Ukraine Russia

President Zelenskiy calls on Ukrainians to defend country as Russia claims to have neutralised its airbases and air defencesRussia-Ukraine crisis: live ...

Some of the first explosions after Putin announced the operation were heard near Kramatorsk, the headquarters of the Ukrainian army’s operations near the Russian-controlled territories in south-east Ukraine. Russia appeared to be targeting military infrastructure in its early strikes on Thursday morning. Russia has every incentive to move as fast as possible,” wrote Rob Lee, a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia Program. “We have taken the decision to conduct a special military operation,” he said, in what amounted to a declaration of war. But the answer is up to you,” he said. In 2014, Putin ordered undercover Russian soldiers to seize the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow then annexed. The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson said: “I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to President Zelenskiy to discuss next steps. 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. Zelenskiy used a video address to appeal to the Russian public for help after an attempt to speak to Putin was unsuccessful. “We do not intend to occupy Ukraine,” he said, and he had a chilling warning for other nations. “What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting and the rumble of aircraft,” he said. “Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” said Dmytro Kuleba. “Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. Zelenskiy also said Ukrainian forces were fighting to prevent Russian troops capturing Chernobyl. It was later reported that the Russians now held the former nuclear plant.

Russian forces have launched missile and helicopter attacks around Ukraine, and early signs suggest their goal is to encircle Kyiv.

The mayor of Mariupol said three civilians had been killed there and emergency services in Kharkiv said a boy had been killed after shelling struck an apartment building. Half of Moscow’s air force is also deployed in the region. The local administration in Odesa said 22 people had died in a strike on a military base. “However, it’s high risk because until ground forces link up, the airborne assault forces are deep in Ukrainian territory and dependent on aerial resupply, casualty evacuation and fire support,” he said. Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had destroyed 74 “objects of above-ground military infrastructure”, though this could not be confirmed. Shortly after, however, Ukraine’s armed forces chief said Kyiv’s forces were fighting back in a critical early battle.

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.