Editing Russo-Ukrainian War (section)

=== Russian decision to intervene ===
[[File:Ukraine20220223.jpg|thumb|Map of Ukraine before the start of the operation]]
It was past 11 PM on February 23, 2022. President [[Vladimir Putin]] of Russia made a statement in front of the entire world. Russia was to begin a "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine with the goals of de-Nazifying and de-[[Militarism|militarizing]] the country. If Russia could achieve both of these, it would end the Donbass genocide being perpetrated by the Ukrainian government under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.<ref name=":0">[https://tass.com/politics/1409189 Decision taken on denazification, demilitarization of Ukraine — Putin]</ref> A few minutes after this announcement, Putin made a statement where he said that any Ukrainian soldiers that laid down their arms and surrendered to Russia would be allowed to go about their lives in peace and would remain unharmed by the Russian operation. There was only 40 minutes until midnight by now.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409229 Putin urges Ukrainian military to disarm]</ref> With 30 minutes until midnight, Putin declared that any attack against Russia would be met with "devastating consequences."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409247 Direct attack against Russia to result in overthrow of any potential aggressor — Putin]</ref>