The Russia-Ukraine war is almost two weeks old. This is how we got here
ABCThis time two weeks ago the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine remained hypothetical. Soldiers on both sides have become casualties, along with hundreds of Ukrainian civilians, as Russia’s military bombardment of Ukraine’s historic cities and towns continues, and thousands of families attempt to flee. The Russian parliament authorised Putin to use military force as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded by cancelling a planned meeting with Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister. Wednesday, February 23 Satellite images show Ukraine surrounded Photo shows Satellite image shows the close up of helicopters These satellite images show Ukraine surrounded on three sides by Russian troops, equipment and aircraft. Ukraine accuses Russia of targeting civilians and Russia’s UN Security Council representative responds saying “We hear lies and deceit about the indiscriminate shelling of Ukrainian facilities, hospitals and schools … the Russian army does not threaten civilians in Ukraine; it does not shell civilian infrastructure.” However up to 500,000 Ukrainians are now estimated to have fled the country.