On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his long-anticipated invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Despite pleas from the international community, Putin rebuffed condemnation and sanctions, warning other countries that attempts made by other states to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.”
Events of the invasion have played out in real time on social media platforms. Sources on the ground in Ukraine are reporting live on Twitter, and Military Times is chronicling these accounts and will continue to provide live updates. You can find updates prior to 11:30 a.m. Thursday here.
5:00 p.m. EST
Reuters reports that Kyiv wants to discuss a ceasefire.
Georgia, previously invaded by Russia, stands with Ukraine.
2:45 p.m. EST
Foreign Policy reports that President Joe Biden has formally ended discussions with Russia on arms control.
Neighbor and NATO-member Poland is equipping Ukrainian forces with man-portable air-defense systems.
1:45 p.m. EST
1:25 p.m. EST
“U.S. officials still think the ultimate goal of Russia’s invasion is to remove Ukraine’s government and install its own. At this point, Ukrainian command and control is still believed to be intact,” AP News reported.
12:50 p.m. EST
ABC confirms that the 30 members of NATO needed agreed to activate the force under the command of Gen. Told Wolter.
The human rights organization Council of Europe has suspended Russia, impacting its participation in the Committee of Ministers. Russia is still required to comply with the organization’s human rights conventions, however.
Buzzfeed confirm Zelensky is still in Kyiv despite rumors he fled.
11:45 a.m. EST
Ukrainian parliamentary member Olena Sotnyk called for military aid and humanitarian assistance as hospitals in Ukraine are overwhelmed with an influx of injured civilians and soldiers.
11:30 a.m. EST
In addition to the naval actions directed at Ukraine, Russia also has a 16-ship formation floating off the coast of Syria.
11:25 a.m. EST
10:35 a.m. EST
Fox News reports a Russian Marine assault west of Mariupol.
10:15 a.m. EST
Foreign Policy reports that Ukraine is putting up greater resistance to Russian forces than anticipated.
10:00 a.m. EST
Putin urges the Ukrainian military to carry out a coup.
9:45 a.m. EST
Russian shelling in Luhansk leaves devastation.
Russian troops are continuing their attack on the Ukrainian capital as Putin claims willingness to turn back to diplomacy.
9:30 a.m. EST
NATO member nations, including the United Kingdom and the U.S., are rolling out aid to countries surrounding Ukraine. The U.S. has sent fighter jets and troops throughout the region, notably to Poland, Estonia and Lithuania.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has been spotted in the last 24 hours wearing kevlar and protective plating walking among Ukrainian troops, but his current whereabouts remain unknown after comments Thursday night that he was “Russia’s number one target.”
9:15 a.m. EST
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister said officials were collecting evidence to immediately send over to the Hague, the home of the U.N.’s International Court of Justice.
8:45 a.m. EST
This latest update comes just hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Moscow would hold talks with Kyiv only if Ukrainian forces laid down their arms.
8:30 a.m. EST
Troops from Chechnya are reportedly joining Russian and Belarusian forces in the invasion of Ukraine.
7:50 a.m. EST
The death toll in Ukraine continues to rise as Russia continues its military assault on the country, last reported to be shelling Kyiv and present in the capital’s suburbs.
7:35 a.m. EST
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has received military and humanitarian assistance from Sweden. An hour prior, Zelenskyy had fired back at Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi for his lack of assistance and cooperation in the face of Ukrainian casualties. “Today at 10:30 am at the entrances to Chernihiv, Hostomel and Melitopol there were heavy fighting,” Zelenskyy wrote. “People died.”
7:20 a.m. EST
Russia is continuing its onslaught of strikes and advances on Ukraine Friday morning, with growing concerns that Russian forces will soon overwhelm Kyiv.
4:01 a.m. EST
4 a.m. EST
3:35 a.m. EST
3:21 a.m. EST
Fighting has reached the capital, according to the Kyiv Independent. Residents told to prep homemade bombs.
3:15 a.m. EST
3:13 a.m. EST
3:02 a.m. EST
As fighting rages near Kyiv, Ukrainian president continues his calls for help.
2:51 a.m. EST
Some attempted subterfuge going on.
2:49 a.m. EST
More from U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
2:48 a.m. EST
2:44 a.m. EST
Tank convoy video courtesy of a Belarussian journalist.
2:41 a.m. EST
Ukrainian journalist showcases the aftermath for the battle for an airport outside of Kyiv. Ukrainian forces reportedly won the fight.
