This morning, Thursday 24 February, all media outlets are reporting that Russia has now begun military operations against Ukraine.
It has been widely reported that the Russian Defence Ministry stated earlier this morning that it is attacking Ukraine’s military infrastructure with high-precision weapons.
A statement on the Ukraine Ministry of Defence says: “This morning Russia launched a new military operation against our state. This is an unjustified deceitful and cynical invasion.”
“There are strikes on military and other important defence facilities, border units are under attack, the situation in the Donbas has degraded.”
On Wednesday 23 February the website revealed: “During the past day, 166 units of military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces were located in the temporarily occupied territory.” Unfolding events now mean this figure could rise substantially if Russia has launched a full attack on Ukraine.
The airspace above Ukraine has been completely closed and it is reported that civilians are leaving the capital Kyiv. It is also reported that civilians are heading towards border areas, particularly that with Poland in the west of the country.
by Andrew Drwiega
