![]() Date: 2025-02-07 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00021749 | |||||||||
RUSSIA -V- UKRAINE
ALJAZEERA REPORTING February 23rd, 2022 ... Ukraine says multi-pronged Russian invasion has plunged Europe into its ‘darkest time’ since beginning of World War II. Original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/23/ukraine-declares-state-of-emergency-amid-fears-of-invasion-liveblog Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess | |||||||||
BREAKING Russia is conducting a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea BREAKING President Zelenskyy declares martial law, calls for citizens to fight BREAKING Reports of fierce fighting in several locations, dozens of casualties Click to pause breaking news ticker Close Breaking News Ticker LIVE UPDATES LIVE UPDATES, News | Russia-Ukraine crisis Russia-Ukraine live updates: Curfew in Kyiv; battle at Chernobyl Ukraine says multi-pronged Russian invasion has plunged Europe into its ‘darkest time’ since beginning of World War II. By David Child and Farah Najjar Published On 23 Feb 2022 Russian police detain hundreds at anti-war protests, monitoring group says Russian police have detained more than 650 people at anti-war protests held in cities throughout the country, protest monitoring group OVD-Info says. The group said demonstrations had been staged in 40 different locations, including in the capital, Moscow. 32 mins ago (17:08 GMT) G7 leaders promise to hit Russia with severe sanctions The Group of Seven industrialised nations has strongly condemned Russia’s invasion and promised to hit Moscow with severe and coordinated economic sanctions. “This crisis is a serious threat to the rules-based international order, with ramifications well beyond Europe,” the G7 leaders said in a joint statement released by Germany. They added Putin had re-introduced war to the European continent and said the Russian president had “put himself on the wrong side of history”. The G7 is comprised of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. 37 mins ago (17:03 GMT) Ukrainian ambassador to US says ‘all Ukrainians’ will fight invasion Ukraine’s ambassador to the US says all of the country’s citizens will resist Russia’s assault. “Ukraine has activated our right to self-defence in accordance with international law,” Oksana Markarova told reporters at a news conference a press conference at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington. “The combat spirit of the Ukrainian military is high. We are fighting, we will be fighting – not only our brave and motivated military but all Ukrainians,” she added. 47 mins ago (16:52 GMT) Putin claims he had no choice but to order ‘operation’ against Ukraine Putin has claimed he had no other option but to order what he described as a “special operation” against Ukraine, arguing all of Moscow’s previous attempts to ensure its security concerns were addressed had come to nothing. The Russian president made his remarks while addressing the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Moscow had called for the US-led NATO military alliance to guarantee Ukraine would never be allowed to become a member and cease all military activity in Eastern Europe prior to launching an attack on its neighbour. Washington and NATO flatly rejected those demands. 1 hour ago (16:38 GMT) Russian municipal deputies, journalists and scientists pen open letters opposing invasion More than 180 municipal deputies from cities across Russia, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Samara and Volgograd, among others, have signed an open letter strongly condemning Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. “We are convinced that the citizens of Russia did not give him such a mandate,” the regional officials’ letter says, before warning that the incursion will have “catastrophic consequences”. “This is an unparalleled atrocity for which there is and cannot be justification,” the letter adds. It also calls on Russians not to “be silent” over the attack, saying “only massive popular condemnation can stop the war”. In two other open letters, more than 240 journalists and 260 scientists also expressed their opposition to the Kremlin’s move. 1 hour ago (16:20 GMT) Red Cross fears ‘massive casualty numbers’ in Ukraine The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could unleash death and destruction on a scale that is “frightening to contemplate”. “I fear increased suffering, with the potential of massive casualty numbers and extensive destruction of civilian objects like water and electricity plants, as well as mass displacement, trauma, family separation, and missing persons,” Peter Maurer said in a statement. “The ICRC has seen many conflicts start and escalate in recent years, but too few of them end, and in each one it is the civilian populations that bear the consequences,” he added. 2 hours ago (15:56 GMT) Ukraine says dozens killed within hours of Russian attack Dozens of people have been killed during the first hours of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to local officials. Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said that more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and dozens of others wounded within hours of Moscow launching its attack. He added that up to 10 civilians had also been killed. Read more here. 2 hours ago (15:53 GMT) ‘Dark and frightening night ahead for millions of Ukrainians’ Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from the city of Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, says Russian forces do appear to be specifically “trying to target military positions” with their attacks. “The Ukrainians are responding – the barrage that they are being subjected to dictates that [they must],” he said. Stratford added the atmosphere in Mariupol, but also in other parts of Ukraine, was becoming increasingly ominous as nightfall loomed. “It is getting dark now and we have been told by the authorities here that they will be encouraging people not to use their lights, so it is going to be a very dark and a very frightening night ahead for millions of Ukrainians,” he said. Smoke is seen rising from a building in KyivSeveral explosions rocked Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, amid Russia’s attack [Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters] 2 hours ago (15:34 GMT) Russian Twitter users rally behind ‘notowar’ hashtag Russian-speaking social media users have been voicing their opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, using the hashtag #нетвойне, or #notowar. It had become the top trending hashtag on Russian Twitter at about 06:00 GMT, shortly after Moscow launched its attack, and by 15:00 GMT had accumulated some 112,000 mentions. 2 hours ago (15:25 GMT) Battle for Chernobyl rages Ukrainian forces are battling Russian troops intent on capturing the former nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, in northern Ukraine, Zelenskyy says. Elsewhere, the regional administration in charge of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region said some parts of the territory had been lost to invading forces. 