Posted on 02/24/2022 7:40:20 AM PST by Red Badger
Russia launched an attack on Ukraine by land, air and sea in the early hours of Thursday, Ukraine local time, after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation.”
Putin said the operation seeks to defend Moscow against what he alleged were threats from Ukraine, and to protect civilians and demilitarize Ukraine.
Within hours of Putin’s announcement, the Russian military claimed to have incapacitated all of Ukraine’s air defenses and air bases.
Ukraine’s leadership said at least 40 people had been killed so far in what it called a “full-scale war,” with multiple cities and bases targeted with airstrikes or shelling from the east, north and south.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law.
Ukrainians and residents have begun to flee some cities, piling into cars and various modes of public transport.
Live updates below:
Update: Feb. 24 4:45 p.m. Ukraine local time
Ukraine to Give Weapons to Anyone Who Can Fight Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday morning that the government would provide anyone with weapons from a Russian invasion that was launched in the early morning hours.
“We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities,” Zelensky said in a statement. “We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hands.”
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Update: Feb. 24 12:45 p.m. Ukraine local time
NATO to Deploy More Land, Air, Maritime Assets to Eastern Europe NATO announced it is deploying more assets to Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s decision to mount what President Vladimir Putin called a “special military operation” in Ukraine early on Thursday.
“Russia’s actions pose a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security, and they will have geostrategic consequences. NATO will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the security and defence of all Allies,” the statement from the 30-member alliance said in a statement.
“We are deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets. We have increased the readiness of our forces to respond to all contingencies.”
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on Russia’s attack on Ukraine#NATO | #Ukraine 🇺🇦 | #StopRussianAggression
— NATO (@NATO) February 24, 2022
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Update: Feb. 24 12:13 p.m. Ukraine local time
ukraine russia Emmergency unit staff treat an injured man after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022, as Russian armed forces are trying to invade Ukraine from several directions, using rocket systems and helicopters to attack Ukrainian position in the south, the border guard service said. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images) Ukraine Cuts Diplomatic Ties With Russia, Says at Least 40 Killed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country has cut diplomatic ties with Russia after it was attacked. The announcement comes after Russia launched a massive air and missile attack on its neighbor and Russian forces were seen rolling into Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials say the country’s military is fighting back and asked for Western defense assistance.
Russian forces have launched an attack on Ukraine from the north, east and south, according to a Ukrainian presidential adviser.
The adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said “the Ukrainian military is fighting hard.”
Podolyak said Thursday that “our army is fighting back inflicting significant losses to the enemy.” He said that there have been civilian casualties, but didn’t give details.
He said that “Ukraine now needs a greater and very specific support from the world—military-technical, financial as well as tough sanctions against Russia,” he said.
Oleksii Arestovich, another Ukrainian presidential adviser, said Thursday that several dozen people—about 40 so far—have been killed. He didn’t specify whether the casualties included civilians.
Zelensky said the Ukrainian authorities will hand weapons to all those willing to defend the country.
“The future of the Ukrainian people depends on every Ukrainian,” he said, urging all those who can defend the country to come to the Interior Ministry’s assembly facilities.
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Update: Feb. 24 11:45 a.m. Ukraine local time
US Lawmakers, World Leaders Condemn Russia’s Attack of Ukraine Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States and leaders from around the world have condemned Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified attack” of Ukraine on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in the country.
Read the full story here
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Update: Feb. 24 11:25 a.m. Ukraine local time
How will this invasion impact the fight against climate change?
i’m very worried about the huge carbon footprint this war may bring upon us.....oy capitalism!
Has the price of gas gone up here in this country yet? Coming soon. And just think, a little over a year ago we were exasperated by mean tweets and cheaper gas. Oh, and probably no threat of Vlad zooming in on Ukraine. Does Vlad have his ‘Lets GO Brandon’ shirt on today?
Trying to add the Ukraine to NATO has consequences.
Pretty bold move by Russia to use helicopters to land troops at the Kiev airport.
They have a lion in charge of their military.
Kiev will be subdued and surrendered by sundown.........................
I echo these sentiments and also very much hope all of the belligerents are wearing their masks. If they are unvaccinated I hope they are choosing to stay home instead of fighting.
Well, they have to link up with those troops at the airport.
Russia doesn’t have the numbers of Soldiers it had in the 80s.
Lots of conscripts, too.
That only makes sense if they deployed from inside Ukraine, which means they were there last night!
How far is it from the Russian border to Kiev?
Im trusting nobody and assuming everything we are seeing is not what it seems. I dare say that qualifies me as knowing more than most.
Far enough to where a helo would have to refuel! Esp. an MI-19!
Too late now!
A deep ploy to "deploy." Similar to a strongly worded letter.
One reads from the title, "NATO to Deploy More Land, Air, Maritime Assets to Eastern Europe...."
"...assuming everything we are seeing is not what it seems."
Someone once said, "trust but verify." Solid advice.
They have to fly/drive right through cherbynol.
How far is that in miles?
Russia was never going to let its access to the Black Sea be threatened. Never.
oddly enough, i’m reading Degrelle again
Campaign In Russia: by Léon Degrelle
and i’m at the part they are fighting in the Donets Campaign
NATO is a warmongering expansionist terrorist group.
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