Here’s what you need to know about the Ukraine crisis right now:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a “special military operation” against Ukraine early on Thursday to eliminate what he called a serious threat.
- Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved a decree on martial law. Parliament approves the measure
- Putin says his aim is to demilitarise and “denazify” Ukraine.
- Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia with Belarusian support at around 5am on Thursday, and an attack was also being launched from annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s border guard service said.
- Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s Donetsk have launched large scale strikes against Ukrainian forces along the line of contact, Russia’s Interfax news agency cited a separatist spokesperson as saying on Thursday.
- Ukraine’s defence minister says the enemy began intense shelling of Ukrainian units in the east, military control centres and airfields.
- US President Joe Biden condemned the unprovoked and unjustified attacks by Russian military in a call with Zelensky.
PUTIN IN QUOTES:
COMING EVENTS
- US President Joe Biden will meet with his counterparts from the Group of Seven allies early on Thursday to map out more severe measures against Russia after the country launched what Biden called “a premeditated war” against Ukraine.
- European Union leaders will discuss a further sanctions package on Russia at an emergency meeting later on Thursday, the EU said in a statement.
- Nato ambassadors will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday. – Reuters
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