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How the world reacted on 24 February 2022
Summary
A look back at the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion, and at the diplomatic, military and public responses that followed within hours.
What did the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine look like beyond the front line? On 24 February 2022, the answer ran from Kyiv's declaration of martial law to sanctions announcements in several capitals, troop movements in Europe and protests outside Russian embassies.
The start of the invasion
At around 5am, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced what he called a "special military operation" on Ukrainian territory. The Russian invasion of Ukraine had begun. The Verkhovna Rada then introduced martial law across the whole of Ukraine by approving a presidential decree.
Russian troops also entered the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Ukraine said Russian forces had captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack on Chernobyl as a "declaration of war on all of Europe".
Sanctions announced within hours
The economic response began the same day. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the United Kingdom would impose sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs. Russian airline Aeroflot was also to be banned from operating flights to the UK because of the invasion.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Germany would launch the full package with the most massive sanctions against Russia. South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced that his country would impose economic sanctions on Russia.
Not every reaction took the form of sanctions. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone meeting with Putin, in which he called for Russia and Ukraine to end the violence. The call was listed among the reactions to the invasion and the sanctions debate, but the reports on that day describe Modi's message as an appeal rather than a punitive step.
Military signals to NATO allies
On the security side, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to send 7,000 troops to Germany to assist NATO allies. Biden and Austin announced the deployment of the additional troops from the United States to Germany to support allies during the crisis.
Neighbours and the first displacement
The invasion had immediate consequences for Ukraine's neighbours. Moldova declared a state of emergency. President Maia Sandu said that hundreds of Ukrainians were already crossing the border.
Public reaction abroad
The response was not limited to governments. Protesters gathered at 10 Downing Street to denounce Russia's invasion and to call on Johnson and the United Kingdom to support Ukraine. Anti-war protesters also gathered at Russian embassies in many countries to oppose Putin's invasion.
What the day showed
Taken together, the reports from 24 February 2022 show how quickly the invasion set several processes in motion at once. Ukraine moved onto a war footing through martial law. Western governments turned to financial and aviation measures against Russia. The United States increased its troop presence in Germany for NATO allies. Moldova faced arrivals from across the border. Crowds gathered outside official buildings and embassies.
The responses were not uniform. Some governments announced specific sanctions, while another leader chose to speak directly with Putin and urge an end to the violence. That range of responses was visible on the first day, alongside the announcements of sanctions and troop deployments.
