Moscow, Kiev Russia has invaded Ukraine, plunging Europe into the deepest military crisis since the end of World War II. On the orders of President Vladimir Putin, Russian units attacked the neighboring country from the air, over land and from the Black Sea on Thursday. The aim of the mission is to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine, the Kremlin said in Moscow.
But Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine. The Ukrainian government and military initially reported several attacks, mainly on Kiev, Kharkiv, Mariupol on the Azov Sea, Odessa on the Black Sea and in the provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk in the east.
In the meantime, the armed conflicts are spreading to almost all parts of the country. There is also said to be fighting near the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Ukrainian authorities said they lost control of areas in the south of the country. According to Ukrainian border troops, Russian armored units are moving towards Kiev from the north. Russia attacks its neighbor both from the east and north and from the south from the annexed peninsula of Crimea.
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Reliable information about the dead and injured was initially not available. According to Ukrainian sources, Russia has attacked more than 200 targets since the beginning of the day.
Russia’s actions met with dismay around the world. The EU announced a new and unprecedented package of sanctions.
The situation in Ukraine and Russia
According to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, military command centers were destroyed in several cities. Kiev is also affected. Many people tried to leave the capital. Miles of traffic jams formed on the arterial roads. Residents took refuge in subway stations.
People across Ukraine are trying to flee Russian attacks.
(Photo: AP)
Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba spoke of a large-scale Russian invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law. Russia took prisoners during heavy fighting in the east of the country, said Ukraine’s deputy defense minister.
The Russian Presidential Office said the Russian operation in Ukraine must meet its goals of “denazification” and demilitarization. President Putin spoke on television shortly before the attacks began.
More on the Ukraine crisis
He authorized military action, Russia had no choice but to defend itself. “Russia cannot feel safe, develop and live with a constant threat posed by modern Ukraine,” Putin said. “All responsibility for bloodshed rests with the ruling regime in Ukraine.”
According to agency reports, the Russian government sees itself in a position to cushion the consequences of sanctions. Russia has enough reserves to ensure the stability of the financial system, the Moscow leadership said, according to the Interfax news agency. The government stands ready to protect financial markets and Russia’s largest companies from the consequences of sanctions and other threats, Tass said.
According to Putin, the country must be cleansed and liberated from “Nazis” and demilitarized.
(Photo: dpa)
This is how Germany behaves
Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared that Russia would pay a “bitter price”. The EU summit will decide on new sanctions against Russia later this evening. “This is Putin’s war,” said Scholz in Berlin after a meeting of the security cabinet.
Russia is making a serious mistake and is blatantly violating international law. The aim of the sanctions is to show the Russian leadership: “They are paying a bitter price for this aggression. Time will tell: Putin made a serious mistake with his war.” He assured Ukraine of Germany’s “full solidarity”.
For Sunday, Scholz announced a government statement at a special session of the German Bundestag. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “The world community will not forget Russia on this day of shame.”
The Federal Ministry of Defense triggered “national alarm measures”. “The Bundeswehr is prepared and is currently increasing its readiness,” the ministry said. “This also means that the population may be able to perceive more military movements in public space in the next few days.” There could be restrictions in the area of traffic.
At the same time, Germany is preparing for possible refugee movements from Ukraine. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) has already declared his state’s willingness to take in refugees. “For me it is clear: If people fleeing war seek refuge in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia is ready to help,” he said. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania stops the repatriation of Ukrainians who are required to leave the country.
These are the international reactions
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Putin to stop the attacks and give peace a chance. US President Joe Biden announced a “joint and decisive response to the unwarranted attack by the Russian military”.
Biden convened the US National Security Council on Thursday. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced a virtual summit for Friday. In Brussels, he said the alliance would do everything to protect its members. More than 100 fighter jets are on alert to monitor NATO airspace
The President of the European Commission warned Russia of severe consequences.
(Photo: dpa)
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels that Russian assets would be frozen in the EU and Russian banks would be cut off from financial markets. Russia is being cut off from the technology needed to build the future. “The EU will adopt the toughest sanctions package it has ever adopted,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
Both stressed that the EU would continue to support Ukraine. “We stand with Ukraine,” Borrell said. The 27 EU heads of state and government meet in the evening for a special summit.
That is the situation in the financial markets
The Russian attack on Ukraine triggered a tremor on the international stock exchanges. Global stocks plummeted while commodity prices soared. Crude oil cost more than $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014, fueling fears of a new surge in inflation.
At the same time, investors were trying to assess the economic consequences of the West’s planned sanctions against Russia. The German leading index Dax lost 5.2 percent to 13,870 points and headed for the largest daily loss in about two years.
Moscow’s leading index RTS posted a record fall of a good 50 percent and was listed at 610.33 points, the lowest it was six years ago. The Russian currency also took a beating, falling to a record low. In turn, the dollar and euro rose more than 10 percent each to 89.9855 and 101.0273 rubles, respectively.
More: Read the current developments in the Ukraine crisis in the news blog