Early on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that military operations in Ukraine had begun, signalling the start of a long-strike on their former Soviet ally.
Ukraine has declared a state-wide state of emergency and called up 36 000 military reservists earlier on Wednesday, in preparation for a possible Russian invasion.
Following weeks of growing tensions in the area, US President Joe Biden declared a day earlier that the world is seeing “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine” as he unveiled new economic sanctions against Russia.
Biden’s comments came after Putin’s fiery address to the Russian public on Monday evening, in which the Russian leader announced he was recognising the independence of two Russia-backed separatist areas in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region — the self-proclaimed People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk — prompting a slew of Western sanctions, including Germany’s suspension of approval of a major Russian gas pipeline.
While the US estimated a total of 190 000 Russian troops and pro-Russian separatist forces on Ukraine’s borders in the days leading up to the attack, Russia blamed Ukraine for inflaming the situation, and maintained its demand that Ukraine never join NATO.
Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine today, accusing Vladimir Putin of choosing “a path of bloodshed and destruction.
“I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to (Ukrainian) President Zelensky to discuss next steps”. He said the UK and its allies would respond “decisively,” as London warned Moscow that its actions in Ukraine would result in serious costs.