Ukrainian defense continues on another sad day of war 3:07
(CNN Spanish) --
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been going on for more than a week 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 February 24 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.
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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 Luhansk —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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Moscow has cited NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe as one of the main causes of the escalation.
Timeline of the invasion of Ukraine
February 21 -
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs decrees recognizing the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk 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, calls on the European Union to "urgently admit Ukraine" to the bloc, as Ukrainian intelligence suggests that Belarus is prepared to join the Russian invasion, according to a Ukrainian official.
In addition, FIFA and UEFA announce that all Russian soccer teams, whether national or club, are suspended from competitions by both soccer organizations "until further notice."
March 1 -
Heavy Russian missile shelling is reported in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, leaving at least six injured, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in a Telegram post.
The International Skating Union (ISU) suspends skaters from Russia and Belarus from participating in all international ice skating competitions, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
March 2 -
Russian soldiers seize the Ukrainian city of Kherson.
The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Kherson, Ihor Kolykhaiev, said that the Ukrainian army is no longer in the city and that its inhabitants must now comply with the instructions of "armed people who came to the city administration", indicating that the town it is now under Russian control.
Kharkiv authorities say 34 civilians were killed last day during Russian strikes.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that a Third World War involving NATO and Russia would be "nuclear."
In addition, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says that more than 800,000 people have migrated from neighboring countries from Ukraine and that the situation could become "Europe's biggest refugee crisis in this century".
March 3 -
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet for the second time at the border with Belarus to try to reach an agreement for the cessation of hostilities.
Both sides say humanitarian corridors for civilians have been agreed upon.
Panic and chaos breaks out in Kherson as residents try to get essential supplies a day after the city was taken over by Russia.
While the key city in southeastern Ukraine, Mariupol, is "surrounded" by Russian forces, the town's mayor told CNN.
A fire breaks out in facilities inside the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, after fighting between Russians and Ukrainians.
Some time later it is reported that the fire has been controlled.
March 4 -
Zelensky calls the Kremlin's efforts to take over the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant "unprecedented terror," and again calls on NATO to set up a no-fly zone over his country.
Meanwhile, the IAEA assured that there was no release of radioactive material.
The UK Ministry of Defense says the southeastern city of Mariupol is still under Ukrainian control but is subject to "intense Russian attacks".
Meanwhile, Putin tells German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that a third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine is scheduled for this weekend, according to a reading from the German chancellery after a phone call between the two heads of state on Friday.
Mar 5 -
US and NATO officials believe Russia is now ready to "bomb cities until they surrender", and could deploy up to 1,000 more mercenaries to Ukraine.
Putin says he would consider countries that impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine to be participating in the conflict, and that the sanctions imposed on his country are "equivalent to a declaration of war."
More than 1.2 million refugees have left Ukraine since February 24, the UN reports.
March 6 -
A Russian attack hit a civilian evacuation point on the outskirts of Kyiv, reportedly killing eight people, including two children, as they tried to flee their homes.
In addition, fears are growing for civilians trapped in the cities of Mariupol, Volnovakha and Kyiv as the Russian attack continues.
The Russian Defense Ministry says it will stop firing at 10 a.m. local time Monday (2 a.m. ET) to allow civilians to flee their homes in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and Mariupol, despite failing to comply. previous agreements.
March 7 -
A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine takes place, which does not meet Russian expectations, Russian presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, who heads the Russian delegation for talks with Ukraine, announces on Russia 24 state television.
The Ukrainian government agrees with Russia on an evacuation corridor for civilians fleeing the northeastern city of Sumy, which has seen continuous Russian airstrikes and shelling in recent days, which are continuing.
In addition, the ambassadors of the European Union agree this Monday to examine the requests of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to join the EU, thus beginning the long process towards accession.
March 8 -
Ukraine says a planned evacuation route is now underway to help civilians leave the northeastern city of Sumy, which has suffered continuous Russian attacks and airstrikes in recent days.
The outflow of refugees from Ukraine has reached two million, according to the head of the UN Refugee Agency, Filippo Grandi.
Appealing to the people of the "world", Zelensky accuses "world leaders of not putting all their efforts" in favor of Ukraine and suggested that inaction amounts to "genocide".