2 hours ago (15:14 GMT) Kyiv mayor imposes curfew on the capital Kyiv’s mayor has ordered a curfew in the Ukrainian capital in response to Russia’s attack. Vitali Klitschko’s decision came after footage showed swaths of the city’s residents attempting to flee by car, clogging its main exit points by road. 3 hours ago (14:51 GMT) WHO raises alarm over potential humanitarian catastrophe The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced alarm over an expected health emergency in Ukraine. “Amid the conflict rapidly unfolding in Ukraine, the WHO Regional Office for Europe reiterates its deepest concern for the safety, health and wellbeing of all civilians impacted by the crisis in the country and possibly beyond,” the office said in a statement, warning any further escalation could result in a humanitarian catastrophe. The European arm of the world health body added it was working closely “with all UN partners in rapidly scaling up readiness to respond to the expected health emergency triggered by the conflict”. 3 hours ago (14:25 GMT) Eastern Ukraine’s Kramatorsk ‘eerily quiet’ Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, says the city is “eerily quiet”. “The streets are nearly empty and none of the businesses are open,” Abdel-Hamid said, adding that the magnitude of Russia’s attack had “sunk in” for local people. “They are bracing themselves that something will happen here,” she said. 3 hours ago (14:17 GMT) ‘Putin is plunging Europe into its darkest time since 1939’, Kyiv says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has accused Putin of “plunging Europe into its darkest time” since the beginning of the second world war in 1939 and urged Kyiv’s allies to hit Russia with sanctions immediately. “Any government hoping to sit this out is naïve. Don’t repeat mistakes of the past,” he tweeted. “Hit Russia with severe sanctions now. Help Ukraine with military and financial support. Together we can #StopRussianAggression.” 3 hours ago (14:15 GMT) How is the Ukraine invasion being viewed in Russia? Pro-government media outlets are echoing Putin’s line, but criticism of Moscow’s actions is growing, with prominent public figures voicing their discontent. Read more here. 4 hours ago (14:05 GMT) UK PM says Western powers will impose ‘massive sanctions’ on Russia British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has branded Putin a “dictator” and warned Moscow will now face “massive” Western sanctions for invading Ukraine. “We cannot and will not just look away,” Johnson said in a televised address to the nation, delivered after he held talks by phone with Zelenskyy. He added that Western powers will move to roll out a “massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy”. “And to that end, we must also collectively cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on Western politics,” Johnson said. 4 hours ago (14:00 GMT) Russia anti-war activist says she has been detained A Russian opposition activist who called for anti-war protests says she has been detained by police. “I was detained on my way out of the house,” Marina Litvinovich, the Moscow-based activist, wrote on Telegram. Litvinovich had earlier called on Russians to gather in protest in various cities throughout the country on Thursday evening. 4 hours ago (13:47 GMT) Russia says it has destroyed 74 military facilities: Report Russia’s defence ministry says its forces have destroyed 74 above-ground military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine on Thursday, including 11 aerodromes, according to a report by the country’s RIA Novosti news agency. 4 hours ago (13:44 GMT) Attacks taking place nationwide, Ukrainian police force says Ukraine’s national police force says attacks are taking place throughout the country. The authorities said they had logged 203 incidents since the beginning of the day, when Moscow launched its incursion. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s defence minister said some Russian forces had been taken prisoner in instances of heavy fighting. 4 hours ago (13:33 GMT) French president says invasion marks ‘turning point in the history of Europe’ President Emmanuel Macron has said France will stand by Ukraine’s side and warned that Russia’s invasion will have durable and “deep” consequences for the continent of Europe. “We will respond without weakness to this act of war, with calm, determination and unity,” Macron said in an address to the French nation. He added that the events were a “turning point in the history of Europe and our country” that would have “deep and lasting consequences for our lives”. French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks during a media conferenceMacron had tried to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow in recent weeks in a bid to avert war [File: Tobias Schwarz/Pool Photo via AP] 4 hours ago (13:23 GMT) Panic, fear and stoicism in Ukraine as Russia invades Russia’s invasion has triggered panic and fear among many Ukrainian civilians as they scramble to flee or face down the escalation in violence. Many also remained stoic, however, even as missiles fell on multiple cities and Russian forces attacked from land and sea. Read more here. 4 hours ago (13:14 GMT) Ukraine’s Klitschko pleads for international assistance Former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko, whose brother Vitali is the mayor of Kyiv, has told Al Jazeera that the Russian invasion is “terrifying” and called on the world to help “stop the killing of Ukrainians”. 5 hours ago (12:45 GMT) Russia can not be cut off behind an ‘iron curtain’, Kremlin spokesman says The Kremlin says Russia can not be shut off behind an iron curtain and that it needs Ukraine to become a neutral country where offensive weapons were not deployed. “It’s simply impossible to cut off a country like Russia with an iron curtain,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked to assess the risk of Russia being diplomatically and economically isolated due to its actions in Ukraine. 5 hours ago (12:44 GMT) Russian forces trying to penetrate Kyiv region, border officials say Russian forces are trying to penetrate into Ukraine’s Kyiv region and its Zhytomyr region on the Belarusian border, Ukrainian border officials say. The officials said Russia was using Grad rocket systems as part of its assault, and claimed that Russian helicopters had attacked a military airport near Kyiv. Ukrainian forces shot down three of the helicopters involved in the attack on the facility, the officials added. 5 hours ago (12:31 GMT) UN’s high commissioner for refugees urges countries to give fleeing Ukrainians safe haven The UN’s high commissioner for refugees has warned that the situation in Ukraine is quickly deteriorating and appealed to neighbouring countries to keep their borders open to people seeking a safe haven. “We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety,” Filippo Grandi said in a statement. He added the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) had stepped up its operations and was working with Ukrainian authorities to provide greater humanitarian assistance. Grandi said the agency was also working with other governments in the region and called on them “to keep borders open to those seeking safety and protection”. 