February 24 – March 30, 2022 · Northern Ukraine Theater
February 24 – March 30, 2022
Russia's opening gambit — a rapid armored thrust from Belarus toward the Ukrainian capital, accompanied by an airborne seizure of Hostomel Airport. The plan called for Kyiv's fall within 72 hours. Instead, Ukrainian defenders, armed with Javelin missiles and fierce resolve, halted the advance. Russian columns ran out of fuel and were ambushed on clogged roads. The airborne bridgehead at Hostomel was contested and destroyed. After five weeks, Russian forces withdrew completely, having failed to take Kyiv and abandoned the northern campaign; Russia nevertheless captured major cities elsewhere, including Kherson.
Commanders