After annexing Crimea in 2014, Russia , which drew international reaction, pressed the button for a military operation in Donbas at 05:50 in the morning. Addressing the nation in the morning, Putin announced that an operation was carried out in Ukraine.
In his speech, Putin stated that this was not an invasion, but a "special military operation", and that Russia would defend itself against threats that he said originated from Ukraine.
EXPLOSION SOUNDS IN KIEV, HARKOV AND ODESSA
The scope of the military operation initiated by Russia is not yet clear. Reuters correspondent in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, stated that sounds similar to cannon fire were heard in the city.
While Putin said that this step was taken to disarm the region and free it from conflicts, the international public said that explosions were heard in Kiev, Mariupoli, Kharkov and Odeassa.
In his speech, Russian President Putin said, “The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is inevitable, the question to be asked here is when. NATO's expansion and use of Ukrainian territory is unacceptable. The purpose of the operation of the Russian army is to protect the people. Circumstances forced Russia to act,” he said.
MISSILE ATTACK ON KIEV STARTED
Sharing the statements of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine , the media organization called Ukrainska Pravda announced that the Ukrainian military bases in Kiev and Kharkov were attacked with missiles.
Residents of the region, speaking to Reuters, stated that many explosions occurred in Kiev after Russia's statements.
The progress of Russian soldiers in the Kupino region was seen with satellite images served by Reuters.
After Putin's statements, automatic rifle sounds were heard in the Ukrainian capital towards the morning, while Russian news agency Interfax reported that the sounds came from near the airport. On the other hand, while explosions were heard in the city of Donetsk, a call was made to remove civilian flights from the region.
In the claims published on Twitter and which have not been confirmed yet, it was claimed that the Russian forces made a landing in Odessa on the Black Sea coast and intervened both from the sea and from the air. These claims, which are claimed to have occurred at 06:00 local time, have not yet been confirmed.
“UKRAINE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOOD shed”
Hours before Putin's attack, Russian separatist groups in the region, which Russia officially recognized a few days ago, asked Moscow for help and announced that they were under Ukrainian attack. While the US administration claimed that Russia was using it as a propaganda tool, Putin said, "The only responsible for all this bloodshed is the ruling Ukrainian regime."
It is not yet known how much of a large-scale operation Russia will carry out, which has amassed tens of thousands of soldiers and many tanks on the border during the military exercise that was completed with Belarus last week.
VERIFICATION ARRIVED FROM UKRAINE
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba confirmed Russia's attack, interpreting it as a "full-scale invasion".
“Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under attack right now,” Kuleba said. Ukraine will defend itself and win. The world can and should stop Putin. Now is the time to act,” he said.
THE WORLD RISES
Putin's decision to launch a military operation in Ukraine raised the international community.
A very harsh statement came from the leaders of many countries, especially NATO, and high-level officials.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the attack, saying that this step put the lives of many civilians at risk.
EXAMPLE SIGNED ARTICLE 51
The tension was also at the highest level in the UN Security Council… Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, announced that Russia did not carry out an illegal operation. Nebenzya said that this operation took place in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Convention.
The words of the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN had the effect of a cold shower.
Article 51, brought to the agenda by Nebenzya, states, “Nothing in this Treaty shall prevent any member of the United Nations from being the object of an armed attack, whether individual or collective, by nature, until the Security Council has taken the necessary measures to maintain international peace and security. It does not prejudice the right of self-defense” and legitimizes a possible attack.
A last-minute statement came from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Ukraine. In the statement, it was stated that all flights at Kiev Airport were canceled, while all passengers and personnel at the airport were evacuated.