5 hours ago (12:10 GMT) NATO has no plans to send troops into Ukraine, Stoltenberg says NATO has no troops inside Ukraine and has no plans to send any into the country, the organisation’s secretary-general says. “There are no NATO combat troops, no NATO troops at all inside Ukraine. We have made it clear that we don’t have any plans and intention of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine,” Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. “What we have made clear is that we have already increased and we are increasing the presence of NATO troops in the eastern part of the alliance on NATO territory,” he added. Ukraine is a partner of the Western defence alliance but not a full NATO member. INTERACTIVE- NATO members in Europe expand eastwards 6 hours ago (11:57 GMT) Navalny condemns Ukraine invasion Putin’s most prominent domestic critic, Alexey Navalny, has spoken out against Russia’s invasion during a court hearing. “The war with Ukraine has been unleashed to cover up the robbery of Russian citizens and divert their attention away from the country’s internal problems, from the degradation of its economy,” he said. “I am against this war.” Navalny is currently serving a prison sentence for alleged parole violations that could be extended by more than a decade if he is convicted of fresh charges including fraud and contempt of court. His allies have claimed that his latest trial – which opened last week – has been purposefully timed to coincide with the Ukraine crisis. 6 hours ago (11:46 GMT) Russian regulator issues strict guidelines for reporting on eastern Ukraine Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor has warned media outlets they must check the veracity of their reports about the situation in eastern Ukraine and only publish information from official Russian sources. Roskomnadzor said the distribution of false information online would lead to immediate restrictions. “We emphasise that it is namely Russian official information sources that hold and disseminate reliable and up-to-date information,” Roskomnadzor said. 6 hours ago (11:42 GMT) Erdogan slams Russia’s attack as a ‘heavy blow’ to peace Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “heavy blow” to regional peace and called for a resolution of the crisis through dialogue. “We reject Russia’s military operation,” Erdogan said in a televised speech. “This step, which we view as against international law, is a heavy blow struck on regional peace, harmony and stability.” The Turkish leader added he had conveyed Ankara’s support to Zelenskyy in a phone call between the pair. 6 hours ago (11:37 GMT) Ukraine says Russia is carrying out ‘full-scale attack’ Ukraine’s foreign minister says Russia is carrying out a full-scale offensive from multiple directions and that Ukrainian forces are resisting the attack. “No, this is not a Russian invasion only in the east of Ukraine, but a full-scale attack from multiple directions,” Kuleba said on Twitter. “Ukraine stands with both feet on the ground & continues to defend itself,” he added. 6 hours ago (11:29 GMT) ‘Left no other option’: Excerpts of Putin’s speech declaring war Al Jazeera has translated some of Putin’s early morning address to the Russian nation, in which he announced Moscow was launching what he called a “special military operation” against Ukraine. Read more here. 6 hours ago (11:13 GMT) Iran says Ukraine crisis rooted in ‘provocative moves’ by NATO Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine is rooted in “provocative moves” by NATO. However, he added Tehran did not “see resorting to war as a solution” and called in a post on Twitter for a “political and diplomatic solution” to the crisis. Amirabdollahian also said he had held a phone call with officials at Iran’s embassy in Kyiv to discuss how they might coordinate the evacuation of Iranian citizens from Ukraine. Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement that Tehran is working to secure a flight to evacuate citizens and called on them to move away from “crisis points”. 7 hours ago (11:05 GMT) After ‘bridge to Europe’ bid, Ukraine’s China ties face test Beijing’s reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine indicates China will attempt to maintain its delicate balancing act over the crisis. Read more here. 7 hours ago (10:59 GMT) Zelenskyy holds phone conversation with Qatari emir Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has received a phone call from Zelenskyy, who briefed him on the latest developments, his office has said in a statement. Sheikh Tamim called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the criss through diplomatic means, the statement added. The Qatari emir also called for the protection of civilians INTERACTIVE- Ukraine Russia head-to-head 7 hours ago (10:57 GMT) NATO moves to reinforce its eastern flank NATO member states have agreed to bolster land, sea and air forces on the military alliance’s eastern flank. “We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the alliance, as well as additional maritime assets,” NATO ambassadors said in a statement after emergency talks. “We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies,” the statement added. 7 hours ago (10:46 GMT) Separatist leader says evacuation of residents to Russia suspended: Report Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-backed leader of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine, says the evacuation of the territory’s residents to Russia has been suspended, according to a report by the Interfax news agency. Russia moved to recognise the DPR and another breakaway territory, the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), as independent prior to launching its invasion into Ukraine. 7 hours ago (10:35 GMT) Mayor of Mariupol says three civilians killed The mayor of Mariupol has claimed that three of the eastern Ukrainian city’s civilians have been killed and six others injured amid Russia’s invasion. Vadym Boychenko told a news conference that Russian forces had attacked the city’s airport and a village nearby. “Don’t panic. We are ready to fight for Mariupol and Ukraine,” he said. 7 hours ago (10:25 GMT) Zelenskyy adviser says 40 Ukrainians killed An adviser to Ukraine’s president says about 40 people have been killed so far amid Russia’s invasion. Oleksii Arestovich, Zelenskyy’s aide, also said that several dozen people have been wounded. He did not specify whether the casualties included civilians. Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the figures. 7 hours ago (10:17 GMT) Putin ally says Ukraine’s demilitarisation only way to prevent war in Europe The speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, has said that the only way to prevent war in Europe is for Ukraine to be “demilitarised”, RIA Novosti reports. Volodin is a close ally of Putin. 7 hours ago (10:14 GMT) No scope for diplomacy with Russia ‘at this stage’ Al Jazeera’s Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from Vienna, says Western leaders see no scope for “talking to the Russians at this stage”. “The only diplomacy going on is diplomatic meetings aimed at formulating a response to what Putin has done – that is what the centre of attention is going to be in the coming hours,” he said. 8 hours ago (10:08 GMT) Ukraine breaks diplomatic ties with Russia Zelenskyy has broken off Kyiv’s diplomatic relations with Moscow in response to Russia’s invasion. The Ukrainian president’s move marked the first rupture in ties since Russia and Ukraine became independent countries after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. 