Kyiv, Feb 24 (FN Agency) Air raid sirens wailed across Ukraine’s capital Kyiv Thursday as explosions boomed and flashed in cities across the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military action against its western neighbour. Around 40 people are reported to have been killed so far. President Putin announced the military action early in the morning, after weeks of tense buildup, and attracted widespread condemnation from leaders across the world. Long lines snaked outside of ATMs, supermarkets and gas stations in cities such as Kyiv and Mariupol as people scrambled to prepare for what was coming. Residents and communities across the country were gripped with “severe panic” as Russia on Thursday launched what Ukraine said was a “full-scale attack” against its neighbour, with cities bombarded from the air and forces fighting on the ground. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the military action early in the morning, after weeks of tense buildup, and attracted widespread condemnation from leaders across the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country was under attack “from the south, north, east and from the air”. Kyiv said the Russian offensive had killed 40 people so far.
US President Joe Biden said that he would meet with allies to impose “severe sanctions” on Moscow. On Thursday afternoon, Russia unleashed a massive air assault on the Antonov International Airport in Hostomel, just outside the capital city of Kyiv, Ukraine. Video footage showed dozens of Russian Mi-8 helicopters operating in the airport area of Ukraine’s capital. Ukrainian border guards released footage on Thursday what they said were Russian military vehicles moving in, and big explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv in the east and Odesa in the west. The Russian military claimed to have wiped out Ukraine’s entire air defences in a matter of hours. Ukrainians fled some cities and European authorities declared Ukrainian air space an active conflict zone. Oleksii Arestovich, an adviser to President Zelenskyy, said about 40 people had been killed and several dozen wounded, without specifying whether the casualties included civilians. Putin announced the military operation into Ukraine at 5:55 am Moscow time – and minutes later the first shelling and missiles were launched into Ukraine. Russia launched missile strikes on military warehouses and control centers in major cities – Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa. Fires were reported in military units and depots. The TV tower was destroyed in Lutsk (west of Ukraine), Ukrainian airfields were bombed in several cities. Russian forces and hardware crossed into Ukraine from occupied Crimea and at least five Oblasts.
Ukraine downed five Russian aircraft and one helicopter in a Joint Forces Operation region. Russia’s attack on Ukraine Thursday ranked among the “darkest hours for Europe” in nearly 80 years, according to the European Union’s foreign policy chief. “These are among the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II,” EU High Representative Josep Borrell told reporters. Borrell promised “urgent assistance to Ukraine,” as well as supporting evacuation efforts, including of EU staff. EU sanctions are in the pipeline as well. Speaking alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Borrell said punitive measures from the 27-member bloc against Russia would be “the harshest packet of sanctions that has ever been implemented.” Von der Leyen said she will present “massive and strategic” sanctions against Russia for approval later today. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday announced that Kyiv has severed diplomatic ties with Moscow, and compared Russia’s military offensive in Donbas early this morning to the “treacherous” attack by Nazi Germany in his country during World War 2.
Zelenskyy urged Russians “who have not yet lost their conscience” “to go out an protest against the war” with his country. He said that Russia has “embarked on a path of evil”, but Ukraine “is defending itself and won’t give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks”. In tweets, he said: “We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine. “Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in #2WW years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukaine is defending itself & won’t give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.” In June 1941, following the launch of Operation Barbarossa , Ukraine was invaded by Nazi Germany and quickly became occupied. Earlier, in an address to the nation, Zelenskyy said he will not give its freedom and sovereignty to Russia. He urged anyone with military training to come and join the war against Russia. He also urged people to donate blood for injured soldiers. “Anyone who has military training — who have a military experience has to come to the Interior Ministry and make themselves available to protect our population,” he said. “As of this morning, we have injured soldiers. Please give your blood to hospitals, give your blood to our defenders.” Zelenskyy called the invasion of Russia “cowardly” as he rallied his nation.