RAW FOOTAGE: 30+ videos capture Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine A column of Russian tanks and armored vehicles crosses into Ukraine from Belarus, Feb. 24, 2022. (Screenshot)
In the hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced military operations against Ukraine, videos began to pour in creating a picture of the extent of Russia’s military assault.
Russian forces launched a variety of missile, rocket and artillery attacks on Thursday, as well as airstrikes from fighter jets and helicopters to soften Ukrainian defenses ahead of Russian armored and infantry advances.
One video appeared to show a Russian fighter jet firing missiles at ground targets in a residential area.
no comments pic.twitter.com/vFcQp5kWAy
— IgorGirkin (@GirkinGirkin) February 24, 2022
Many Russian missile strikes targeted critical sections of Ukrainian infrastructure. One video showed a strike on the Trypilska thermal plant near the capital city of Kyiv.
Video of a missile attack near the Trypilska thermal plant – just south of Ukraine's capital. pic.twitter.com/UDSxQQor6L
— Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) February 24, 2022
Another Russian cruise missile targeted the Ivano-Frankisk airport, which serves as both a civilian airport and Ukranian military airbase.
Russian cruise missile hitting Ivano-Frankivsk airport in western Ukraine this morning, this is just 120km from NATO borders (Romania)#Russia #Ukraine
pic.twitter.com/wyavzp1IoA— CNW (@ConflictsW) February 24, 2022
Another Russian missile strike was captured on security camera footage at a warehouse in Odessa.
CCTV footage of Russian Missile attack at a warehouse located in #Odessa of #Ukraine #russia #TerceraGuerraMundial #rusia #ucrania pic.twitter.com/jrOgoQ3lzV
— Sapo Perro (@sapoperroo) February 24, 2022
Many Russian strikes were carried out with cruise missiles.
A Russian Iskander-K cruise missile being launched by #Russia towards #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/LG3jiCOZqX
— AEROSINT Division PSF (@PSFAERO) February 24, 2022
Many Russian missiles could be seen flying over residential areas in Ukraine.
Nature sings while a missile travels in the background. This is depressing. #Russia #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/kWLZ4HuFvK
— Ω (@w4rw4tcher) February 24, 2022
A journalist captured footage of a Russian cruise missile flying overhead.
Russian missile flying over journalist at Kramatorsk, Ukraine.
Source: @ brycewilsonau / trough Instagram#WWIII #TerceraGuerraMundial #Ukraine #Russia pic.twitter.com/bf6b1C7jDN— Sersh Gonzalez (@SershGonzalez) February 24, 2022
The Russian long-range strikes continued as Russian forces attacked across many areas along Ukraine’s eastern border.
Russian troops also poured into Ukraine from its northern border with Belarus. Russian troops had moved into Belarus in recent weeks under the pretense of holding joint military drills. The movement also appears to have opened up an additional avenue of attack, allowing Russian forces to attack the capital of Kyiv, located about 40 miles south of the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
Dozens of Russian helicopters flying in from Belarus have helped carry out an airborne landing assault on the town of Hostomel, located just northwest of Kyiv.
Another insane video of a helicopter attack on Hostomel, just outside Kyiv. All the helicopters came from the territory of Belarus. pic.twitter.com/E0iovH83wg
— Tadeusz Giczan 🇺🇦 (@TadeuszGiczan) February 24, 2022
Several videos showed the size of Russia’s airborne assault on Hostomel
— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) February 24, 2022
Ukrainian forces had put up some resistance around Hostomel, using MiG-29 fighter jets and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to down multiple Russian helicopters, however, those Russian forces have taken the Antonov International Airport, which is located just 15 miles from Kyiv.
CNN shared footage of Russian airborne forces taking the Antonov Airport.
Breaking: @mchancecnn with Russian forces at the Antonov airport about 15 miles outside of Kyiv. "These troops you can see over here, they are Russian airborne forces. They have taken this airport" pic.twitter.com/SnvmwQ1GeA
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 24, 2022
Even as Russian troops took the airfields in Hostomel, Ukrainian forces have continued to fight back, hitting the area with artillery strikes.
Sounds of heavy combat northwest of Kyiv.
