Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine which the world leaders described as the “invasion of Ukraine”.
Russian troops began moving into eastern Ukraine immediately after Putin’s speech. Explosions were reported in cities of Ukraine including near Kyiv.
Putin said the Russian forces are conducting a military operation to disarm the country but not take it over. “Moscow’s plans to not include an occupation of Ukraine,” Putin said in his speech.
Putin said that Russia could not let Kyiv obtain nuclear weapons and recalled NATO’s illegitimate expansion to the east.
Ukrainian air defense system attacked
The Russian defence ministry said it was targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons. “Military infrastructure, air defence facilities, military airfields, and aviation of the armed forces of Ukraine are being disabled with high-precision weapons,” it said in a statement.
Russian President also asked Ukrainian servicemen to kay down arms. “Do not perform their unlawful orders! I urge you to immediately disarm and go home” Putin said adding that “all servicemen of the Ukrainian army that will fulfill this demand will be able to freely leave the zone of combat action and return to their families.”
Ukraine declares national emergency
With violence escalating in the country’s east, Ukraine’s government called up military reservists and declared a national state of emergency. Ukrainian President Zelensky urged his countrymen: “Stay calm, stay at home, the army is doing its work.”