Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia’s leader President Vladimir Putin had launched a “full-scale invasion” on Thursday, as explosions were heard in cities around the country. The explosions began almost immediately after Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine, in a surprise televised address. Follow the latest updates on our liveblog.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is targeting cities with weapons strikes.
- Explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other Ukrainian cities. Interfax Ukraine reported rocket attacks on military facilities throughout the country and said Russian troops had landed in the southern port cities of Odessa and Mariupol. It also reported staff and passengers evacuating Kyiv’s Boryspil airport.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, in a surprise televised address shortly before 6 a.m. local time. He warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