2:39 a.m. EST
Ground truth from a Kyiv Independent reporter.
2:38 a.m. EST
That’s a lot of rubles.
2:36 a.m. EST
U.K. officials estimate Russia has already lost 450 troops invading Ukraine. Unclear where the defence minister obtained this figure.
2:35 a.m. EST
People sheltering in a Kyiv basement.
2:33 a.m. EST
Russia “failed to deliver” on day one of the invasion, according to Britain’s defence secretary.
2:32 a.m. EST
AP: Russians are on the outskirts of Kyiv.
2:30 a.m. EST
Reuters reports missiles are pounding the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
2:28 a.m. EST
It’s nearly 9:30 a.m. in Ukraine, and the Defence Ministry is asking anyone who owns a drone to give it to experienced pilots.
2:26 a.m. EST
Kyiv’s destruction revealed as the morning progresses there.
1:47 a.m. EST
President Zelenskyy reports that Russia resumed missile attacks at about 4 a.m. local time Friday, but that Ukrainian forces had stopped troop advances in most directions.
1:16 a.m. EST
President Zelenskyy with an update on the battle for his country.
1:14 a.m. EST
The Ukrainian military’s General Staff with an update on overnight fighting, scroll down for an English translation. “The ground under the feet of the occupier must burn!” the message states.
1:11 a.m. EST
Fighting overnight in the city of Sumy.
12:55 a.m. EST
It’s nearly 8 a.m. in Ukraine, and officials are warning of a tough day ahead.
12:53 a.m. EST
President Zelenskyy rallies his countrymen and appeals to the Russians.
12:49 a.m. EST
Bet the brothers can still throw a punch.
12:46 a.m. EST
Official details trickling in on what went down overnight.
12:43 a.m. EST
Financial Times on making do.
12:30 a.m. EST
Lithuania’s defense minister with an update on costs to both sides.
12:29 a.m. EST
Here comes Russian armor.
11:50 p.m. EST
Reuters citing an advisor to the Ukrainian interior minister to report that the country’s forces downed an enemy aircraft over Kyiv on Friday.
11:46 p.m. EST
Reports emerging online that Russian forces are moving south from Chernobyl toward Kyiv.
11:45 p.m. EST
DW News with the human toll of this war.
11:30 p.m. EST
NBC News with another reminder not to believe everything that you see.
11:06 p.m. EST
More on what’s going on over Kyiv.
11:01 p.m. EST
New York Times verifies some footage of the explosion over Kyiv.
10:45 p.m. EST
Live cam of Kyiv as Friday morning nears.
10:39 p.m. EST
New York Times reporting there may be evidence that cluster munitions might be in use in Ukraine.
10:35 p.m. EST
Destruction in Kyiv, the reporter cited a Telegram account.
10:32 p.m. EST
9:57 p.m. EST
It’s just before 5 a.m. Friday in Kyiv, and something is happening in the skies.
9:50 p.m. EST
Turkey considering Ukraine’s request to close Russia’s access to the Black Sea, Al-Monitor reports.
9:46 p.m. EST
Retired Army four-star turned CNN pundit Mark Hertling with some thoughts on “battlefield math.” Chief among his thoughts is the idea that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
9:42 p.m. EST
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense gives an update on the damage they’ve inflicted to Russian forces. Like most events on the ground, these tallies cannot be independently confirmed. (If you click on the tweet, it’ll give you an option to translate it.)
9:39 p.m. EST
Solid and updated Washington Post map showing positions in Ukraine.
9:36 p.m. EST
CNN reporters hearing “large blasts” in Kyiv.
9:23 p.m. EST
Axios reporting that SECDEF is considering how to train Ukrainian forces outside the country should Russia take over.
8:19 p.m. EST
Kyiv Independent reports Russian forces are on their way to the capital.
8:07 p.m. EST
The hacker collective Anonymous declares cyber war against Russia.
8:06 p.m. EST
It’s just after 4 a.m. in Kyiv, and the Kyiv Independent reports several cities are bracing for offensives.
8:04 p.m. EST
A reminder to be smart about what you trust and share during this hectic time. Rest assured we will be too.
8:02 p.m. EST
Kyiv Independent reporting that the Ukrainians have defeated a Russian force at Antonov International Airport in Hostomel, outside the capital.
The Ukrainian military posted a pic of three of their soldiers after the battle’s end, holding the colors of their nation, battered but intact.
7:59 p.m. EST
Kyiv Independent reports Ukrainian air force claims that one of their jets shot down two Russian fighters.
