Розділ 12. Перша доба повномасштабної російсько-української війни: спроба реконструкції подій

The article attempts to retrace the main events of the first day of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. It began at around 3.40–4.00 a.m. on February 24, 2022. The armed forces of the Russian Federation attacked the borders in the regions adjacent to Russia, Belarus, the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Around 5 a.m., Russian President Vladimir Putin released a statement in which he deceptively justified the reason for the full-scale invasion, calling it a «special military operation».

In order to weaken Ukrainian resistance and demoralize the population, the Russian armed forces launched an operation to destroy the critical facilities.

The article describes the specific actions and decisions of the military and political leadership of Ukraine in response to the unprovoked Russian aggression. Being informed about the full-scale invasion, the President of Ukraine, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately convened the Military Cabinet and the National Security and Defense Council, where important decisions were made to protect the state. On the same day, by his Decree, the President put into effect the Defense Plan of Ukraine and the Consolidated Plan of Territorial Defense of Ukraine in accordance with Article 107 of the Constitution of Ukraine. At the same time, Zelenskyy signed a decree introducing martial law for 30 days. On February 24, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine signed decrees on the general mobilization and the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations. It highlights the heroic defense of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, and other Ukrainian cities.

The tremendous heroic resistance to the invaders on February 24 convincingly proved that the Kremlin would not be able to realize its strategic plan for a lightning-fast and victorious war.