New Delhi: Russian forces attacked targets across Ukraine after leader Vladimir Putin ordered an operation to demilitarise the country, prompting President Joe Biden to declare the U.S. and its allies would impose “severe sanctions” as markets tumbled around the globe.
News agencies quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying, “Military infrastructure at Ukrainian army air bases has been rendered out of action.”
The defence ministry also said Kyiv’s air defence systems were “eliminated”.
The Ukraine military immediately retaliated and said five Russian planes and a Russian helicopter were shot down in the Luhansk region.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post that Russia was attacking his country’s “military infrastructure”, but urged his citizens not to panic. He also vowed victory.
In a nationally televised address ahead of the offensive, Putin said Russia doesn’t plan to “occupy” its southern neighbour but said the action was necessary after the U.S. and its allies crossed Russia’s “red line” by expanding the NATO alliance. Biden called Putin’s move “an unprovoked and unjustified attack” and said the “world will hold Russia accountable.”
Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law across the country, as his government warned Russian forces were attacking cities and urged citizens to hide in shelters to avoid missile attacks on Kyiv.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that Putin has “launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine” and vowed the country “will defend itself and will win.” He said, “This is a war of aggression. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”
“Russia attacked our military infrastructure and our border guarders,” Zelensky said in a video address on telegram channel after speaking with Biden. He urged people to stay calm and stay at home if possible. “We are working. The army is working.”
Russia’s defense minister said the strikes were targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and didn’t pose a threat to the population, state-run TASS reported.