24 February 2022
Russia launches multipronged attack on Ukraine
by Nicholas Fiorenza & Huw Williams & Thomas Bullock
The Russian military launched a multipronged invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of 24 February, with ground forces entering not only the restive Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east, but also deploying from Crimea in the south and Belarus in the north.
The invasion comes just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the pro-Russian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent from Ukraine and ordered the deployment of troops to “maintain peace” in those regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Janes analysis determines that missile strikes against Ukrainian air and naval bases, air defence sites, and ammunition storage facilities preceded the ground invasion, along with the bombardment of targets from multiple rocket launchers. Kyiv airport was among the targets struck. The Russian military's actions included the insertion of paratroopers into southern Ukraine from Crimea.
Aside from widely reported engagements between Russian and Ukrainian forces, major initial flashpoints include the advance of Russian mechanised infantry into Kharkiv in the east of Ukraine, which lies only 30 km from the border with Russia.
In a TV address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged calm and appealed for blood donations. He also gave Ukrainians the right to bear arms. Zelenskyy had earlier imposed martial law throughout the country, which was approved by the Rada, Ukraine's parliament. He met with the government leadership and representatives of the defence sector.
Shortly after the invasion, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned it as “reckless and unprovoked” and for risking civilian lives.
The North Atlantic Council (NAC), the alliance's highest decision-making body, met later in the morning and also condemned the “entirely unjustified and unprovoked attack” and Belarus “for enabling this attack”.
The NAC meeting was held for consultations under Article 4 of the 1949 Washington Treaty at the request of the alliance's eastern flank countries, including the Baltic states, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania. Article 4 of the treaty that created the alliance notes, “The parties (signatories) will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.”
Stoltenberg told journalists after the meeting that the NAC activated NATO's military stance, enabling “forces to be moved more quickly where needed” throughout the alliance, stressing the defensive nature of the decision. This includes activation of the NATO Response Force (NRF). The NAC said the “additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defence across the alliance ... are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory”, adding, “Our commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty [collective defence clause] is iron-clad. We stand united to defend each other.”
The NAC called “on Russia to immediately cease its military action and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need”, urging Moscow “in the strongest terms to turn back from the path of violence and aggression it has chosen. Russia's leaders must bear full responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Russia will pay a very heavy economic and political price. NATO will continue to co-ordinate closely with relevant stakeholders and other international organisations including the EU.”
Stoltenberg announced that allied leaders would hold a virtual summit on 25 February with not only the 30 alliance members but also Finland, Sweden, and the EU.
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The Russian military launched a multipronged invasion of Ukraine in the early hours of 24 February, ...
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