Meanwhile, Biden announces the decision of the United States to ban imports of oil, natural gas and coal from Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
March 9 -
The Ukrainian military agreed to a 12-hour ceasefire with Russia on Wednesday to allow civilians to flee through humanitarian corridors, including from the besieged city of Sumy.
However, Russian forces bomb a mother and child hospital in Mariupol, in southern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's government will ban exports of key agricultural products including wheat, corn, cereals, salt and meat, according to a cabinet resolution passed on Tuesday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov notes that "there is no doubt that the United States has declared an economic war on Russia and is carrying it out. This is true de facto."
March 10
- Zelensky says the Mariupol hospital bombing was "proof of genocide" and reiterates his call for NATO to declare a no-fly zone over the country.
International condemnation is also growing.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that the conditions set by his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for a ceasefire in Ukraine "are not acceptable to anyone."
The meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, in Turkey, ends without reaching an agreement on humanitarian corridors or a ceasefire.
March 11
- President Joe Biden announced that the United States and its allies will revoke Russia's "most favored nation" status, known as permanent normal trade relations, a further step by the United States and its G7 allies and the European Union to punish Russia for its unprovoked and horrific invasion of Ukraine.
Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov was seen on video being taken away by armed men from a government building in the city.
A short time later, the Russian-backed Luhansk regional prosecutor claimed that Fedorov had committed terrorism offenses and was under investigation.
Zelensky called the act a "crime against democracy."
March 12 -
Several hundred people protested outside the city hall of the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol following the arrest of Mayor Ivan Fedorov by Russian forces.
"Freedom for the mayor" and "Fedorov," the crowd sang, according to a short video from Ukrainian state television on its Facebook page.
He reported that more than 2,000 people came to the occupied building demanding the official's release.
Russian air and missile strikes caused damage in the north and south of the Ukrainian capital early on Saturday, according to local officials.
In Chernihiv, about 100 kilometers north of Kyiv, the Ukraine Hotel, a landmark in the city, was attacked overnight.
The Vatican has said it is willing to do "everything possible" to help reach a ceasefire and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
In an interview with Vatican News, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the Holy See is "available for any kind of mediation."
March 13 -
Russia fired missiles at a military base near Lviv, a city near the Polish border.
35 people died.
American journalist Brent Renaud was killed by Russian soldiers;
Colombian-American reporter Juan Arredondo was injured.
The humanitarian drama continues to particularly affect the city of Mariupol and the convoy has not yet arrived.
Massive protest in Kherson, in southern Ukraine, a city already controlled by the Russians, while the Russian and Ukrainian delegations agree to meet on Monday to negotiate.
March 14 -
Russia asks China for military aid and economic support in Ukraine, according to two senior US officials.
The Ukrainian government says more than 2,500 civilians have been killed in the besieged city of Mariupol, and those who remain have no electricity, water or heating.
Attacks on Kyiv continue, with heavy damage also reported in residential areas in the cities of Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Dnipro, Chernihiv and Sumy.
March 15 -
New satellite images show widespread destruction across Ukraine, including damaged houses in a village near Kyiv and burning houses in the besieged city of Mariupol.
Leaders of three European countries will travel to Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country's Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal on Tuesday, according to the Polish government.
March 16 -
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky declared that he does not expect his country to join NATO.
That was one of the grievances Putin cited in an attempt to justify invading him.
Zelensky delivered an emotional speech to the US Congress, during which he again asked for help to confront the Russian invasion.
March 17-
Casualties were recorded after debris from a downed missile hit a residential building in Kyiv.
Invading forces close in on the capital, and fighting intensifies on the outskirts, as the Russian offensive enters its fourth week.
March 18 -
Russia fired six missiles at Lviv, according to the Ukrainian military.
The city is close to the Polish border and has been relatively unaffected by Russian attacks.
Ukraine claims to have launched a counteroffensive to control the suburbs of Kyiv.
US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a nearly two-hour virtual meeting amid Russia's siege of Ukraine.
March 19 -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for peace negotiations "without delay" and warned that Russia's losses would be "enormous" without them.
At a large rally in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the invasion of Ukraine as an assault on "Nazism" but was cut short by a glitch in the event's television broadcast.