8 hours ago (10:06 GMT) OSCE says monitoring mission in Ukraine implementing contingency plans The secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says the security body’s Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which has hundreds of observers in the east of the country, is adapting after Russia’s military offensive. “The mission’s well-developed contingency plans are being put in action,” Helga Schmid said in a speech to the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly, without providing details. “The safety and security of our personnel is our utmost priority,” she added. 8 hours ago (10:01 GMT) Russian invasion is a ‘catastrophe’ for Europe, UK PM says The UK’s prime minister has said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a “catastrophe” for Europe and called for an urgent NATO meeting over the crisis. “This is a catastrophe for our continent,” Johnson said on Twitter, adding he would make a national address on the developments later on Thursday morning. “I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible,” he added. 8 hours ago (09:46 GMT) Ukraine’s president calls on citizens to fight Zelenskyy has called on all Ukrainian citizens who are ready to defend the country from Russian forces to come forward, saying Kyiv will issue weapons to everyone who wants them. The Ukrainian president also urged Russians to protest against Moscow’s move. 8 hours ago (09:23 GMT) Finland is ready to receive refugees from Ukraine, PM says Finland is prepared to receive refugees from Ukraine, the country’s prime minister has said. “[Finland’s] ministry of interior for its part is preparing to receive refugees from Ukraine,” Sanna Marin told reporters. Both Marin and Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto have strongly condemned Russia’s attack. “Despite prior warnings this morning has come as a shock for all of us and our deepest feelings are with Ukrainian people,” Niinisto said. 8 hours ago (09:21 GMT) Russian attack causes panic in Kyiv as people flee The sound of explosions on the edge of Ukraine’s capital and air sirens set off by a full-scale Russian invasion of the country have prompted panic in the city, leading some of its residents to try and flee. Read more here. A traffic jam is seen in KyivLong queues of cars are forming along exit roads from Kyiv as residents bid to flee the city following Russia’s invasion [Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA] 8 hours ago (09:15 GMT) Lithuanian parliament to consider state of emergency declaration The Lithuanian parliament will decide whether to declare a state of emergency later on Thursday following Russia’s moves in Ukraine, President Gitanas Nauseda says. The Baltic state, a former Soviet republic that is now part of NATO and the European Union, will also propose that further sanctions should be imposed on Belarus over its alleged role in the invasion. 8 hours ago (09:13 GMT) What’s next for global energy prices? Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spells higher energy prices worldwide amid fears of supply disruptions. Read more here. 8 hours ago (09:10 GMT) Sanctions not enough to stop Russia: Analyst Fabrice Pothier, chief strategy officer at consultancy firm Rasmussen Global and a former director of policy planning at NATO, says Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine is “not surprising”. “Putin … wants to rebuild Russia’s empire,” Pothier told Al Jazeera. “And while the US and EU sanctions packages sound impressive, and there is indeed a lot of unity and coordinated talks [among Kyiv’s allies], the bottom line is that this is not enough to stop Putin from following his twisted vision,” he added. “NATO is not willing to put any soldiers on Ukrainian soil and Putin knows this very well and therefore he can go all the way forward to Kyiv.” 9 hours ago (09:00 GMT) Dozens of Russian forces killed, Ukraine says Ukraine’s military says about 50 Russian forces have been killed and six warplanes destroyed amid fighting in the country’s east. 9 hours ago (08:56 GMT) Watch the moment Putin announced Russia’s Ukraine incursion Here’s the moment Russia’s president announced Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine, a move he referred to as “a military operation” in the country’s eastern Donbas region. 9 hours ago (08:45 GMT) Belarusian forces not taking part in invasion, Lukashenko claims President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that Belarusian troops are not taking part in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a report by the country’s Belta state news agency. “Our troops are taking no part in this operation,” Lukashenko, who is a close ally of Putin, was quoted as saying. Ukraine’s border guard service said earlier that Russian troops had attacked Ukraine from Belarus – where they had been staging joint large-scale military exercises with Belarusian forces – as well as from Russia itself with Belarusian support. 9 hours ago (08:41 GMT) Ukraine asks Turkey to shut Black Sea waterways to Russian warships Ukraine has asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian warships, Kyiv’s ambassador to Ankara says. “We are calling for the air space, Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to be closed. We have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side,” Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told a news conference in the Turkish capital. The request puts NATO member Turkey, which shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea and has good relations with both countries, in a difficult position. Under a 1936 pact, Ankara has control over the straits and can limit warship passages during wartime or if threatened. 9 hours ago (08:32 GMT) Russian opposition activist calls for anti-war protests A Russian opposition activist has called for anti-war protests in Russian cities later on Thursday. “We will be cleaning up this mess for years to come. Not even us. But our children and grandchildren,” Litvinovich wrote on Facebook. “All we see is the agony of a dying man. Alas, Russia is in agony.” INTERACTIVE- Russia Ukraine Conflict at a glance FEB 24 9 hours ago (08:16 GMT) Timeline: Putin attacks Ukraine – how it happened Russia’s attack on Ukraine started in the early hours of this morning. Click here for a timeline documenting how the invasion began, and has developed since. 10 hours ago (08:08 GMT) Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: What we know so far Al Jazeera has put together a 500-word explainer on the background to Russia’s invasion and what has happened so far. Click here to read it. 10 hours ago (08:06 GMT) Russia claims air raids not targeting Ukraine’s cities, pose no civilian threat: Report Russia’s defence ministry has claimed its air raids on Ukraine are not targeting the country’s cities and pose no threat to civilians, RIA Novosti reports. Ukraine said earlier that at least eight people had been killed and nine others wounded by Russian shelling. 