One year ago, on February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly recognised Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.
The breakaway eastern Ukrainian regions had been at the heart of a conflict between Ukraine’s forces and Russia-backed separatists since 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea.
Putin's recognition of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) was a watershed moment in the months-long escalation preceding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Prior to the war, satellite imagery showed a large build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine. Satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies on February 13, 2022 show a closer view of a battle group in formation in Soloti, Russia, east of the border with Ukraine [Maxar Technologies via AP]
Russian forces invade Ukraine
Shortly before 6am Moscow time (03:00 GMT), in a televised address, President Putin announced that his country was launching a "special military o...