According to media reports, he said in a shocking statement on television shortly before 6 a.m. “I have decided on a military operation.”
Vladimir Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere in Russia’s operations would lead to results they had never seen before.
He accused the United States and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offering security guarantees to Moscow.
He said Russia’s military operation was aimed at ensuring the demilitarization of Ukraine, and that all surrendering Ukrainian troops would be able to leave the war zone safely.
Shortly after Vladimir Putin’s statement, a Reuters witness heard explosions some distance from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
Russian troops repel Ukrainian air bases
Russian forces say they have knocked out Ukraine’s defense assets and air bases.
Russia’s Defense Ministry says Russian strikes have repulsed Ukraine’s military air defense resources and disrupted Ukraine’s military base infrastructure.
Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it was targeting Ukraine’s military infrastructure with special weapons following President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a military operation against Ukraine.
In a statement, the Defense Ministry said that Ukraine’s basic military structure, air defense facilities, military airfields and the air force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are being deactivated with the most appropriate weapons.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s armed forces said they had shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter to prevent a Russian attack on the country.
A statement issued by the Ukrainian Armed Forces said, “Keep calm and trust the Ukrainian security forces.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry, however, denied that its fighter jet had been shot down.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Koliba has said that Russia has launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine and is targeting cities with weapons.
“This war is an aggression, Ukraine will defend itself and win, the world can and should stop Putin, now is the time to act,” he tweeted.
The blasts also shook the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, prompting civilian warplanes to warn.
According to the Interfax news agency, gunshots were heard near the capital’s main airport, but the scope of Russia’s military operation was not immediately clear.
Reporters from the AFP news agency also heard explosions in the Black Sea port city of Odessa.
Explosions were also heard in Kharkiv, a major city 35 kilometers south of the Russian border.
AFP reporters reported that four loud explosions took place in Kramatosk, which is the Ukrainian government’s effective area for the eastern war zone, and more explosions were heard in the eastern port city of Mariupol.
US President Joe Biden has said that his prayers are with the people of Ukraine at a time when they are facing unprovoked and unwarranted attacks by Russian troops.
He says President Vladimir Putin has already chosen a war of attrition that will invite catastrophic casualties and human suffering.
“Russia alone is responsible for the deaths and destruction caused by this attack. The United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive manner. The world will hold Russia accountable,” he said.
He said he would announce further sanctions on Russia on Thursday (today) in addition to the financial measures imposed this week.
Russia’s response came as the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting in New York on the Ukraine crisis.
A draft resolution warning Russia against taking action against its neighbor would fail because of Russia’s veto power.
However, a Security Council diplomat said Russia would be notified that the practice was not in line with international law.