Apparently, Ukrainian military is suppressing the enemy landing power at the Hostomel Airfield pic.twitter.com/tXGFnEA7B3— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) February 24, 2022
Russian tanks also supported the assault from Belarus. Footage taken Thursday showed columns of tanks and armored vehicles coming in from Ukraine.
Russian tanks and armored vehicles were seen driving into Ukraine near a checkpoint controlling the border between three countries — Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. pic.twitter.com/pIaBhiu5ug
— DW News (@dwnews) February 24, 2022
The Russian armored forces reportedly crossed at the Three Sisters Checkpoint, which connects Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
Russian troops keep pouring into Ukraine from Belarus through the Three Sisters checkpoint at the junction of the borders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
The role that Lukashenko has played in making this invasion possible mustn’t be forgotten.pic.twitter.com/PeAX1FaCt9— Visegrád 24 🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰 (@visegrad24) February 24, 2022
Fighting also took place along the Dnieper River, which runs south from Belarus through Ukraine and passes near Kyiv.
A video showed several Ukrainian T-64 tanks had been destroyed in fighting near the river.
That is a lot of destroyed Ukrainian T-64BM tanks. the Russians may have broken through the Ukrainian line on the western edge of the Dnieper river. #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaCrisis #UkraineRussiaConflict #UkraineInvasion pic.twitter.com/gHizjmpieO
— Defence Detectives 🇮🇳 (@defenceDetectiv) February 24, 2022
Russian forces captured a bridge across the Dnieper in the southern region of Kherson. Russian military vehicles could be seen streaming in over the bridge.
The Russian army enters Kherson, the column crosses the bridge over the Dnieper pic.twitter.com/6VlbLuMC3H
— Spriter (@spriter99880) February 24, 2022
Russian forces attacked a number of cities across Ukraine’s east.
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Russia began their assault with barrages of artillery and rocket fire.
Russian multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) impacting reportedly on the outskirts of Kharkiv pic.twitter.com/o85XYKMlRu
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) February 24, 2022
Following the barrages, Russian ground forces advanced toward the city, where they were met by Ukrainian defenses.
Some Russian ground forces were ambushed on roadways leading to Kharkiv.
Footage from Kharkiv (geolocation need) shows destroyed Russian equipment on the road. pic.twitter.com/zqyGlRtUOf
— Ruslan Trad (@ruslantrad) February 24, 2022
There appears to have been heavy fighting on the roadways leading up to Kharkiv, with both sides reportedly sustaining heavy losses.
Heavy fighting is going on near Kharkiv.
There are losses on both sides#Crimea #Kiev #Russian #war #UkraineRussie pic.twitter.com/aH29i26Lcq— Leonard Faria (@leonard_faria2) February 24, 2022
One report from Kharkiv even indicated Ukrainian troops had repelled a Russian attack.
The aftermath of the battle near Kharkiv. Russian attack successfully repelled #Kharkiv pic.twitter.com/LDI3W6KYQl
— MilitaryLand.net (@Militarylandnet) February 24, 2022
Footage showed military vehicles moving and the sound of gunfire as Russian and Ukrainian troops fought in the Kharkiv suburbs.
Street battles taking place between the Russian and Ukrainian armies in Okhtyrka near Kharkiv. pic.twitter.com/byLXSSV6GJ
— Visegrád 24 🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰 (@visegrad24) February 24, 2022
Hundreds of civilians crowded into a subway station in Kharkiv as the fighting continued.
View from the Kharkiv subway #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/YwXN7gaTF3
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) February 24, 2022
Ukrainian air defenses also continued to fight back in Kharkiv on Thursday night.
At least some Ukrainian air defense assets are still operational in Kharkiv pic.twitter.com/zK2v0rZCkU
— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) February 24, 2022
The eastern region of Luhansk also saw heavy fighting Thursday. Luhansk has been an area Ukrainian military forces and pro-Russian separatists have contested for years. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a document indicating Russian recognition of the sovereignty of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR or LPR). The LNR is a separatist enclave in the contested region. Putin also recognized the sovereignty of another separatist area, called the Donestk People’s Republic (DNR or DPR) on Monday.
