On Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced “a special military operation” against Ukraine to eliminate what he called a serious threat, aimed at demilitarizing Russia’s southern neighbour.
Shortly afterwards there were reports of shelling in major cities of Ukraine.
In response Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was attacking his country’s “military infrastructure” and border guards, but urged citizens to panic and vow victory.
In a video message posted to Facebook after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine, Zelensky also introduced martial law across the country, saying he had held a phone call with US President Joe Biden. But talked.
“This morning, Russia launched a new military operation against our state,” Zelensky said in a separate message posted on the president’s website.
“This is a completely baseless, cynical invasion,” he said.
“We, the citizens of Ukraine, have been determining our own future since 1991,” he said in reference to the year of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“But now, what is being decided is not only the future of our country, but it is also the future of how Europe will be.”
Here is a live update of the main events taking place in Ukraine. (All times are in GMT)
09:01: Germany says EU will launch ‘biggest sanctions’ against Russia
08:48: Ukraine’s military says about 50 Russians have been killed and 6 planes destroyed in eastern Ukraine
08:42Lithuania declares state of emergency as Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
08:32: Ukraine police say they will distribute weapons to veterans.
08:31: Belarus’s leader says his military is not participating in the invasion of Ukraine.
08:04: Explosions are heard in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
07:54: Ukraine’s President Zelensky calls for European ‘unity’ with French President Emmanuel Macron
07:34: Iran has urged its citizens in Ukraine to leave the country.
07:18: Australia announces ‘second phase’ of sanctions against Russia.
07:17: Russia-backed separatists say they shot down two Ukrainian drones.
07:15: The Russian ruble fell 9% against the dollar after Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
07:15: Ukraine says at least seven people have been killed and nine wounded in Russian shelling.
06:55: Denmark closed its embassy in Kiev.
06:44: According to an adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, casualties have been recorded at Brovry in the Kiev region.
06:43: Low-cost airline Wizz Air has suspended all operations in Ukraine.
06:42: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says the Russian attack has ‘shaken the foundations of the international order’.
06:33: Four more explosions were heard east of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol: Reuters reports.
06:26: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi condemned the Russian attack, calling it “unfair and unfair”.
06:26: Ukraine police say two villages in the Luhansk region have been confiscated.
06:10: Russia’s Defense Ministry says Ukraine’s air defense has deteriorated.
06:06: Ukraine’s military says 5 Russian planes and 1 helicopter were shot down in the Luhansk region – a claim Russia denies.
05:42: Ukraine’s emergency services say fire broke out at ammunition depot in Kiev
05:39: The border with Ukraine was attacked by Russian troops from Russia and Belarus, as well as Crimea.
05:37: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says allies are united in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and strengthening NATO’s eastern flank
05:31: Ukraine’s military says its air force is thwarting airstrikes by invading forces.
05:30: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Putin has ‘chosen the path of bloodshed’ in Ukraine.
05:21: Reuters reports sirens were heard in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev.
05:20: The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, says the Russian military operation is “a clear violation” of international rights.
05:19: NATO ambassadors say they will hold an urgent meeting on Russia invasion
05:16: According to Reuters, two explosions were heard one after the other in Mariupol from the east.
05:15: US President Joe Biden has said that the US will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and its people.
05:09: “The world must impose devastating sanctions on Russia,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Kulbela tweeted.
05:00: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen strongly condemned Russia’s “unfair attack on Ukraine”.
And he said “we will hold the Kremlin accountable.”
Adding: “In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives.”
04:55: Russian-backed rebels say they launched an attack on a Ukrainian-controlled city near Luhansk.
Explosions were heard elsewhere in Kramatorsk, Ukraine.
04:54: The President of Ukraine asked people to stay at home as much as possible and appealed to them not to panic.
04:51: Ukraine’s president announced the implementation of matrimonial laws across the country and said explosions were heard in several Ukrainian cities.
04:48: The explosions were heard near the Russian border in Kharkiv, Ukraine, news agency AFP reported.
04:46: Russia’s defense ministry says it is not targeting Ukrainian cities with missiles or artillery.
04:44: Kiev’s mayor asked citizens to stay indoors after hearing explosions in the Ukrainian capital.
04:40: Moscow’s UN envoy says Russia is targeting the ‘those in power in Kiev’.
04:39: Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau says his country strongly condemns Russia’s brutal attack on Ukraine.
And he says his country will take additional action to prevent undue aggression from Russia
04:37: Ukraine’s foreign ministry called on allies to immediately activate the new sanctions package.
04:35: Artillery fire was heard, reports Donetsk news agency Reuters.
04:35: The Chinese envoy to the UN says China believes the door to a peaceful solution to the “Ukraine issue” is not completely closed, and should not be closed.
04:24: Ukraine calls on Russia and the United Nations to ‘stop the war’.
04:19: Guterres described the attack on Ukraine as “the saddest moment of my tenure” as secretary general.
04:18: UN Secretary-General Guterres told Russia’s Putin: “Bring your troops back to Russia in the name of humanity.”
04:12: Russian troops land in Mariupol and Odessa: IFX
04:11: The Ukranska Pravda news website says Ukrainian military command centers in Kiev, Kharkiv, have been hit by missile strikes.
04:11: Ukraine closes airspace for civilian aircraft
04:08: The French envoy to the United Nations condemned Russia for choosing to go to war and said that Russia should be held accountable at the UN Security Council.
04:07: According to the news agency AFP, the sound of explosions was heard in the Black Sea port of Odessa in Ukraine.
04:07: “There is no punishment for war criminals, they go straight to hell,” Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN told the Russian envoy to the UN.
04:03: Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure says passengers and staff were evacuated from Kiev airport.
04:00: NATO chief condemns Russia’s ‘reckless and unprovoked attack’ on Ukraine
03:11: Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will respond immediately to any interference: TASS
03:00: Russian President Vladimir Putin calls on Ukrainian soldiers to immediately lay down arms and go home: TASS