The year 2023 was about prolonged fighting and marked the first anniversary of Russia showing no signs of backing down and Ukraine standing its ground with continued international support. By the mid-end of 2023, Ukraine progressed toward getting back the Zaporizhzhia region by fighting against the heavily fortified Russian positions and extensive minefields. This year turned out to be a year of gains for Ukraine as it also got back the small cities and infrastructure.
It's 2024, and the war shows no signs of decelerating and continues to evolve with significant military and diplomatic developments. In recent months, it’s relatively clear that Ukraine has made some daring moves like the counteroffensives, crossing into Russia's Kursk region and advancing 30 kilometers, a bold move that has led to the evacuation of nearly 200000 people and the protestation of a state exigency in both Kursk and Belgorod.
Ukrainian forces now control over 1200 square kilometers of Russian territory, marking a strategic shift aimed at forcing Russia to redeploy troops from eastern Ukraine, where fierce battles persist. At the same time, Russian forces made critical gains near Kharkiv and Donetsk, with notable advances in Pokrovsk and the town of Niu-York, while the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv continues to endure repeated air strikes.
During intense fighting in May and June, despite the heavy quantum of casualties that comes to around 1200 soldiers per day, Russia's advances continue to be incremental but costly.
On the diplomatic front, India has surfaced as a potential peace broker. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unprecedented visits to Kyiv and Moscow in August emphasized India's growing role in interceding peace. Modi’s meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin reflect a possible path forward, with Putin indeed suggesting a revival of the stalled negotiations from Istanbul in the early weeks of the war. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy prompted India to shift its economic stance, particularly regarding oil purchases from Russia, stating that such moves could directly challenge Russia’s ability to sustain the war.
The war continues to affect global energy markets, food supplies (especially grain), and geopolitics. Many nations, particularly in Africa and Asia, face economic disruptions due to these global effects. Western support for Ukraine remains strong, while Russia's economic and political situation is under increasing pressure due to sanctions and the cost of the war.
As both military and diplomatic efforts continue, the war shows no signs of abating, with both sides rooted in their objectives with heavy casualties, making a peaceful resolution still elusive.
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