Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country. The foreign minister of Ukraine gave a warning about a “full-scale invasion” was underway.
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The attack comes in the backdrop of the separatist leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk sent separate letters to Putin, asking him to “help them repel Ukraine’s aggression”, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The two letters were published by Russian state media and were both dated February 22.
The Russian President amassed a group of about 1.5 to 2 lakh Russian Troops on the borders of Ukraine. “I have made the decision of a military operation,” Putin said in a surprise television announcement that triggered immediate condemnation from US President Joe Biden and sent global financial markets into turmoil.
Explosions around the city have been heard and Air raid sirens have been reported in the centre of Kyiv. Putin has reportedly asked the Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms as well.
The extent of the attacks was not immediately clear, but Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the worst-case scenario was playing out. “Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes,” Kuleba tweeted.
“This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”
Biden immediately warned of “consequences” for Russia and that there would be a “catastrophic loss of life and human suffering” NATO’s chief condemned Russia’s “reckless and unprovoked attack” on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky said he had tried to call Putin but there was “no answer, only silence”, adding that Moscow now had around 200,000 soldiers near Ukraine’s borders.