10 hours ago (07:52 GMT) EU to impose ‘harshest sanctions ever’ on Russia The EU will slap the harshest package of sanctions ever implemented on Russia for attacking Ukraine, the bloc’s foreign policy chief has said. “The European Union will respond in the strongest possible ways … [EU leaders] will adopt a stronger package, the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented,” Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels. 10 hours ago (07:35 GMT) Russia suspends shipping in the Azov sea: Report Russia has suspended the movement of commercial vessels in the Azov sea until further notice, Interfax has quoted the state agency for maritime and river transport as saying. Ukraine and Russia both have ports on the Sea of Azov, including Ukraine’s major port of Mariupol, while Russia controls the sea’s mouth at the Kerch Strait. 10 hours ago (07:31 GMT) Timeline: After months of tensions, Russia attacks Ukraine For a timeline documenting the build-up to Russia’s invasion, click here. 10 hours ago (07:25 GMT) ‘Everybody was panicking’ Sara Cincurova, a freelance reporter, says she was on a train headed for Kramatorsk when news of Russia’s invasion broke. “Everybody was panicking … there was an old man asking what was going on and the train attendant told him ‘the war has just begun’,” Cincurova told Al Jazeera. “There was another passenger, an old lady whose son is in the army, who started crying. Other people were wishing each other good luck … and there was a big discussion about whether we should all get off in the next village,” she added. “Some people decided to head east to meet with their families, but others got off.” 10 hours ago (07:13 GMT) ‘The war is a big disaster’: Zelenskyy’s address in full As Russia prepared to attack Ukraine, the country’s president made an emotional address to his nation. Click here to read Zelenskyy’s address in full. 11 hours ago (07:04 GMT) Queues at cash machines, petrol stations in Mariupol Al Jazeera’s Liz Cookman is in Mariupol, eastern Ukraine. She says there are large queues at cash machines and petrol stations as people fear electricity and internet outages. But despite air raid sirens sounding throughout the city, packed buses were still carrying people to work and school. A queue is seen at a petrol station in MariupolA queue forms at a petrol station in Mariupol [Liz Cookman/Al Jazeera] 11 hours ago (06:44 GMT) Photos from Ukraine Click here for images from Ukraine as Russia’s attack unfolds. 11 hours ago (06:35 GMT) Explosions rock eastern Ukraine’s Kramatorsk Al Jazeera’s Abdel-Hamid, reporting from Kramatorsk, says several loud explosions rocked the city early this morning. “I think … what has been targeted is the military base that is just on the edge of the city,” she said. “The Russians are trying to diminish the capability of the Ukrainian army as much as possible.” 11 hours ago (06:27 GMT) World reaction to Ukraine invasion Russia’s attack on Ukraine has been swiftly condemned by several nations. Read more here. INTERACTIVE: Loud-explosions-heard-across-Kyiv-Ukraine 11 hours ago (06:22 GMT) Russia says it has taken out infrastructure at Ukraine air bases: Reports Russia’s defence ministry says it has attacked military infrastructure at Ukrainian air bases and degraded Ukraine’s air defences, according to reports by Russian news agencies. The ministry denied reports that one of its aircraft had been shot down over Ukraine. Ukraine’s military said earlier that five Russian planes and one helicopter had been downed in the country’s eastern Luhansk region. Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the claims made by both sides. 11 hours ago (06:14 GMT) Air raid sirens blaring throughout Kyiv Al Jazeera Andrew Simmons, reporting from Kyiv, says air raid sirens have been blaring throughout the city. “It would appear that military installations have been the target [of the attack] – there have been missiles attacks and the number of casualties and level of damage is unclear at the moment,” Simmons said. “But the whole sky was awash with red and orange when these missiles struck – some of which were apparently cruise missiles. And the main international airport did come under attack – it is not clear what the damage is there, but all air space is closed,” he added. 12 hours ago (06:07 GMT) Zelenskyy declares martial law, says Ukraine will ‘win’ Ukraine’s president has made a brief national address to declare martial law throughout the country. “Dear Ukrainian citizens, this morning President Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas. Russia conducted strikes on our military infrastructure and our border guards. There were blasts heard in many cities of Ukraine. We’re introducing martial law on the whole territory of our country,” Zelenskyy said in a video address. He added he had spoken with Biden, and that Washington was moving to unite “international support” for Kyiv. “Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The army is working. The whole sector of defence and security is working,” Zelenskyy said. “No panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything. We will win over everybody because we are Ukraine.” 12 hours ago (06:05 GMT) Ukraine says troops attacked from Russia and Belarus Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia itself, with Belarusian support, at about 5 am local time (07:00 GMT), Ukraine’s border guard service says. The agency said an attack had also been launched from Crimea, which Russia annexed from Crimea in 2014. 12 hours ago (05:59 GMT) Russian military ‘tight-lipped’ on Ukraine attack Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, says the Russian military is being “very tight-lipped on what is happening on the ground with Ukraine”. “We are hearing reports of the Russian military going in from various sides of Ukraine – from the east, from the west and now allegedly from the north in Belarus,” Jabbari said. “It is clear now that this is not just a small military operation in the eastern region of Donbas as the president [Putin] had said,” she added. “Many residents in Moscow yesterday were commemorating their version of Remembrance day. They said they could not possibly fathom the idea of going to war with Ukraine. [They said] Ukraine is their neighbour, is part of their family, they are brother and sisters and there is really no justification for launching a full-scale attack on Ukraine.” 12 hours ago (05:48 GMT) Intensive shelling in Ukraine’s east, minister says Ukraine’s defence minister has said that Ukrainian units, military control centres and airfields in the country’s east are under intensive Russian shelling. His update came as the military said that Ukraine’s air force was trying to repel a Russian air attack. 