Editing Russo-Ukrainian War (section)

=== Beginning of the Russian offensive (February 24, 2022) ===
At 12:00 AM on February 24, 2022, Zelenskyy declared [[martial law]] over Ukraine, stating that Russia had "delivered strikes against our military infrastructure and our border guards." Zelenskyy also further justified his declaration of martial law by alleging that explosions were "heard in many cities of Ukraine."<ref>[https://tass.com/world/1409273 Ukrainian president declares martial law across country - address]</ref> 23 minutes later, it was reported that artillery fire was coming down upon the Ukrainian capital of [[Kiev]] and the city of [[Mariupol]] in the Ukrainian-occupied regions of the  [[Donetsk People's Republic|People's Republic]] (DPR).<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409293 Blasts heard in Kiev, Mariupol — agencies]</ref> 15 minutes after these reports, Russia declared the closure of the airspace on Ukraine's western border and suspended all activities in the [[Rostov]] flight zone until March 2.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409259 Russia closed airspace on western border with Ukraine, Belarus]</ref> Just 6 minutes later, it was reported that Russian troops had landed in [[Odessa]] and had crossed the border into the [[Kharkiv Oblast]].<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409309 NBC journalist claims Russian troops landed in Odessa]</ref> 2 minutes following this, Russia announced that they were not to tolerate the usage of nuclear weaponry in Ukraine. NATO also reaffirmed their support for [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]] military battalions that worked for the Ukrainian government.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409313 Russia will prevent that nuclear weapons appear with Ukraine — Putin]</ref> Another 2 minutes later, Ukraine closed its airspace because of the "high risk of aviation safety for civil aviation."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409353 Ukraine closes its airspace, aviation regulator says]</ref> Just 7 minutes later, at 12:55 AM, it was declared by Putin that the previously announced Special Military Operation had officially begun.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409329 Putin declares beginning of military operation in Ukraine]</ref>

At 1:04 AM, Putin made a statement justifying the Russian operations in Ukraine because "it was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare, the [[genocide]] against the millions of people living there," by the Zelenskyy regime.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409359 Feelings and pain of Donbass citizens made Russia recognize republics — Putin]</ref> 10 minutes later, civil defense sirens were being sounded in Kiev.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409361 Civil defense sirens being sounded in Kiev — TASS correspondent]</ref> A minute later, Russia announced the suspending of airport operations in 12 of their southern cities.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409347 Airport operations in 12 Russian southern cities suspended — regulator]</ref> 7 minutes later, several private cars were spotted leaving Kiev and several firetrucks entered the [[Borispol Airport]].<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409401 Numerous private cars leaving Kiev, TASS correspondent reports]</ref> Russian forces began firing upon military infrastructure all across the country around this time, degrading much of their air defenses. Many Ukrainian border guards were also retreating or giving up without a fight.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409405 Ukrainian Air Force infrastructure degraded, air defenses suppressed — Russia’s top brass]</ref> At 1:40, it was announced by the [[Luhansk People's Republic]] (LPR) that they'd join the operation but wouldn't harm any civilians.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409415 LPR army won’t harm civilians in Kiev-controlled part of Donbass — LPR head]</ref> 12 minutes later, fighting began on the border between between Russian-controlled [[Crimea]] and the Ukrainian-controlled [[Kherson Oblast]].<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409421 Blasts heard in border areas, situation remains under control — Crimea’s head]</ref> 2 minutes later, it was reported that Russia - with [[Belarus|Belarusian]] support - had started making gains in the [[Sumy Oblast|Sumy]], Kharkiv, [[Chernihiv]], and [[Zhytomyr]] oblasts of Ukraine. Russian troops were also, reportedly, making gains in the Ukrainian-occupied parts of the LPR.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409423 Ukraine’s border guards claim Belarusian troops participated in Ukrainian border attack]</ref> 2 minutes after that, it was reported that Russia was bombing Ukrainian military facilities.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409431 Ukraine's General Staff reports missile, bomb strikes against military facilities]</ref>

