




Explosions rock Kiev and Odessa moments after Putin orders invasion, saying he wants to ‘demilitarize’ and not occupy Ukraine then tells opposition soldiers to lay down their arms – in 5.50am address to his nation
Putin announces launch of ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine at the same time as UN Secretary-General Guterres begs Russian leader to ‘give peace a chance’: Explosions are heard in capital of Kiev as well as Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Kharkiv
President Vladimir Putin announced just before 6am on Thursday in Moscow that Russia has invaded Ukraine
Putin said that he was undertaking a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, and that his goal is to demilitarize the country, but not occupy it
Explosions could be heard in the early hours of Thursday morning across the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, on the frontlines of the contested Donetsk territory
In Mykolaiv, 400 miles to the east of Mariupol, residents reported sounds of fierce exchanges of gunfire
Flights over Ukrainian airspace appeared to have been suspended with an El Al plane from Tel Aviv to Toronto turning back when it entered the territory
Russian military leaders have gone to their command center, and cyber attacks are underway, according to a U.S. official
An emergency meeting of the UN Security is being held in New York, and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Putin to ‘give peace a chance’