February 24: calendar of events and holidays on this day

Three years ago, on February 24, 2022, at 3:40 am, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. The attack was the result of a long-term build-up of Russian troops along Ukraine's borders with Russia and Belarus, which began in November 2021.

OBOZ.UA reminds that on February 21, Russia recognized the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" as terrorist entities, which further complicated the situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation", claiming the need to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and within minutes missile attacks on the territory of Ukraine began.

Russian troops invaded from different directions - from Russia, Belarus, and the temporarily occupied Crimea. In the first hours of the invasion, explosions began across the country, and Ukrainian border guards recorded attacks in Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, and other cities. In addition, Russia launched missile attacks on military targets in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and other cities of Ukraine. Immediately after the invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law and introduced mobilization.

Belarus also actively supported Russia in this aggression, using its border areas to launch missile strikes against Ukraine and redeploying its aviation. The first phase of the invasion was marked by significant battles for key population centers, including Kharkiv and Chernihiv. Russian troops captured the Gostomel airport near Kyiv, although they later lost control of it. In addition, fighting continued to the south, particularly in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

In the early days of the war, Ukrainian forces actively resisted and inflicted significant losses on Russian troops. Within a few days of the war, Russia suffered significant losses in equipment and personnel. This came as a surprise to the Kremlin, as it had not expected rapid progress and an easy victory. At the same time, Ukraine received support from the international community in the form of sanctions against Russia and military assistance.

From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainians showed cohesion and strength, which further complicated the advance of Russian troops.

Historical events on February 24

• 1457 - the first written mention of the village of Repynne in the Transcarpathian region.
• 1582 - Gregory XIII signed the papal bull Inter gravissimas to reform the Julian calendar and introduce the Gregorian calendar.
• 1656 - Russian Orthodox Church priests ordered to be baptized with three fingers.
• 1768 - agreement between Russia and Poland on the dissident issue. Orthodox and Protestants were guaranteed freedom of religion.
• 1807 - Pope Pius VII signed a bull on the restoration of the Galician Metropolis. Antony Angelovych was appointed metropolitan.

• 1919 - The governments of Ukraine and Poland signed an armistice agreement.
• 1985 - the last elections to the Supreme Councils of the USSR's union and autonomous republics, as well as to local councils of people's deputies.
• 1992 - Ukraine establishes diplomatic relations with the Republic of Bangladesh.
• 2011 - Kyiv's Dynamo defeated Besiktas 4-0 at the Valeriy Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium, allowing the team to advance to the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Europa League.

Religious holidays on February 24

Believers today celebrate the "Beheading" - the first and second Finding of the Head of John the Baptist.

Today, on February 24, the Orthodox Church commemorates the first and second findings of the honest head of the holy prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John. After the beheading of St. John, Salome handed it over to Herodias, who mocked the saint's body. John's disciples buried his body in Samaria, and the head was found by a pious woman, Joanna, who buried it on the Mount of Olives. Many years later, a hermit found the head of St. John, and after his death it was buried again. Later, during the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, two monks found the head and gave it to a potter from Emesa, who kept it as his greatest treasure. In 453, according to a revelation, the head was found in a cave of the monastery in Emesa and transferred to the church in Edessa.

Today is also the beginning of Butter Week.

International holidays on February 24

• World Information Architecture Day.
• International Bartenders' Day.

February 24 namedays

Oleksandr, Oleksiy, Demyan, Ivan, Klym, Kuzma, Mykhaylo, Mykola, Serhiy, Yan, Motrona.

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