Full timeline synthesis
Mar 1, 2022 – Oct 28, 2026The conflict began on March 1, 2022, with Russian rocket attacks on Kharkiv and troop advances toward Kyiv. Throughout 2022 and 2023, the war escalated through missile strikes on Kyiv and drone attacks that contradicted ceasefire claims. Russia employed hypersonic missiles and air strikes against the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. By 2024, Russia declared a 'state of war' and attacked power facilities, while Ukraine launched a major incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August. In late 2024, the US authorized Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles, prompting Russia to update its nuclear doctrine and threaten Europe. In 2025, Ukraine targeted Russian nuclear and energy infrastructure with drones. Russia responded with heavy missile and drone attacks on Kyiv. By early 2026, Ukraine intensified deep strikes using domestic weapons against Russian oil facilities, including the Tuapse and Perm sites. Russia launched over 900 drones in a single March, striking a UNESCO site in Lviv. In May 2026, Ukraine declared a unilateral ceasefire on May 6, which Russia allegedly violated hours before its start with 108 drones and missiles. A subsequent Kremlin-proposed Victory Day ceasefire collapsed on May 8, with both sides accusing each other of hundreds of violations; Ukraine reported downing 56 Russian drones, while Russia claimed 264 Ukrainian drones were downed. Following the truce's end, Russia launched over 200 drones on May 12, and on May 14, Russia launched a massive attack on Kyiv with 1,500 drones and 56 missiles, killing at least 12 people. From June to August 2026, the war entered a phase of reciprocal deep-strike campaigns. Ukraine struck the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and Russian refineries, causing a fuel crisis in Russia and Crimea. Russia retaliated with massive bombardments of Ukrainian cities and the Chernobyl area. In July, Ukraine demanded anti-ballistic defenses from NATO after failing to intercept Russian missiles. By August, North Korea announced plans to deploy 50,000 troops to support Russia. Ukraine systematically targeted Russian economic infrastructure, including grain terminals and major retail warehouses, while Russia targeted Ukrainian ports and residential areas. In September 2026, the conflict reached extreme levels of drone warfare. Russia launched a series of consecutive-day strikes on Kyiv, targeting energy and transportation infrastructure. Ukraine responded with massive drone swarms against Russian oil-producing regions and airfields. A 72-hour ceasefire established following a Trump delegation's trip to Moscow expired on September 8. Immediately after the ceasefire's end and the departure of US special envoys, Russia resumed massive attacks on Kyiv and Odesa, killing multiple civilians. Ukraine responded by striking Russian storage and drone launch sites. In October 2026, escalation continued with the deployment of Ukraine's first ballistic missile, the FP-7, in response to early October strikes. On October 12, following a ceasefire announcement by Trump, Russia launched strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure; Ukraine disputed US claims that poor weather prevented intelligence warnings regarding a Kyiv rocket attack. As of late October 2026, the war remains a high-intensity conflict of attrition. Ukraine launched massive drone swarms against Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and even Omsk, 2,500 kilometers from the border. Russia continues to target Ukrainian power grids and civilian infrastructure with ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones. Ukraine has tied its continued strikes on Russian oil refineries to the provision of more Patriot missiles or the cessation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure. Both sides continue to suffer heavy casualties and significant infrastructure damage.