Kiev [Ukraine], February 24 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, announced the country’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday and added that Ukrainian cities are under strikes. “Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. 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,” Kuleba tweeted.

This tweet comes less than an hour after Putin announced a special “military operation” to protect Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Defending Russia’s decision to take military action in the Donbas region, the Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Alekseevich Nebenzya, told UN Security Council “the root of today’s crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself.” “The root of today’s crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself, who for many years were sabotaging its obligations under the (Minsk agreement),” said Nebenzya. Nebenzya said that the Russian operation is aimed to protect residents in eastern Ukraine.

Condemning Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine“, US President Joe Biden said that the premeditated war will bring a catastrophic loss of life. “The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” Biden said in a White House statement.

Asserting that the US and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said that Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable, he added. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres asked the Russian President to stop “attacking Ukraine” and give peace a chance,

Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday night, the UN chief said, “The day was full of rumors and indications of an offensive against Ukraine was imminent.” “I was wrong. And I would like not to be wrong again today,” he added. (ANI)

Explosions heard near Kiev’s main airport after Putin announces military operation in Ukraine

Kiev [Ukraine], February 24 (ANI): Multiple explosions were heard near the main airport in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev soon after Russia announced a military operation in Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday.

Several reports indicate several explosions in the Boryspil area to the east of the capital, CNN reported.
According to the American broadcaster, at least two massive explosions were reported in the early hours of Thursday. Announcing a special “military operation” in the Donbas region, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences”.

Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize Ukraine and defend people’s “suffering, persecution and genocide” by the Kiev regime. “I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation. Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime. For this we will aim for demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine,” said Putin, asking Ukrainian soldiers to lay down arms.

This comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not posed and will not pose a threat to Russia. In an emotional appeal delivered largely in Russian, Zelenskyy refuted Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.

After the military operation was announced, US President Joe Biden condemned Russia‘s actions, in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The US President said that he is monitoring the situation from the White House, and will soon meet with the other G7 leaders. (ANI)

Putin announces ‘military operation’ to ‘demilitarize’ Ukraine

Moscow [Russia], February 24 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a special “military operation” to protect Donbas, the separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday. Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize the country. This comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not posed and will not pose a threat to Russia. In an emotional appeal delivered largely in Russian, Zelenskyy said “You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia. “It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security – from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum,” Zelenskyy said in a video address.

Ukrainian President also refuted Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives. The White House warned on Wednesday that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine. Meanwhile, an emergency session of the UN Security Council on the prevailing situation in Ukraine is underway. Ukraine requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Meet after Heads of the Ukraine breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, have asked the Russian President for help.

Putin has also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine‘s breakaway regions. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country’s borders. (ANI)

Any attempt to interfere with Russian action would lead to ‘consequences’, warns Putin

Moscow [Russia], February 24 (ANI): Announcing a special “military operation” in the Donbas region, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences”. Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize Ukraine and defend people “suffering persecution and genocide” by the Kiev regime.

“I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation. Its goal will be to defend people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime. For this we will aim for demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine,” said Putin, asking Ukrainian soldiers to lay down arms. “Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history,” he added.

This comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has not posed and will not pose a threat to Russia. In an emotional appeal delivered largely in Russian, Zelenskyy said, “You are being told that Ukraine can pose a threat to Russia. “It was not like this in the past, it is not like this now and it will not be so in the future. You demand security guarantees from NATO. We also demand guarantees of our security – from you, from Russia, and other guarantors of the Budapest memorandum,” Zelenskyy said in a video address.

Ukrainian President also refuted Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and warned that a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives. The White House on Wednesday had warned that Putin will face significant consequences if Moscow invades Ukraine.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the Russian President to stop “attacking Ukraine” and to give peace a chance, speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday night. “The day was full of rumors and indications of an offensive against Ukraine was imminent. In the recent past, there were several situations with similar indications, similar rumors,” Guterres told the council. “I was wrong. And I would like not to be wrong again today,” he added. (ANI)

Biden condemns Russia’s ‘unprovoked, unjustified attack’ on Ukraine

Washinton [US], February 24 (ANI): Condemning Russia‘s “unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine“, US President Joe Biden said that the premeditated war will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human. “The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” said Biden, as per a statement released by White House.

Asserting that the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way, Biden said that Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring. The world will hold Russia accountable, he added. The US President further informed that he will be monitoring the situation from the White House as of now and will meet with his G7 counterparts in the morning.
“Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security,” he said.

Biden said that the US will also coordinate with its NATO allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance. “Tonight, Jill (First Lady Jill Biden) and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine,” he added.

Biden’s statement comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a special “military operation” to protect Donbas, the separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine, media reports said on Thursday. Delivering an emergency address, Putin said the operation has been launched to demilitarize Ukraine and also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences”. Notably, Putin recognized the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk following which Biden imposed sanctions on Russia and affirmed the US’ support to Ukraine.

Putin after his announcement also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine‘s breakaway regions. Following this, the Ukrainian Parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Wednesday approved declaring a state of emergency in the whole country except for Donetsk and Luhansk regions amid the escalating situation at the country’s borders. (ANI)