Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation” into Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with troops crossing the border from Belarus and Russia. Moscow's forces have since been met with “stiff resistance” from Ukrainians, according to U.S. officials.
Russian forces retreated last week from the Kyiv suburbs, leaving behind a trail of destruction. After graphic images emerged of civilians lying dead in the streets of Bucha, U.S. and European officials accused Russian troops of committing war crimes.
A look at the two leaders at the center of the war in Ukraine and how they both rose to power, the difference in their leadership and what led to this moment in history.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Mar 22, 2022, 6:43 AM EDT
Russia claims to have captured 9 more localities in Ukraine
Russia claimed Tuesday that its troops have captured nine more localities in Ukraine.
According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, units of the Russian Armed Forces have advanced another 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) and have taken control of the southeastern village of Urozhaine in the Donetsk oblast, some 65 miles north of the besieged port of Mariupol where many civilians remain trapped under Russia bombardment.
Meanwhile, the defense ministry said Russia-backed separatist forces of southeastern Ukraine's disputed Donbas region have also advanced and captured eight more areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
Service members of pro-Russian troops are seen in the body of a truck on a road near the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 21, 2022, during Russia's invasion.
Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters
Mar 22, 2022, 6:28 AM EDT
Russia responds to Biden on biological, chemical weapons, claiming it has neither
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov on Tuesday denied allegations that Russia might be planning to use biological or chemical weapons in Ukraine.
"We have neither of these," Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow. "What the Americans are saying are malicious insinuations -- we've heard them all the time and we've given exhaustive answers to them for a long time. The problem is, the U.S. has no habit of listening to anyone but itself."
Ryabkov's comments came after U.S. President Joe Biden accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of falsely claiming that the United States and Ukraine are developing biological or chemical weapons for use against Russia -- rhetoric that Biden said shows Putin is considering using those types of deadly weapons in Ukraine.
"He's already used chemical weapons in the past, and we should be careful of what's about to come," Biden said Monday during remarks at the Business Roundtable's CEO Quarterly Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Mar 22, 2022, 4:25 AM EDT
Russia-US relations 'on the brink of a breakup,' diplomat warns
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned Tuesday that the United States should stop supplying Ukraine with weapons and making threats to Moscow in order to "preserve relations" with Russia.
"They simply need to stop in their escalation, both verbal escalation and in terms of stuffing the Kyiv region with weapons. They need to stop producing threats to Russia," Ryabkov said while answering questions from reporters in Moscow. "Meanwhile, if they do manage to somehow positively influence Kyiv, something that I not just doubt, but I am confident that it will not happen, unfortunately, then I think there will be a certain prospect for normalizing relations."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov attends the talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in Moscow, Russia, March 15, 2022.
Maxim Shemetov/Pool via AP, File
"For now, we see a downward tendency in relations with our country through the fault of the U.S.," he added. "We regret it, but it does not impact our determination to move toward accomplishing the goals of the special military operation and to adapt to the circumstances related to the American sanctions and the sanctions imposed by European satellites of the U.S. at its behest."
When asked whether Moscow plans to recall its ambassador, Ryabkov told reporters that the future of Russia-U.S. relations depends on Washington.
"A note of protest was passed to the American ambassador yesterday. It said that the current developments put these relations on the brink of a breakup," he said. "There is nothing here beyond what was said there: that the question is about a policy that the U.S. will choose."
Mar 21, 2022, 7:41 PM EDT
Biden confirms Russia used hypersonic missile in Ukraine, says threat of chemical or biological weapons is 'real'
U.S. President Joe Biden said Russia has used a hypersonic missile in Ukraine, explaining Monday night that it's "the only thing that they can get through with absolute certainty."
"It's a consequential weapon," Biden said during remarks at the Business Roundtable's CEO Quarterly Meeting in Washington, D.C. "It doesn't make that much difference except it's almost impossible to stop it. There's a reason they're using it."
Biden warned that "the more [Putin's] back is against the wall, the greater the severity of the tactics he may employ," and started to describe false flag operations by Russia, specifically its false claims that the United States and Ukraine are developing chemical or biological weapons for use against Russia.
He said those claims are a "clear sign" he's considering using those types of deadly weapons.
"He's already used chemical weapons in the past, and we should be careful of what - what's about to come," Biden said. "He knows there'll be severe consequences because of the United NATO front, but the point is, it's real."