12 hours ago (05:30 GMT) Russia’s move could ‘change dynamics in Russia’, analyst says Chris Weafer, Macro-Advisory CEO, said that Russia’s move could pose a risk for Putin’s domestic consensus. “What Putin has done is not just risky in terms of geopolitics and in terms of western reaction, but it is also in terms of domestic politics,” Weafer said, pointing out that a growing active part of the population will not easily accept the consequences for them that will now come from Russia’s invasion. “We are already seeing a weak ruble at the early opening this morning that will have consequences in terms of inflation and lifestyle,” he added, noting that sanctions could affect people’s ability to use bank cards, to withdraw money from ATMs and to travel. “All of these are potential consequences and if that happens there will be a domestic public reaction. Not immediately, but it will start to change dynamics in Russia.” 12 hours ago (05:25 GMT) Russia says targeting Ukraine military facilities with ‘precision’ weapons The Russian defence ministry has said it is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons. “Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, and aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being disabled with high-precision weapons,” the ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies. 13 hours ago (05:07 GMT) EU chief promises to hold Kremlin ‘accountable’ for ‘unjustified’ Ukraine attack EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has denounced Russia’s attack and promised to hold Moscow “accountable”. “We strongly condemn Russia’s unjustified attack on Ukraine. In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,” she wrote on Twitter. “We will hold the Kremlin accountable.” 13 hours ago (05:01 GMT) Biden speaks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, White House says Biden spoke with Zelenskyy soon after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine, the White House has said. Biden “just spoke with Zelensky,” a spokesman for his office said, adding that details would be issued later. Russia-Ukraine crisisA military vehicle is seen on a street on the outskirts of the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine [Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters] 13 hours ago (04:52 GMT) Moscow’s UN envoy says Russia targeting ‘junta in power in Kyiv’ Russia’s ambassador to the UN has told an emergency UN Securtiy Council (UNSC) meeting that Moscow’s military operation against Ukraine was targeting “the junta” in power in Kiyv. “I wanted to say in conclusion that we aren’t being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the junta that is in power in Kiyv,” said Vassily Nebenzia. 13 hours ago (04:44 GMT) UN chief urges Russia to cease military operations in Ukraine UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Russia to end the attack on Ukraine. “President Putin, in the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia,” the secretary-general said. “In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century,” he said, adding the conflict “must stop now”. 13 hours ago (04:34 GMT) Russia has launched full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv says Russia has launched a “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine and is targeting cities with weapons strikes, Ukraine’s foreign minister says. “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.” 13 hours ago (04:16 GMT) Loud explosions heard in Kyiv: Al Jazeera correspondent Al Jazeera’s Simmons, reporting from Kyiv, says at least seven “loud explosions” have been heard in Ukraine’s capital. “It sounds like shell fire, but it could be air strikes,” Simmons said. “Boryspil international airport came under attack … we’re not sure whether it was shelled or whether it’s an explosion,” he added. “We’ve heard sirens as well, so there’s definitely a full attack happening on the capital.” 14 hours ago (04:05 GMT) NATO chief condemns Russia ‘attack’ NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has condemned Russia’s “reckless and unprovoked attack” on Ukraine. He said the military alliances member states will meet to address Russia’s latest move, adding: “We stand with the people of Ukraine at this terrible time.” “NATO will do all it takes to protect and defend allies,” he added. INTERACTIVE- NATO history and expansion 14 hours ago (03:58 GMT) Ukraine urges UN ‘to do everything possible to stop the war’ Ukraine’s UN envoy has urged the world body’s Security Council to “stop the war”. “I would like to ask the ambassador of the Russian delegation to say on the record that this very moment your troops do not shell and bomb Ukrainian cities, that your troops do not move in the territory of Ukraine,” Sergiy Kyslytsya said. In response, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, said the attack was not a “war”. He claimed Moscow had launched a “military operation in the Donbas”. 14 hours ago (03:35 GMT) Biden denounces ‘unprovoked and unjustified’ attack The US president has denounced Moscow’s “unprovoked and unjustified” attack on Ukraine, pledging the world will “hold Russia accountable”. Biden said Russia alone is responsible for the “catastrophic loss of life and human suffering” to come, adding that he will address the nation on Thursday on ‘consequences’ for Russia. 14 hours ago (03:30 GMT) Gunfire heard near Kyiv’s main airport: Report Gunfire was heard near the main airport of Boryspil in Kyiv soon after Russia announced a military operation in Ukraine, Interfax has reported, citing local media. 15 hours ago (03:03 GMT) Putin says Russia will conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine Putin has said Russia will conduct a “military operation” in Donbas and called on Ukraine’s military to lay down its arms. “I have made the decision of a military operation,” he said in a surprise statement on television shortly before 6 am local time in Moscow (03:00 GMT). Putin claimed the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia does not have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian “regime”. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.” 15 hours ago (03:00 GMT) US tells UN a ‘full-scale’ invasion of Ukraine is imminent The US believes a “full-scale” further invasion of Ukraine by Russia is imminent, Washington’s ambassador to the UN has warned, saying this is a “perilous” moment. “Tonight we’re seeing the Russians close airspace, move troops into Donbas, and move forces into combat-ready positions,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. INTERACTIVE- Where are Russian troops stationed? 15 hours ago (02:52 GMT) UN chief tells Putin: ‘Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine’ Guterres has made a personal appeal to Putin to stop his troops from entering Ukraine at an emergency UNSC meeting. “President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine, give peace a chance, too many people have already died.” 15 hours ago (02:36 GMT) Russia ally Cuba slams US over Ukraine crisis, urges diplomacy Cuba, a close ally of Russia, has sharply criticised the US for imposing “the progressive expansion of NATO towards the borders of the Russian Federation” and called for a diplomatic solution to preserve international peace. “The US government has been threatening Russia for weeks and manipulating the international community about the dangers of an ‘imminent massive invasion’ of Ukraine,” a Cuban statement said. “It has supplied weapons and military technology, deployed troops to several countries in the region, applied unilateral and unjust sanctions, and threatened other reprisals.” The statement said “constructive and respectful dialogue” was necessary to resolve the Ukraine crisis. 