Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a massive military assault Thursday morning on Ukraine with strikes involving missiles, warplanes and tanks hitting targets across the country.
Here’s what we know so far:
— Just before 6 a.m. Moscow time, Putin announced what amounted to a declaration of war on Ukraine. “We have taken the decision to conduct a special military operation,” he said, adding it was for the “demilitarization and denazification” of the country — a frequent Kremlin propaganda claim.
— Military operations began shortly afterward with the Ukrainian authorities reporting airstrikes at military facilities in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro, as well as artillery fire on the border.
— The authorities in Kyiv reported a pincer movement attack on its troops from Belarus to the north, potentially attempting an encirclement of Kyiv, and from Crimea to the south. Russia insisted it was destroying military bases and airfields, not civilian targets.
— There were also missile attacks on a naval base at Ochakiv on the Black Sea coast and a number of military airfields, as well as Kyiv’s Boryspil International Airport.
— The U.K.’s defense ministry said there had been more than 80 strikes on Ukrainian targets.
— Western leaders have promised a fresh round of punishing sanctions against Russia. EU leaders will meet Thursday in Brussels to discuss their response.
The response in quotes
— Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, “Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won’t give up its freedom.”
— U.S. President Joe Biden condemned what he called an “unprovoked and unjustified attack” by Russia and said he would “continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
— German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Russia’s leadership will pay “a bitter price” for the attack: “It will become clear that Putin has made a serious mistake with his war.”
— French President Emmanuel Macron said France would “respond with no weakness” to Russia’s “act of war.”
— European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she had spoken to Zelenskiy and “reassured him that we are working nonstop to provide as much support as possible,” adding that “Russia will pay a heavy price.”
— U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “Our worst fears have now come true and all our warnings have proved tragically accurate.” He accused Putin of attacking a friendly country, “without any provocation and without any credible excuse.”
Follow the latest developments on TheTeCHyWorLD’s live blog.