On Thursday, Russian forces launched missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops along its south coast.
After President Vladimir Putin authorized an “extraordinary military operation in the East.”
Soon after Putin’s televised speech on Russian state TV, explosions were heard in the quiet pre-dawn of Kyiv.
According to Interfax, gunfire was heard near the capital’s main international airport.
“Putin just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, stated that peaceful cities in Ukraine are under strike.
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“This is a war against aggression. Ukraine will defend itself, and it will win. The world must stop Putin. Now is the time to act.
Reacting to an invasion that the United States had predicted for weeks, U.S. President Joe Biden said that his prayers were with Ukraine’s people “as they face an unprovoked, unjustified attack from Russian military forces.”
Russia demanded an end to NATO’s eastward expansion, and Putin reiterated his position that Ukraine was not allowed to join the U.S.-led Atlantic Military Alliance.
He claimed he authorized military action when Russia was left with no other choice than to defend itself against threats from modern Ukraine (a democracy of 44 million people).
Putin stated that Russia could not feel secure, develop and survive with the constant threat emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine.
“All responsibility for the bloodshed will rest on the consciences of the ruling Ukrainian regime.”
Although the Russian military operation scope is not yet known, Putin stated that it did not include the occupation or control of Ukrainian territory. We won’t impose anything forcefully.
As the U.N. Security Council met in New York, Putin stated that he had given orders to Russian forces to protect the population and called on the Ukrainian military for their surrender.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, stated that Russia had launched missile strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and border guards and that explosions could be heard in many cities.
He stated that martial law had been declared and had spoken to Biden by telephone. On Wednesday, the reservists were called.
The media reported that the missiles struck military command centers in Kyiv and Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine and that Russian troops had arrived in Odessa, in the southern ports.
Russian-backed separatists claimed they launched an offensive against the Ukrainian-controlled city of Shchastia, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported. Explosions also rocked Donetsk, the eastern Ukrainian city that broke away from the Soviet Union.
The separatists had earlier pleaded with Moscow to help stop the alleged Ukrainian aggression.
This was hours before the United States dismissed the claims as Russian propaganda.
Global stocks and U.S. bond yields fell, while the dollar and gold rose higher after Putin’s address. Brent oil soared to $100/barrel, the highest level since 2014.
‘DECISIVE WAY’
Biden stated that Putin had waged a deliberate war on the United States, causing a terrible loss of human life and suffering.
Russia is the only country responsible for the destruction and death this attack will cause, and the United States, along with its allies, will respond in unison and with decisiveness.
He stated that Russia would be held accountable by the world.
He has not ruled out the deployment of U.S. troops to Ukraine.
Still, he stated that he would announce additional sanctions against Russia on Thursday, in addition to the financial measures already in place this week.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg strongly condemned Russia’s “reckless, unprovoked attack” on Ukraine.
He also stated that NATO allies would meet to address Moscow’s “aggressive actions.”
After the Russian leader announced the military operation, Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary-General, made a last-minute appeal to Putin to end the war “in the name of humanity.”
After the Security Council meeting, Guterres said that President Putin should bring his troops home to Russia in the name and honor of humanity.
He stated that a war could have devastating consequences for Ukraine and far-reaching effects on the global economy.
Russia’s U.N. Envoy stated that his country is not aggressive against the Ukrainian people but the “junta” in Kyiv.
Ukraine had earlier restricted civil flights within its airspace hours after a monitor in conflict zones warned airlines to stop flying civilians.
Since Monday, when Putin recognized two separatist regions and ordered the deployment (he called peacekeepers) of peacekeepers- a move that the West considered the beginning of an invasion, the shelling has intensified.
Japan and the West imposed sanctions against Russian individuals and banks in response to Putin’s Monday announcement.
However, they waited until an invasion started before implementing their most severe measures.
On Wednesday, the United States increased the pressure by imposing sanctions on the Russian company that built the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and its corporate officers.
Germany stopped approvals for the proposed pipeline on Tuesday amid concerns that Moscow could use it to control energy supplies to Europe.