15 hours ago (02:29 GMT) Cyberattacks are about ‘undermining confidence in government’: Analyst Cyberattacks are “about perception” and about “undermining confidence in the government,” Patrick Howell O’Neill, cybersecurity senior editor for MIT Technology Review, has said. “At a moment like this, that’s pretty important,” O’Neill told Al Jazeera. “Right now, we haven’t seen anything that would be dangerous to anyone’s lives or anyone’s physical wellbeing,” he said, referring to reports of a fresh cyber attack against Ukraine. “Historically, especially in Ukraine, the way that Russian intelligence hackers have behaved, the things that they’ve done, are unlike anything any other country has every carried out,” O’Neill said. A man is seen holding a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on himUkraine has suffered a string of cyberattacks in recent weeks that Kyiv has blamed on Russia [File: Kacper Pempel/Reuters] 16 hours ago (01:35 GMT) Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia airports in Ukraine closed until Thursday morning Airports at Dnipro, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine are closed to traffic until Thursday morning, according to notices issued by local authorities. No reason was provided for the closures, which are due to end between 05:00 and 06:35 GMT, depending on the airport. 17 hours ago (01:07 GMT) Airlines should stop flying over all of Ukraine’s airspace – conflict zone monitor Airlines should stop flying over any part of Ukraine because of the risk of an unintended shootdown or a cyberattack targeting air traffic control amid tensions with Russia, a conflict zone monitor has said. Safe Airspace, which was set up to provide safety and conflict zone information for airlines after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, said it had increased its risk level to “do not fly”. “Regardless of the actual movements of Russian forces into Ukraine, the level of tension and uncertainty in Ukraine is now extreme,” Safe Airspace said on its website. “This itself gives rise to significant risk to civil aviation.” 17 hours ago (01:03 GMT) Russia partially shuts airspace near border with Ukraine Russia has partially closed airspace in the Rostov flight information region to the east of its border with Ukraine “in order to provide safety” for civil aviation flights, according to a notice issued by authorities. The notice lists specific route segments and altitudes to be avoided. INTERACTIVE- Why do planes avoid Ukraine airspace 17 hours ago (00:46 GMT) Blinken believes Russia will invade Ukraine before night is out US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told NBC News that he expected Russia to invade Ukraine before the night was over but still sees a chance to “avert a major aggression”. “Everything seems to be in place for Russia to engage in a major aggression against Ukraine,” Blinken told US broadcaster NBC, adding he could not be precise about time or place. 17 hours ago (00:20 GMT) G7 leaders to hold virtual meeting on Thursday The Group of Seven (G7) world leaders will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Ukraine, the White House has said. 18 hours ago (00:04 GMT) UNSC to meet Wednesday night on Ukraine, diplomats say The UNSC will convene for its second emergency session in three days over the crisis, “due to military developments” on the ground, diplomatic sources have said. The meeting, which was requested by Kyiv, is scheduled for 9:30 pm local time in New York (02:30 GMT Thursday), the sources said. 18 hours ago (23:27 GMT) EU sanctions Russian defence minister, military chiefs The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu and military chiefs as part of a package of measures over the Kremlin’s recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. The 27-nation bloc slapped asset freezes and visa bans on high-ranking figures including the commanders of Russia’s army, navy and air force, the Kremlin’s chief of staff, the head of state-run television channel RT and the foreign ministry’s spokeswoman, according to the EU’s official journal. 18 hours ago (23:25 GMT) France’s Macron reiterates support for Ukraine’s sovereignty French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity after a call with Zelenskyy, the Elysee Palace has said. “[Macron] also praised the Ukrainian President’s composure in the current situation,” the French president’s office said in a statement. Support that the EU can provide to Ukraine will be on the agenda of the meeting of the European Council on Thursday, the Elysee Palace added. 18 hours ago (23:23 GMT) Ukraine president says nearly 200,000 Russian troops on border Zelenskyy says Russia has massed nearly 200,000 troops around Ukraine’s borders. On the Ukrainian border “nearly 200,000 soldiers are stationed, [as are] thousands of combat vehicles,” he said, adding that a “major war in Europe” could be started by Moscow soon. 18 hours ago (23:11 GMT) Zelenskyy says Russia has approved an offensive against Ukraine Zelenskyy has said Russia has approved an offensive against Ukraine and accused Putin of not replying to his invitation to hold talks. “I initiated a telephone call with the president of the Russian Federation. Result: silence,” he said. “The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace. But if we come under attack that threaten our freedom and lives of our people we will fight back.” Zelenskyy made the remarks in a 10-minute address posted on Telegram during which he spoke in both Ukrainian and Russian. INTERACTIVE- Possible Russian invasion routes 19 hours ago (23:08 GMT) Australia flags potential cyberattacks after Russia sanctions Australia must prepare itself for likely cyberattacks from Russia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said. “Cyberattacks are a real threat, and they’re a present threat and that is the most likely response from Russia in terms of what we’ve done,” Morrison told Australian broadcaster Channel Nine when asked if he expected any retaliation from Russia over sanctions imposed on Moscow by Canberra. He urged Australian businesses to bolster their cyber-defences. They may not get hit directly but there could be “collateral cyber-impacts” from computer viruses when deployed that can “take on a course of their own,” Morrison said. 19 hours ago (23:04 GMT) France urges citizens to leave Ukraine ‘without delay’ France has become the latest Western nation to call on its citizens to leave Ukraine “without delay”. “In the context of serious tensions caused by the concentration of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders” as well as Russia’s recognition of two separatist regions and Ukraine’s imposition of a state of emergency, “French citizens finding themselves in Ukraine should leave the country without delay,” France’s foreign ministry said in a statement. 