Various unconfirmed witness videos, reportedly recorded in contested eastern Ukraine, show Russian military vehicles rolling into the Donbass region in which Russia has facilitated a proxy war for several years.

The invasion comes immediately following a Russian decree recognizing the contested region(s) as sovereign republic(s). Part of Russia's decree also includes the permanent stationing of Russian troops, which were to be immediately deployed. The decree itself is almost a copy/paste template of the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia and the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia republics.