The invasion by land, air and sea began after a pre-dawn TV address where Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine's military lay down its arms.
Since then more than 14,000 people have died in the east in a conflict between the rebels and Ukrainian forces. You can also get in touch in the following ways: Addressing Russians, he said: "I cannot believe this is being done in your name, or that you really want the pariah status it will bring to the Putin regime." Russian tanks were later seen on the outskirts of Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million people. The breakaway regions were seized by Russian-backed rebels after Russia invaded Crimea in 2014. Then Ukrainian forces said Russian military vehicles had crossed the border near Kharkiv in the north, Luhansk in the east, Russian-annexed Crimea in the south and from Belarus too. Ukraine said it had killed 50 Russian troops and shot down six Russian aircraft, but this has not been verified. Under the defensive alliance's treaty, Nato can be brought together if any member fears their independence or territory is under threat. In the capital Kyiv, home to almost three million people, warning sirens blared out as traffic queued to leave the city and crowds sought shelter in metro stations. Mark, a 27-year-old sales executive, said he was ready to be called up to fight. Moscow first struck Ukraine's military infrastructure and border guard units. Dozens of people have been killed, including about 10 civilians.
Russia has begun a large-scale military attack on Ukraine, its southern neighbour, on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Addressing Russians, he said: "I cannot believe this is being done in your name, or that you really want the pariah status it will bring to the Putin regime." You can also get in touch in the following ways: But clashes have also been taking place around Kyiv and the Black Sea port cities of Odesa and Mariupol. "People were out on the streets last night in this city - they were waving the Ukrainian flag. A British resident of Odesa told the BBC many people were leaving. They were going nowhere," she reported. Ukraine said it had killed 50 Russian troops. Mr Putin said Russia was intervening as an act of self-defence. "I think he wanted to do something and negotiate, and it got worse and worse, and then he saw the weakness," Trump said. There have also been reports of troops landing by sea at the Black Sea port cities of Mariupol and Odesa in the south. He urged Ukrainian soldiers in the combat zone to lay down their weapons and go home, but said clashes were inevitable and "only a question of time". Convoys have also entered the eastern Luhansk and Kharkiv regions, and moved into the Kherson region from Crimea - a territory that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Ukraine says its cities are under attack as Sky News hears explosions in Kyiv and Kharkiv. By Alexa Phillips, news reporter.
Cars stretched for dozens of miles on the highway leading west towards Poland, where Western countries have prepared to receive hundreds of thousands of refugees. The country said it is facing non-stop cyber attacks and has closed its airspace to civilian flights. He warned: "What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting and the rumble of aircraft. A US official said Russian forces were moving on three fronts - from annexed Crimea to Kherson in the south, from Belarus - north of Ukraine - towards Kyiv, and from the northeast to Kharkiv. Ukraine reported troops pouring across the borders with Russia and Belarus from the north and east, and landing on the coasts from the Black Sea in the southwest and Azov Sea in the southeast on Thursday. Ukraine reported troops pouring across the borders with Russia and Belarus from the north and east, and landing on the coasts from the Black Sea in the southwest and Azov Sea in the southeast.
Ukrainian president calls on Russians to consider the cost of war. UKRAINE-LITHUANIA-POLAND-DIPLOMACY. Ukrainian President Volodymyr ...
You know our principles. You know our people. You know what we value.
Explosions have been heard across Ukraine, with Kyiv saying military sites targeted by Russia in eastern Donbas region.
“I want to reassure you that our military spirit is at its highest level. The claim could not be independently verified. 07:15 GMT – Ukraine says Russian military hardware entering from Crimea There was no immediate comment by authorities in Ukraine. 05:25 GMT – Russia says targeting Ukraine military facilities with ‘precision’ weapons 04:45 GMT – Ukraine shuts down its entire airspace in response to the Russian military operation in Donbass.
After air and missile strikes, Russian troops launched attacks from Ukraine's northern border with Belarus, across its eastern frontier and in the south from ...
Slovakia said that its border with Ukraine was open for “all persons fleeing this war”. The US has warned that as many as 5mn Ukrainians could be displaced. “Vladimir Putin gave extensive explanations of the causes and circumstances of why a decision was taken to launch a special military operation. The leaders had a “serious and frank exchange of views about the Ukraine situation”, the Kremlin said in a readout. The price dropped back to about $99 after the Biden administration announced a raft of sanctions that focused on Russia’s financial sector, rather than its energy industry, which is an important supplier to many western countries. Korsunsky said the Russian vessels had twice demanded the Ukrainians lay down their weapons and surrender or be destroyed. Alarm over the conflict ripped through international markets, with the price of European natural gas contracts jumping as much as 70 per cent to €142 per megawatt hour. Biden said the US and its allies would impose new sanctions in response to Russia’s aggression. Shocked by the ferocity of Russia’s assault, world leaders addressed their nations to condemn what they cast as the most momentous challenge to the postwar order in Europe for 80 years. The Ukrainian president said 137 Ukrainians were killed in Thursday’s fighting. Ukraine’s land forces said Russia fired at peaceful areas of Kyiv but the strike was intercepted. “[Putin] has much larger ambitions than Ukraine,” said Joe Biden, US president. My family is the number-two target.
After reports of explosions near Kyiv, Joe Biden accuses Putin of choosing a 'war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life'
I remain in close contact with our partners and allies in the European Union and Nato to coordinate our response.” “Italy is close to the Ukrainian people and institutions in this dramatic moment. “We will weaken Russia’s economic base and its capacity to modernise. “Sadly, what we have warned against for months has come to pass. “Peace in our continent has been shattered. “The world will hold Russia accountable.” We cannot and will not just look away.” “We do not have Nato troops in Ukraine and we do not have plans to send Nato troops to Ukraine.” He said: “Ukraine is a country that for decades has enjoyed freedom and democracy and the right to choose its own destiny. In addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the EU and stop the access of Russian banks to the European financial market.” “France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with the Ukrainians and works with its partners and allies to end the war.” “We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
Twelve hours into the invasion, Russian paratroopers and attack helicopters were within 25km of the centre of Kyiv, fighting for control of an airport in the ...
PM expected to address parliament and the nation over Ukraine crisis, which he calls 'a catastrophe for our continent'
“The Russian Federation has today further violated Ukrainian sovereignty,” he said. Britain’s ambassador to Ukraine urged UK nationals to leave the country immediately. President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.” Cleverly said on Sky News that the Russian stock market had already dropped 30% in value. But the UK has supplied arms to Kyiv and has already announced limited economic sanctions. The US has warned key Ukrainian figures could be targeted in this phase.
We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Russian business & finance news every morning. Russia's stock market dropped at a record- ...