Updated Feb. 24, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.
On this day two years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine.
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Why did Russia invade Ukraine?
Russia launched a military invasion of Ukraine in a steep escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The campaign had been preceded by a Russian military buildup since early 2021 and numerous Russian demands for security measures and legal prohibitions against Ukraine joining NATO.
Was Ukraine ever part of Russia?
Ukraine gained independence in 1991 as the Soviet Union dissolved, and declared itself neutral. A new constitution was adopted in 1996. A series of mass demonstrations, known as the Euromaidan, led to the establishment of a new government in 2014 after an uprising against its pro--Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.