Real Images of the War between Russia and Ukraine

Why did Russia decide to invade Ukraine on February 24, 2022?

Among the main reasons given are: the expansion of NATO across Eastern Europe, the possibility of Ukraine joining the military alliance, the contestation of Ukraine's right to independent sovereignty from Russia and Vladimir Putin's desire to reestablish the area of ​​influence of the Soviet Union.

On the one hand, Russia says it wants to prevent what it classifies as a siege on its border with the possible accession of Ukraine to NATO, a military alliance of 30 countries, which has expanded across Eastern Europe, today including 14 countries from the former communist bloc.

Putin also accuses the Ukrainian government, without evidence, of genocide against Ukrainians of Russian ethnic origin living in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. He claims that the invasion attempts to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, which could serve as a justification for an eventual overthrow of the current Ukrainian government.

On the other hand, Ukraine and other observers see in the war an attempt by Russia to re-establish the zone of control and influence of the former Soviet Union, something seen as disrespect for the sovereignty of Ukraine, which should have the right to decide its destiny and its alliances.