Ukraine War: 100 days of war in Ukraine - key events from the Russian invasion

Friday June 3 marks 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine and started a war between the two countries.

On February 24 2022, Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered a full scale invasion of Ukraine, starting a conflict between the two countries.

Air strikes began hitting the country and towns were destroyed, people were killed and many began fleeing to neighbouring safe countries.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine came almost eight years to the day when he invaded Crimea in 2014.

The invasion of Ukraine had been predicted for several months with Putin determined to overthrow the sovereign state.

Despite the threats of war, the Russian invasion of Ukraine still took the western world by surprise.

What hadn’t been considered by Putin was the strength in which Ukraine would retaliate.

Led by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and backed by Nato helping arm Ukraine, the country has shown large resistance.

The war has continued to rage on in the east of the country where the Russian forces have continued to concentrate their efforts.

Russia had previously abandoned their efforts on trying to take the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after forces inside the capital had resisted.

There have been talks between the two presidents to end the war, with them coming together on February 28 on the Belarusian border.

Despite cease-fire talks, no agreement was reached and the war continued to ravage Ukraine.

On March 1 there were reports of a 40-mile convoy of Russian troops heading to the outskirts of Kyiv.

The images went viral and sparked fears that a large-scale bombardment would happen in Ukraine’s capital city.

Russian forces managed to surround the city of Mariupol on March 2 as well as entering the city of Kharkiv that they had been attempting to take for several days.

A temporary cease fire was put in place to try and evacuate civilians out of the main cities with humanitarian corridors being set-up in order to help.

However these cease fires failed as people were trying to leave their homes.

Devastating scenes came from Mariupol on March 9 as a Russian air strike destroyed a children’s hospital and maternity unit.

Three people were killed during the strike, including one child.

On March 22, the Russian invasion appeared to be stalling with reports stating that Russian forces only had a few days of supplies left to survive.

A week later Russia announced it would “radically reduce military activity” near the capital city of Kyiv and began retreating north.

Just days after retreating, horrific scenes came out of the city of Bucha, near Kyiv, where a civilian massacre had occurred.

Ukrainian president Zelensky visits the city himself and accuses Putin of “genocide” and “war crimes”.

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, then visits President Zelensky in Ukraine on April 9 to discuss how the UK can support the country.

On May 9, Russia’s Victory Day parade is televised globally.

On May 13 there are reports that Russian forces have been forced back from the city Kharkiv, with signs that Russia may be weakening.

Ukraine and the world celebrate a small win for the country on May 14 when Ukraine are announced winners of the Eurovision Song Contest.

President Zelensky vows to host next year’s contest in Ukraine.

On June 2, Zelensky announced that Russia is now in control of 20% of Ukrainian territory.

US Lawmakers have been backed up by UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss when they briefed that the warn in Ukraine could last another 10 to 20 years.