Russian President Vladimir Putin's "special military operation” into Ukraine began on Feb. 24, with troops crossing the border from Belarus and Russia. Moscow's forces have since been met with “stiff resistance” from Ukrainians, according to U.S. officials.
Russian forces retreated last week from the Kyiv suburbs, leaving behind a trail of destruction. After graphic images emerged of civilians lying dead in the streets of Bucha, U.S. and European officials accused Russian troops of committing war crimes.
A look at the two leaders at the center of the war in Ukraine and how they both rose to power, the difference in their leadership and what led to this moment in history.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Apr 05, 2022, 9:04 AM EDT
Video shows Russian tank firing on cyclist in Bucha
Video has emerged purportedly showing a Russian tank firing on a cyclist in the besieged Ukrainian city of Bucha.
Video shows a cyclist in Bucha, killed by tank fire as he turns a corner just out of view of the camera. The Ukraine military said the footage was shot March 3, 2022, AP video from the week of April 4, shows the body of the cyclist still in the same place where he died.
Ukraine Military
The footage, provided to Ukrainian public broadcasting company Suspilne Media by the Ukrainian military, was reportedly taken on March 3.
The blast from the tank firing is seen just above the roof of the blue house at left, as it fires on the cyclist in Bucha, as he turns a corner just out of view of the video camera.
Ukraine Military
The video captures the moment a tank fires at a person riding a bike in the streets of Bucha when the town, northwest of Kyiv, was occupied by Russian forces.
Smoke rises on the far side of the white house at right, after a cyclist in Bucha was shot by tank fire after he turned a corner just out of view of the camera, in an image from video. The Ukraine military said the footage was shot March 3, 2022, AP video from the week of April 4, shows the body of the cyclist still lying in the same place where he died. fires
Ukraine Military
Although the video does not show the moment of death, footage taken by an Associated Press journalist in Bucha earlier this week appears to show a deceased cyclist still lying in the same spot.
-ABC News' Monica Camacho
Apr 05, 2022, 7:54 AM EDT
ICRC team released after being detained near Mariupol
The International Committee of the Red Cross said Tuesday its team has been released from detention after failing to reach the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
An ICRC team tasked with escorting evacuation buses to and from Mariupol "was stopped" and "held by police" on Monday in the town of Manhush, about 12 miles west of Mariupol. The team was released Monday night, according to an ICRC spokesperson.
In this photo taken in Irpin, Ukraine, on April 1, 2022, a vehicle belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is seen on a damaged street as the organization delivers food and first aid to residents.
ICRC via Reuters
"This is of great relief to us and to their families," the spokesperson told ABC News in a statement Tuesday. "The team is focused now on continuing the humanitarian evacuation operation. This incident yesterday shows how volatile and complex the operation to facilitate safe passage around Mariupol has been for our team, who have been trying to reach the city since Friday."
The ICRC didn't specify which police force had detained its team. However, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a statement via Telegram on Tuesday that the ICRC team was being held by "the occupation authorities" in Manhush.
Apr 05, 2022, 7:20 AM EDT
Ukraine says 7 humanitarian corridors have opened to evacuate Mariupol residents
Seven humanitarian corridors from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol were opened Tuesday to evacuate some of the 130,000 remaining residents, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.
Vereshchuk said in a statement via Telegram that the seven evacuation routes will allow Mariupol residents -- many of whom have been living without electricity, food, water or shelter -- to be transported to the city of Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles northwest of Mariupol.
The facade of the Mariupol theater stands damaged folling shelling during Russia's invasion of Mariupol, Ukraine, April 4, 2022.
Alexei Alexandrov/AP
Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko confirmed on Monday that a convoy of seven buses escorted by the International Committee of the Red Cross could not make it into his southeastern port city to evacuate trapped residents. However, more than 1,500 residents were still able to flee Mariupol using a single humanitarian corridor meant for private cars, according to the mayor.
Apr 05, 2022, 6:40 AM EDT
Russian brigade accused of Bucha atrocities will be sent back to war, Ukrainian intelligence says
A brigade of the Russian Ground Forces accused of committing war crimes in the Ukrainian city of Bucha will be sent back to war, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
"The Russian command will not rotate the personnel in this unit and will throw it back to the front," the directorate said in a statement Tuesday.
As of Monday, Russia's 64th Motor Rifle Brigade was withdrawn from Ukraine to Belarus, according to Ukrainian intelligence. By Wednesday, the personnel will be transported to the western Russian city of Belgorod, just north of the border with Ukraine, with plans to return to the front line in the direction of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
"Usually, Russian units leaving the combat zone receive much more time for recovery and rest," the directorate said. "This indicates that 'special tasks' are expected for the 64th Brigade. The first of them: intimidation of inhabitants of settlements of Ukraine. Those who committed the crimes of genocide in Bucha may repeat this again in other cities."
Destroyed Russian military vehicles are seen on a street in Bucha, Ukraine, on April 4, 2022. The Ukrainian government has accused Russian forces of committing a "deliberate massacre" as they occupied and eventually retreated from Bucha, a town northwest of Kyiv. Dozens of bodies have been found in the days since Ukrainian forces regained control of the area.
Alexey Furman/Getty Images
"Another goal of the rapid return of the 64th Brigade to the territory of Ukraine is the rapid 'disposal' of unnecessary witnesses. That is, relocation to a part of the front where they will not have a chance to stay alive to make it impossible to testify in future courts," the directorate added. "The personnel of the unit, aware of the resonance of the events in Bucha and the responsibility for the crimes committed, massively opposes the return to Ukraine. However, the Russian command ignores these sentiments and threatens the tribunal if they refuse to continue fighting. The militaries do not accept reports of dismissal from Russian soldiers."
On Monday, the directorate published online what it said was a list with the names of hundreds of personnel of Russia's 64th Motor Rifle Brigade whom they believe were directly responsible for the atrocities in Bucha. Ukrainian officials have said there is evidence of other Russian units being involved. Russia has denied the claims.
