Russia ignites full scale war in Ukraine

Russia Defence Ministry has announced that its military has started full scale war in Ukraine after weeks of denials by President Vladimir Putin that his country has no intention of invading Ukraine.

Explosions have been heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev and other major cities after Vladimir Putin announced that a military operation had begun.

The Russian president announced the action during a televised address early on Thursday morning, saying the move was a response to threats from Ukraine.

The sound of distant blasts were picked up in a live broadcast from US outlet CNN, causing reporter Matthew Chance to put on a flak jacket.

Gunfire rattled near the capital’s main airport, the Interfax news agency said, and sirens were heard over the city.

Explosions have also been heard in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, and in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv.

Media reported that military command centres in Kiev and Kharkiv had been struck by missiles while Russian troops had landed in Odessa and Mariupol.

A Reuters witness later heard three loud blasts in Mariupol.

The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, said that Russia has launched a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine”.

Mr Kuleba said that Ukraine would defend itself against the Russian aggression “and will win”.

“Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes.

United States reacts

United States has reacted swiftly to the Russia military strike against Ukraine with President Joe Biden public statement that Russia will bear the consequences of its military aggression. United States, NATO and allies have announced slew of economic sanctions against Russian for recognizing two breakaway regions of Ukraine as a sovereign nations.

“Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.

“President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the United Nations Security Council. He asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine.

“Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia. We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” Biden said.

Additional reports from Evening Standard UK, CNN, and Reuters