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 01, 2022, 8:58 AM EDT
Ukrainian forces retake 2 villages south of Chernihiv, says UK
Ukrainian forces have retaken the villages of Sloboda and Lukashivka to the south of Chernihiv, located along one of the main supply routes between the northern city and Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said Friday in an intelligence update.
"Ukraine has also continued to make successful but limited counter attack to the east and north east of Kyiv," the ministry added. "Both Chernihiv and Kyiv have been subjected to continued air and missile strikes despite Russian claims of reducing activity in these areas."
Apr 01, 2022, 7:19 AM EDT
Ukraine declines to comment on Russia's accusation of attacking oil depot
Ukraine has declined to comment on Russia's accusation that it carried out airstrikes on an oil depot in the Russian city of Belgorod early Friday.
"We do not comment on Russian fakes," Volodymy Fityo, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ground Forces, told ABC News. "And we do not comment on the words of Russian officials who speak under the influence of substances."
Earlier Friday, Belgorod Oblast Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a statement via Telegram that two low-flying Ukrainian helicopters had entered Russian airspace and fired on an oil depot in Belgorod city, setting the building ablaze.
The depot run by Russian energy giant Roseneft is located about 21 miles north of the border with Ukraine. Two employees were injured but are expected to survive, while all other staff have been safely evacuated from the building, according to Gladkov.
Verified videos circulating online show an attack on an oil depot in Belgorod and the aftermath.
-ABC News' James Longman
Apr 01, 2022, 6:43 AM EDT
Over 4.1 million refugees have fled Ukraine: UNHCR
More than 4.1 million people have been forced to flee Ukraine since Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, according to the latest figures from the United Nations Refugee Agency.
Children who fled Ukraine play before the beginning of "Classroom for Ukraine", a school project launched by Arche as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues in Berlin, March 31, 2022.
Lisi Niesner/Reuters
The tally from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) amounts to just over 9.2% of Ukraine's population -- which the World Bank counted at 44 million at the end of 2020 -- on the move across borders in 36 days.
More than half of the refugees crossed into neighboring Poland, UNHCR figures show.
-ABC News' Zoe Magee
Apr 01, 2022, 5:48 AM EDT
Russia accuses Ukraine of striking oil depot in Russian city of Belgorod
Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out airstrikes on the Russian city of Belgorod early Friday.
Belgorod Oblast Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said in a statement via Telegram that two low-flying Ukrainian helicopters entered Russian airspace and fired on an oil depot in Belgorod city, setting the building ablaze. Ukraine has yet to comment on the claim.
The depot run by Russian energy giant Roseneft is located about 21 miles north of the border with Ukraine. Two employees were injured but are expected to survive, while all other staff have been safely evacuated from the building, according to Gladkov.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the oil facility only supplied fuel to civilian vehicles, and has no relation to Russia's armed forces.
"Two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters entered the Russian Federation's airspace at an extremely low altitude at about 5 o'clock in the morning Moscow time on April 1. The Ukrainian helicopters delivered a missile strike upon a civilian oil storage terminal located on the outskirts of Belgorod. A number of tanks were damaged and caught fire after being hit with missiles," Igor Konashenkov, a spokesperson for Russia's Defense Ministry, said at a press briefing.
He added: "I'd like to stress that this facility is used to supply fuel only to civilian transport vehicles. The oil terminal has no relation to the Russian Armed Forces."
This handout photo released by the Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service on April 1, 2022, shows a fire at an oil depot in Belgorod, Russia. The governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast accused Ukraine of conducting airstrikes on an oil depot in Belgorod early on April 1, 2022.
Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service/Handout via AP
Security camera footage circulating online and verified by ABC News shows an attack on an oil depot in Belgorod. In the video, two airstrikes can be seen in the distance, with a helicopter flying nearby.
Another verified video circulating online shows oil tanks on fire and a massive cloud of smoke billowing from the depot.
Russian news agency Interfax reported that at least two businesses in the village of Severny, just north of Belgorod, were also damaged by an early morning airstrike.
It remains unclear who is responsible for the attacks.
Belgorod, a city of more than 300,000, is about 50 miles north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which Russian forces have shelled heavily in recent weeks.