At 2:09 AM, Russia emphasized that they had tried to persuade Ukraine to stop the [[Donbass]] genocide and resolve the conflict peacefully, an offer which Ukraine had refused.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409445 Moscow kept trying to persuade Kiev to stop shelling Donbass — Russian negotiator]</ref> 5 minutes later, Zelenskyy announced that Russia was still attacking Ukrainian military infrastructure.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409451 Russia delivered strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure, says Zelensky]</ref> 3 minutes later, Putin declared that he was confident of a "consolidated [[Patriotism|patriotic]] stance among all parliamentary parties and community forces."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409471 Putin confident Russian servicemen will fulfill their duties professionally, valiantly]</ref> 4 minutes later, the [[Liberalism|liberal]] [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]] (OSCE) declared support for Ukraine and condemned "Russia's military action against Ukraine."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409459 OSCE says Russian military action in Ukraine puts millions of lives at grave risk]</ref> 13 minutes later, the LPR officially launched their first operation of the war, joining the Russian offensive with the goal of liberating the Ukrainian-occupied parts of their country.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409485 LPR militia launches operation to liberate temporarily occupied territory — spokesman]</ref> 19 minutes following this, Russian [[Member of parliament|MP]] [[Leonid Slutsky]] stated Russia's operation was "precisely about ensuring security within the contemporary borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409525 Russia won’t invade Ukraine, intends to protect DPR, LPR within their borders, MP says]</ref>

At 3:09 AM, the Russian envoy to the [[United Nations]] (UN) [[Vasily Nebenzya]] emphasized to the UN that the operation was "we are not carrying out aggression against the Ukrainian people, this is against that junta, that seized power in Kiev."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409547 Ukraine events can’t be called war, this is special military operation — Russia’s UN envoy]</ref> 5 minutes later, it was reported that Ukraine had shot down a Russian plane in Kiev, however the Russian [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|Ministry of Defence]] debunked this report.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409549 Defense Ministry debunks reports of ‘downed’ Russian plane over Ukraine]</ref> 12 minutes later, Ukraine reported that a TV tower in [[Lutsk]] had been attacked by Russian forces and that Russian attacks in the [[Kiev Oblast]], [[Dnipropetrovsk Oblast]], [[Khmelnytskyi Oblast]], [[Poltava Oblast]], [[Cherkasy Oblast]], and the [[Lviv Oblast]] had set Ukrainian military depots and facilities ablaze.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409575 Ukraine’s emergencies service reports Lutsk TV tower blast, army depots ablaze]</ref> 3 minutes later, Ukraine request [[Turkey]] help them by blocking Russian access to the [[Dardanelles]]. Turkey did not answer this call for help.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409585 Kiev asks Ankara to close Turkish straits to Russian warships]</ref> 16 minutes later, Russia reported that Ukrainian soldiers were abandoning their posts and dropped their weapons in large numbers.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409609 Ukrainian troops abandoning their positions, dropping weapons — Russian Defense Ministry]</ref> 10 minutes later, the [[United Kingdom]] reported that Russia was attacking headquarters and airfields in the the Kiev Oblast.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409623 Ukraine’s combat command reports strikes on HQs, airfields, Guardian says]</ref> 8 minutes following this, the DPR announced that the liberation of their country from Ukrainian occupation was "in progress."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409629 Center of Kiev’s miliary operation in Donbass "practically destroyed" — Pushilin]</ref>

At 4:04 AM, the LPR declared that the Russian operation in Ukraine was going to restore peace in the Donbass.<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409635 Putin’s decision to bring about restoration of peace in Donbass, LPR leader predicts]</ref> 9 minutes later, Russia declared that Ukrainian claims about the "losses of Russian aircraft and armored vehicles" were an "absolute lie."<ref>[https://tass.com/politics/1409663 Defense Ministry brands Ukraine’s claims of Russian losses as ‘absolute lies’]</ref>