In the
months prior to the 24 February
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine 16 February 2022 was predicted in Western media as the day
Russia would invade
Ukraine. Meanwhile
United States officials stated they were not predicting an assault ordered by
Russian president Vladimir Putin on a specific day, but repeated warnings that this order could come at any time. Russia apparently intended to rapidly seize the (capital of Ukraine)
Kyiv quickly, with
Spetsnaz infiltrating the city, supported by airborne operations and a rapid mechanised advance from the north.
Russian Airborne Forces attempted to seize two key airfields near Kyiv, launching an airborne assault on
Antonov Airport, This
Russian Kyiv offensive failed and by April 2022
Kyiv Oblast was liberated from Russian troops while the war continued.{{cite news|title=10 years of war: A timeline of Russia's decade-long aggression against Ukraine The 'Unity Day'-holiday continues to exist. Although no specific traditions were formed over the years, Ukrainian cities and towns raise the
national flag and perform the national anthem. == Notes ==