On Thursday, Russian forces targeted the only thermal power plant in Luhansk still held by the Ukrainian side, cutting off heat and power to the cities of Schastia and Vrubivka.
Russian forces attacked a local Luhansk thermal power plant in free Ukraine – the only one Ukraine controls in the Luhansk Oblast – leaving the towns of Schastia and Vrubivka without heat and power.
Another Russian war crime in Ukraine.pic.twitter.com/yrxtM3rMRN— ArianaGic/Аріянॳць (@GicAriana) February 22, 2022
Fighting progressed towards Schastia on Thursday and footage shared on social media showed troops pinned down by Ukrainian defensive fire.
Images of Luhansk People's Republic and Russian troops clashed in the countryside of Schastia town of Luhansk, which Ukraine said "50 Russian soldiers were killed" in the morning. #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/YIHp2utWIO
— Akıncı (@Aknc35624923) February 24, 2022
Fighting also took place in the southern port city of Odessa.
A Ukrainian naval base in Odessa was heavily damaged and began to bur during the fighting Thursday.
️ A naval base of the Ukrainian Navy is burning near Odessa.#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/cAfCDVaBlt
— The RAGE X (@theragex) February 24, 2022
The Russian strikes on Odessa appear to have been in support of an airborne assault on the city. Hundreds of Russian paratroopers could be seen dropping in over the city on Thursday.
Russian paratroopers are landing in odessa Ukraine. #Kiev #UkraineRussiaCrisis pic.twitter.com/3lWhVzEqLl
— Umeshwar Mahajan (@umeshwar94) February 24, 2022
Gunfire could be heard throughout Odessa on Thursday night.
THERE IS A SHOOTING IN ODESSA.#RUSSIA #UKRAINE pic.twitter.com/YHsMaU6Lzt
— The RAGE X (@theragex) February 24, 2022
In the southeastern port city of Mariupol, photos showed Ukrainian radar stations destroyed by Russian attacks.
photos of destroyed Ukrainian radar stations near Mariupol. pic.twitter.com/zFLNXPN3SC
— Spriter (@spriter99880) February 24, 2022
Civilians have also been harmed in the attacks on Mariupol.
Civilian casualties reported from airstrikes and shelling in the border city of Mariupol.
Warning for drastic footage. pic.twitter.com/vvGAeYdYFx— Visegrád 24 🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰 (@visegrad24) February 24, 2022
The southern region connecting the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine has also been a key target of Russia’s invasion.
Russian attack helicopters were seen flying into Ukraine from occupied Crimea on Thursday.
Russian KA-52 flying over Crimea. #Ukraine #Russia pic.twitter.com/LXiK5gSlTE
— Ω (@w4rw4tcher) February 24, 2022
Russian armored forces also entered southern Ukraine through Crimea.
These are some of the first images of Russian troops entering Ukraine, verified by The New York Times.
Footage captured by security cameras at a border crossing on Thursday morning shows Russian military vehicles entering from Crimea. https://t.co/iAaop3QWru pic.twitter.com/U9gt81z6GR— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 24, 2022
Within a day of launching its attack, Russian forces had reopened the North Crimean Canal, which served as the primary water supply for Crimea but which Ukraine had shut off after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014.
BREAKING: Russian forces have reopened the North Crimean Canal.
The Canal was formerly the primary water supply for the region, however was shut off since Crimea's annexation, leading to water shortages in Crimea. – @TadeuszGiczan pic.twitter.com/QjZMc4vXUc— Conflict News (@Conflicts) February 24, 2022
Russian forces also destroyed dykes built to stop water flowing into Crimea.
It appears that Russian forces have destroyed the Ukrainian dykes built to block water to Crimea. https://t.co/8oOjG0bEXc pic.twitter.com/QFc6iQuvuj
— Oliver Alexander (@OAlexanderDK) February 24, 2022
Russian forces advancing from Crimea have appeared to have continued successes. Video taken on Thursday showed Russian forces entering Melitopol, about 100 km (62 miles) north of Crimea.
Russian forces are reportedly in Melitopol in the Zaporizhia region of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/KeULu3KDTj
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) February 24, 2022
