Russia has invaded Ukraine: what we know so far

Vladimir Putin has declared war on Ukraine and there are reports of Russia attacking several locations across the country

Ukraine crisis: latest updates

Russian forces are attacking several locations across Ukraine. Here is what we know so far about the offensive:

Vladimir Putin launched a broad Russian military offensive targeting Ukraine at around 5am on Thursday morning after broadcasting a speech announcing a “special military operation” to “demilitarise” and “deNazify” Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian officials the initial wave of strikes appeared to involve cruise missiles, artillery and airstrikes which struck military infrastructure and border positions.

Explosions were heard in cities including Odessa, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Dnipro and the capital Kyiv.

The full scope of the Russian military operation was not immediately clear but Putin said: “Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything by force.” However Putin and Russian officials have also repeatedly denied planning a military assault on Ukraine.

As explosions were heard around Kyiv, the city’s mayor ordered residents to take shelter and remain indoors as air sirens sounded.

In the immediate aftermath of the first wave of strikes Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, announced martial law had been declared across the country.

The Ifax news agency also described amphibious landings by troops in the south-west although this is so far unconfirmed. At around 7am – two hours into the assault – Russian backed separatist rebels were reported to be attacking Ukrainian positions around the self styled break away republics of Luhansk and Donetsk.

There were also unconfirmed reports of Russian troops crossing the border near the city of Kharkiv.

The Russian attack on Ukraine followed the declaration of a no-fly zone for civilian aircraft in the north-east of Ukraine via a so called Notam – notice to airmen – in the early hours of Thursday.

A few hours later Ukrainian officials announced the suspension of internal civilian air traffic as it appeared that some Russian strikes were close to Kyiv’s main civil airport. However the Russian military said it had targeted Ukrainian airbases and other military assets, and had not targeted populated areas.

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2 years ago

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