KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine early Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, while civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and troops were rolling across the border in what it called a “full-scale war” that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around the globe.
A wounded woman stands outside a hospital after the bombing of the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24, 2022, as Russian armed forces attempt to invade Ukraine from several directions, using rocket systems and helicopters to attack Ukrainian position in the south, the border guard service said. – Russia’s ground forces crossed into Ukraine from several directions, Ukraine’s border guard service said, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a major offensive. Russian tanks and other heavy equipment crossed the frontier in several northern regions, as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south, the agency said. (Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images)President Joe Biden listens to questions from reporters while speaking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)People gather for a prayer service at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Carnegie. “Speak while you still have your freedom,” said Fr. Jason Charron to those assembled, “Who knows if you will still have it in six months.” (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Fr. Jason Charron leads a prayer service at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in response to the Russian invasion, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Carnegie. Fr. Charron urged those gathered to send money to organizations aiding those in Ukraine, “some of whom will be coming to our country soon enough,” he said. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)An angel statue in front of St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Carnegie. The community is coming together at night to pray together in the church as news of a Russian invasion of Ukraine comes from overseas. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Fr. John Charest, center, and Matushka Laryssa with their son, Sebastian, 7, sit for a portrait at St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Carnegie. The family holds a photo of them from a summer past with three children from Ukraine that they continually hosted. They have been communicating with the three young children, now living outside of Kyiv, as the news unfolds of the Russian invasion on their country. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Sebastian Charest, 7, paints a canvas with the Ukrainian flag and tridents in support of his ancestral country as his mother Laryssa, back, and cat Whiskers, right, stay close by in their home beside St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Carnegie. Sebastian, whose father is spiritual head of the neighboring Ukrainian church, said “I want to support Ukraine, so I’m doing this to support Ukraine.” He has hung his handmade Ukrainian flags in the windows of his home. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Fr. John Charest is silhouetted against a stained glass window depicting the Most Holy Mother of God holding a protective veil, an image held dear by Ukrainian faithful, as he stands for a portrait at St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Carnegie. Fr. Charest said after the pandemic, he thought nothing would surprise him, but was yet again surprised by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)American and Ukrainian flags fly beyond an angel statue in front of St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, in Carnegie. The community is coming together at night to pray together in the church as news of a Russian invasion of Ukraine comes from overseas. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)A prayer candle burns, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, at Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in the South Side. The Ukrainian Catholics believe a candle symbolizes continuous prayer. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)Irene Czornij Matthews, left, of Baldwin, and her longtime friend Margaret Klimko, right, of Brentwood, both 74, stand for a portrait, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, at Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in the South Side. The two met in kindergarten at the church school and remain friends to this day, selling pierogis out of the church kitchen weekly. (Stephanie Strasburg/Post-Gazette)
In Focus Video
People take part in a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)People rest in the Kyiv subway, using it as a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending troops and tanks from multiple directions in a move that could rewrite the world’s geopolitical landscape. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)Svyatoslav, 6, plays with his tablet in a public basement used as a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending troops and tanks from multiple directions in a move that could rewrite the world’s geopolitical landscape. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In Focus Video
A demonstrator cries during a protest against Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, in Barcelona on February 24, 2022. – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 after weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia that failed to deter him. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
In Focus Video
Ukrainians demonstrate outside Downing Street against the recent invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in London, England. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels. European governments reacted with widespread condemnation and vows of more sanctions. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)Protesters attend a demonstration called by the Union of Ukrainians in France and others associations on Republique square in Paris on February 24, 2022. – Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, killing dozens and forcing hundreds to flee for their lives in the pro-Western neighbor. Russian airstrikes hit military facilities across the country and ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, triggering condemnation from Western leaders and warnings of massive sanctions. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)People stand with placards at a demonstration staged in front of the Downing Street gates, in central London, on February 24, 2022, to protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. – Britain on Thursday imposed a biting package of sanctions on Russia that Prime Minister Boris Johnson said would degrade its economy “for years to come”, as he slammed President Vladimir Putin in unusually personal terms. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)A demonstrator holds a sign reading “Stop war in Ukraine” during a protest against Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, in Barcelona on February 24, 2022. – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia that failed to deter him. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)Ukrainian demonstrators hold a banner dictating the Russian president and reading “Murderer! We want peace to Ukraine” during a protest against Russia’s military operation of Ukraine, in front of the Russian embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 24, 2022. – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia that failed to deter him. (Photo by CARLOS COSTA / AFP) (Photo by CARLOS COSTA/AFP via Getty Images)People stand with placards at a demonstration in central London, on February 24, 2022, to protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. – Britain on Thursday imposed a biting package of sanctions on Russia that Prime Minister Boris Johnson said would degrade its economy “for years to come”, as he slammed President Vladimir Putin in unusually personal terms. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Protesters wave Ukrainian flags and gather around the Monument a la Republique as they attend a demonstration called by the Union of Ukrainians in France and others associations on Republique square in Paris on February 24, 2022. – Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, killing dozens and forcing hundreds to flee for their lives in the pro-Western neighbor. Russian airstrikes hit military facilities across the country and ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, triggering condemnation from Western leaders and warnings of massive sanctions. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)A woman holds her baby as she gets on a bus leaving Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In Focus Video
Smoke rises from an air defense base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of the Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)A woman holds her baby inside a bus as they leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)Police officers inspect the area after an apparent Russian strike in Kyiv Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)A Ukrainian police officer carrying an assault rifle walks on a platform backdropped by people waiting for a Kiev bound train in Kostiantynivka, the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)A woman with her daughter waits for a train as they try to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of a Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)A woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of a Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
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