Ukrainian defense continues on another sad day of war 3:07
(CNN Spanish) --
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has entered its fifth day and fighting continues in various parts of the country, while at the same time delegations from Moscow and Kyiv hold talks to try to end the conflict.
This is the chronology of events.
The fighting began on Thursday last week, when Russian troops - from Russia and Belarus - crossed the border at various points and invaded Ukraine, after months of tensions and a build-up of military forces.
Why did Russia finally invade Ukraine?
Basic data
Ukraine, a former Soviet republic that gained independence in 1991, has a difficult historical relationship with its neighbor Russia, and in recent decades has moved closer to the European Union and NATO, formed in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union.
Ukrainians celebrate small victories in Kharkiv 2:07
In 2014 Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean peninsula, part of Ukraine's territory, and months later pro-Russian rebels rose up in the east of the country, forming the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk —supported by Moscow—, and starting a war civilian that still persists.
The coming to power of the Ukrainian president Volodymir Zelensky, close to the West, in 2019, started a new wave of tensions, and at the end of 2021 Russia began to deploy soldiers, vehicles and planes on the border with Ukraine before the invasion.
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Timeline of the invasion of Ukraine
February 21 -
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs decrees recognizing the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic in Ukraine's Donbas region in a ceremony broadcast on state television.
The announcement came after a lengthy speech in which he accused the United States and NATO of trying to turn Ukraine into a military outpost to threaten Russia.
February 24 -
Putin announces the start of a "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Soon after, Russian troops cross the border and invade the country, while bombings are reported in major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, and the Chernobyl nuclear plant is captured by the Russians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky orders a general military mobilization "in order to ensure the defense of the state, maintain combat readiness and mobilization of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other military formations."
UNHCR explains what will happen to people leaving Ukraine 1:51
February 25 -
Russian troops advance from the north, east and south on major cities, and Ukrainian resistance stiffens.
Meanwhile, the European Union and the United States, among others, announce new sanctions against Russia targeting the country's financial, energy and transportation sectors, and visa policy.
February 26 -
The United States, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada announce the expulsion of certain Russian banks from SWIFT, the highly secure network that connects thousands of financial institutions around the world.
The battle for Kyiv, the capital, begins, and Zelensky promises that the Ukraine will stand firm and rejects the US offer to be evacuated.
Feb. 27 -
Putin orders his country's deterrent forces, which include nuclear weapons, to go on high alert, drawing heavy criticism from Western countries and NATO.
Russian forces are facing "stiff resistance" and their momentum is slowing in the northern part of Ukraine, while forces are having "a little more success" in the south, a US defense official says.
February 28 -
Talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations on the situation end, Russian state media reported, and a second round of negotiations is announced.
Meanwhile, Russian forces "continue to try" to seize Ukrainian territory throughout the country, according to the Ukrainian military.
Zelensky, for his part, asks the European Union to "urgently admit Ukraine" to the bloc.