Russia’s “Full-Scale Invasion, Cities Under Strikes”, Says Ukraine: 10 Points

The United States has said it would continue to supply “defensive” weapons to Ukraine against a Russian invasion and deploy US troops to reinforce NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

New Delhi: Russia today launched a military operation in Ukraine in what could be the start of war in Europe over Russia’s demands for an end to NATO’s eastward expansion. Explosions were heard from Kyiv and other cities after the Russian announcement.

Here are the top 10 updates on this big story:

• Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of launching a “full-scale invasion” as explosions were heard in cities around the country.
• “Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes,” Mr Kuleba tweeted.
• Mr Putin said in a nationally televised address he had decided to launch a military operation to “defend separatists” in eastern Ukraine. Warning against foreign interference, he said Russia will “aim for demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.”
• Mr Putin’s announcement came just hours ahead of a special emergency session in the UN Security Council. The meeting was scheduled after Mr Putin recognised the independence of Ukraine’s breakaway regions.
• US President Joe Biden called the move “an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces” and said the “world will hold Russia accountable.”
• Earlier, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky had made an emotional late-night appeal to Russians not to support “a major war in Europe”. Speaking Russian, Mr Zelensky said that the people of Russia are being lied to about Ukraine and that the possibility of war also “depends on you”.
• Mr Putin has recognised the independence of the Ukraine breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk and has signed friendship treaties with them, inviting strong criticisms from the US and its allies.
• “Who in the Lord’s name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belongs to his neighbours?” Mr Biden said as he announced economic sanctions against Russia.
• The US has said it would continue to supply “defensive” weapons to Ukraine against the Russian invasion and deploy US troops to reinforce NATO allies in eastern Europe. The steps are expected to bolster the now more than 90,000 US troops temporarily or permanently deployed in Europe.
• India has asked “all sides” to exercise “utmost restraint”, saying the mounting crisis can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.
• Russia has repeatedly rejected US allegations that it intends to invade Ukraine as “hysteria” and propaganda. The Donetsk and Luhansk separatists reportedly hold about 30% of the territory of the two Ukrainian regions as of Wednesday, with the rest under the control of government forces.