7:54 p.m. EST
BBC with harrowing footage of Russians being beaten and arrested as they protest the war in Ukraine.
7:53 p.m. EST
Washington Post reports on how GOP lawmakers are not following President Trump in his praise of Vladimir Putin.
7:50 p.m. EST
While the fog of war remains over much of Ukraine, the U.K. Ministry of Defence reports that Ukraine’s sons and daughters are putting up “fierce resistance across all axes of Russia’s advance.”
7:49 p.m. EST
NBC News and other outlets reporting that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy remains in Kyiv and ain’t going nowhere.
CNN reports that the White House is aware of Zelenskyy’s location and is in touch with him.
7:45 p.m. EST
The Kyiv Independent reports that the northern-central city of Konotop is now under attack by the Russians.
7:34 p.m. EST
Buzzfeed News and other outlets are reporting that about a dozen Ukrainian troops found themselves alone against the Russians on Snake Island, a small outcropping southwest of Odesa.
They reportedly refused to surrender to the Russians and were all killed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is putting them in for the “Hero of Ukraine” honor.
Navy Twitter has already created a crest honoring these fallen servicemembers.
7:30 p.m. EST
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki praises Russians for standing against their government’s decision to invade Ukraine.
According to Reuters, the Ukrainian government is calling on hackers to defend the country from Russian attacks.
CNN reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked outright if Ukraine will be accepted into NATO.
6:00 p.m. EST
Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kulebo shares that during a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he requested worldwide support as his country works to repel the Russian advance.
In the invasion thus far, Russia has sent 160 missiles into Ukraine.
The Daily Beast reported a hospital bombing, adding that Russian attacks are causing civilian casualties, not just military members.
Reuters confirms that Russian officials are holding more than 1,600 people for protesting the country’s invasion into Ukraine.
Leaders around the world publicly condemn the actions of Putin and voice support for Ukraine.
All Ukrainian troops are mobilized throughout the country.
4:00 p.m. EST
Satellite imagery shows massive craters near Ukrainian military bases.
NBC brings latest updates on the situation in Ukraine at-large.
Congress is set to convene a classified briefing on the situation in Ukraine after the recess ends, according to The Guardian. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be among those in attendance.
Washington Post reports that 14,000 troops are deploying in reponse to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
2:45 p.m. EST
An anti-war protest broke out in Russia, with its citizens decrying the decision of Putin to invade neighboring Ukraine.
Ukraine’s U.S. ambassador Oksana Markarova called for a robust international response to the Russian invasion of her country.
2:00 p.m. EST
“I have called a virtual Summit of NATO leaders tomorrow, to address the way forward,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a Thursday press briefing.
1:45 p.m. EST
“The Russian military has begun a brutal assault on the people of Ukraine,” Biden said. “Without provocation, without justification, without necessity. This is a premeditated attack. Vladimir Putin has been planning this for months.”
Around 8,500 U.S. troops remain on high alert as concerns the NATO Response Force will be activated increase following the Russian attack on nuclear facilities at Chernobyl.
British intelligence sources confirm that the Russian Black Sea Fleet has entered Ukrainian waters, potentially preparing for a full blockade as clashes on land continue.
1:15 p.m. EST
Politico and NBC report on cyberattack options against Russia.
AP reports that Ukraine lost Chernobyl in a firefight.
12:50 p.m. EST
The Hill reports that the U.S. embassy to Ukraine has been moved to neighboring Poland officially.
President Joe Biden confirms G7 meeting and discusses sanctions against Russia.
In a press conference, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that there are no plans to send alliance troops into Ukraine.
11:50 a.m. EST
CNN reports that the Ukrainian troops do not have what they need to repel Russian forces. Its United Kingdom Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko confirmed that its arsenal is not robust enough to defend the country.
The official Ukraine Twitter account requests that the platform ban Russia as a user.
BBC reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not fled the country, but his location remains undisclosed.
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Sarah Sicard is a Senior Editor with Military Times. She previously served as the Digitial Editor of Military Times and the Army Times Editor. Other work can be found at National Defense Magazine, Task & Purpose, and Defense News.
Rachel is a Marine Corps veteran and a master's candidate at New York University's Business & Economic Reporting program.
Geoff is the managing editor of Military Times, but he still loves writing stories. He covered Iraq and Afghanistan extensively and was a reporter at the Chicago Tribune. He welcomes any and all kinds of tips at geoffz@militarytimes.com.