19 hours ago (22:38 GMT) Ukraine requests urgent UN Security Council meeting Kuleba says he has demanded an urgent meeting of the UNSC regarding Russian-backed separatists’ appeal to Russia for military assistance. “Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council due to the appeal by Russian occupation administrations in Donetsk and Luhansk to Russia with a request to provide them with military assistance, which is a further escalation of the security situation,” the Ukrainian foreign minister tweeted. 19 hours ago (22:14 GMT) Images show new deployments in western Russia near Ukraine border Satellite imagery showed a number of new deployments in western Russia, many of them within 16km (10 miles) of the border with Ukraine and less than 80km (50 miles) from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, a private US company has said. The images showed field deployment, military convoys, artillery and armoured personnel carriers with support equipment and troops. The images released by Maxar Technologies, which has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces for weeks, could not be independently verified by Al Jazeera. 20 hours ago (21:31 GMT) Putin ‘tightening the screws on Ukraine’: Correspondent Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith, reporting from Moscow, says Putin is “continuing to tighten the screws on Ukraine”. “He [Putin] says the two states that they have now recognised [the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics] are being recognised on embassy levels and Russia says it is also evacuating its diplomatic staff from Ukraine to protect their lives,” Smith said. “Putin has also praised the battle-readiness of Russian troops,” he added. 20 hours ago (21:27 GMT) White House says it is in contact with Ukraine over cybersecurity Biden’s administration is in touch with Ukrainian authorities over their cybersecurity needs, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki says. The websites of Ukraine’s government, foreign ministry and state security service were down on Wednesday in what the government said was the start of another massive denial of service attack. “We are in conversations with Ukraine regarding their cyber-related needs including as recently as today and we’re going to move with urgency to assess the nature and extent of this, what steps need to be taken, and therefore a response,” Psaki said. 20 hours ago (21:25 GMT) Kremlin says Ukraine rebels have asked Russia for ‘help’ against Kyiv The Kremlin has said the heads of east Ukraine’s rebel republics have asked Putin for “help” to “repel aggression” from the Ukrainian army. In a statement carried by Russian state news agencies, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the separatist republics have petitioned Moscow “for help in repelling the aggression of the armed forces in Ukraine”. 20 hours ago (21:23 GMT) White House says Putin is adapting, improvising after sanctions Putin is improvising and having to adapt his Ukraine strategy following sanctions imposed by the West this week, Psaki has said. Welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the Ukraine-Russia crisis. Read all the updates from Tuesday, February 23, here. INTERACTIVE- Russia and Ukraine at a quick glance SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES ADVERTISEMENT This content is created and paid for by advertisers and does not involve Al Jazeera journalists. RELATED OPINIONOPINION, And so, Cold War II begins Just like America’s military adventures, Russia’s war of choice will wreak havoc way beyond its target. opinion by Marwan Bishara Marwan Bishara Published On 24 Feb 2022 24 Feb 2022 Ukrainian tanks move into the city after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Mariupol [Carlos Barria/Reuters] How is the Ukraine invasion being viewed in Russia? Pro-government circles echo Putin’s line, as criticism of the military’s action grows among public figures and Russians. Published On 24 Feb 2022 24 Feb 2022 Military vehicles drive along a street Panic, fear and stoicism in Ukraine as Russia invades Ukrainian civilians react as Russia launches a full invasion of the country by air, land and sea. Published On 24 Feb 2022 24 Feb 2022 People wait at a bus station in Kyiv, Ukraine to go to western parts of the country MORE FROM NEWS Martial law in Ukraine: What you need to know Ukrainian tanks on the move after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine [Carlos Barria/Reuters] Indian students trapped in Ukraine as Russian invasion unfolds People queue to cash desks at a supermarket in Kharkiv [Sergey Bobok/AFP] US lawmakers condemn Ukraine invasion, call for swift sanctions Ukrainian soldiers at an air defence base after an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine on February 24 [Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Photo] ‘Rooted in NATO’: Iran responds to Russia’s Ukraine attack Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [File: Dmitry Azarov/Sputnik via Reuters] MOST READ Russia invades Ukraine: What we know so far in 500 words Ukrainian soldiers ride in a military vehicle in Mariupol, Ukraine [Sergei Grits/AP Photo] Mapping Russian attacks across Ukraine Ukraine says dozens killed as Russia launches invasion Debris and rubble are seen at the site where a missile landed in the street in Kyiv, Ukraine [Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters] ‘No other option’: Excerpts of Putin’s speech declaring war In this video grab taken from footage made available on February 24, 2022 on the official website of the Russian president (kremlin.ru) President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation at the Kremlin in Moscow [Handout/KREMLIN.RU/AFP] About About Us Code of Ethics Terms and Conditions EU/EEA Regulatory Notice Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Cookie Preferences Sitemap Community Guidelines Work for us HR Quality Connect Contact Us Apps Channel Finder TV Schedule Podcasts Submit a Tip Our Channels Al Jazeera Arabic Al Jazeera English Al Jazeera Investigative Unit Al Jazeera Mubasher Al Jazeera Documentary Al Jazeera Balkans AJ+ Our Network Al Jazeera Centre for Studies Al Jazeera Media Institute Learn Arabic Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights Al Jazeera Forum Al Jazeera Hotel Partners Follow Al Jazeera English: Al Jazeera Media Network logo © 2022 Al Jazeera Media Network Russian President Vladimir Putin launches Ukraine invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declares martial law. He also calls on citizens to fight, says weapons will be issued to everyone who wants them and claims Ukraine will “win”. Several Ukrainian civilians reportedly killed. Ukraine’s military says about 50 Russian forces have been killed and six warplanes destroyed in fighting. Western powers condemn Moscow’s move. Crisis escalated after Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine requested Moscow’s assistance. Here are all the latest updates: KEEP READING list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Airspace closed in Ukraine, western Russia as Putin orders attack list 2 of 4 World reacts to Russia’s attack on Ukraine list 3 of 4 Ukraine crisis: What does Belarus have to gain, and lose? list 4 of 4 There will be no winners in a Ukraine war end of list 23 mins ago (17:17 GMT) |