There have been reports of explosions in Kyiv and air raid sirens, and rocket assaults on Ukrainian fighter jets at an airport outside the city.
Russian forces launched missiles at multiple Ukrainian cities and landed troops on the country’s south shore on Thursday, according to officials and local media, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a “special military operation” in the east.
Air raid sirens as refugee convoy hits traffic on outskirts of Kyiv. This is very, very real now. pic.twitter.com/XzPK7BpCqj
— Max Hunder (@Max_Hunder) February 24, 2022
Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s Donetsk region have initiated large-scale attacks against Ukrainian soldiers along the line of contact; a rebel official told Russia’s Interfax news agency on Thursday.
Explosions have been reported around the country, including in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Dnipro, Odessa, Slavayansk, and Kramatorsk, according to Guardian reporter Luke Harding, who is based in Kyiv.
According to a Reuters witness, two large explosions were heard from the city of Mariupol, one after the other, in an easterly direction.
Citizens were flocking to underground metro stations to seek refuge, according to AFP correspondents, as officials imposed martial law in response to what they fear is a full-scale invasion.
According to Ukraine’s defense minister, Russia has begun heavy shelling on Ukrainian military forces in the east and military command centers and airfields.
The Ukrainian President’s office shared a photo that looked to show an explosion in the country’s capital, Kyiv, early Thursday morning.
According to AFP, Ukraine declared martial law on Thursday after Russia announced a “demilitarisation” operation. According to the news agency, explosions were heard in Kyiv and the eastern port city of Maruipol, and air raid sirens could be heard in the city center.
Ukraine has declared martial law for the second time in the previous few years. Following the implementation of martial law in 2018, Ukraine prohibited any Russian men aged 16 to 60 from entering the country. Kyiv justified it as a security precaution to prevent Russia from creating “private” army formations.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced martial law during a televised address. The precise nature of the restrictions has yet to be determined. However, the imposition is expected to result in stricter restrictions on political party meetings and travels.
Edited by- Kritika
Published by- Radhika. N
