Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that he has decided to undertake a military operation in Donbas, Ukraine. He stated that the circumstances require decisive action from Russia, while the Reuters agency reported witnesses hearing explosions in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. A Russian agency quoted Putin as saying that confrontations between Russian and Ukrainian forces are only a matter of time.
News agencies reported gunfire near Boryspil Airport in Kyiv, as well as massive explosions heard on the eastern front in Ukraine. Reuters reported missile strikes targeting Ukrainian army command centers in Kyiv and Kharkiv, while Interfax mentioned that Russian forces conducted landings in Mariupol and Odesa.
Returning to the surprising speech of the Russian president, he added: "Russia cannot accept threats from Ukraine," calling on Ukraine to "lay down its arms," and emphasizing that further NATO expansion and the use of Ukrainian territory are unacceptable.
Putin indicated that his country does not plan to occupy Ukrainian territory, warning that "in the event of foreign intervention, we will respond immediately." He cautioned that "the authorities of Ukraine will bear responsibility for any bloodshed," stating that "any attempt at foreign intervention in Russia's actions will lead to results they have never seen."
He added: "Our actions are a defense against threats greater than the problems we currently face." Putin stated that he wants to disarm Ukraine and rid it of "neo-Nazis."
Earlier, a notice for pilots issued at 00:56 GMT on Thursday indicated that civil flights in Ukrainian airspace are "restricted due to potential risks to civil aviation." The notice is set to expire at 23:59 GMT on Thursday unless extended. No further details were provided in the notice.
Alongside Putin's decisions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded on Thursday that Russian President Putin refrain from attacking Ukraine and give peace a chance. This came during an emergency session of the UN Security Council regarding Ukraine. Guterres added, "In recent hours, we have seen rumors and signs of an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine," stressing: "I say to President Putin: give peace a chance." The UN Secretary-General stated: "I was wrong to think that nothing would happen at the borders of Ukraine."
