After Ukraine refused to hold talks in Belarus, Russia said it has given orders to its army “to broaden its offensive” against its neighbour “from all directions”.

Russia’s defence ministry in a statement on Saturday, said, “After the Ukrainian side rejected the negotiation process, today all units were given orders to develop the advance from all directions in accordance with the operation's plans.”

On Friday, the Kremlin had said that Putin was ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks with Ukraine, but the Kyiv leadership wanted talks in Warsaw instead.

The announcement came on the same day US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum to provide up to $600 million in "immediate military assistance" to Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced that their force thwarted the Kremlin’s advancement to capture Kyiv.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/weve-derailed-their-plan-says-ukraine-president-zelensky-in-video-message-456786">&nbsp;'We've derailed their plan,' says Ukraine President Zelensky in video message</a>

Speaking in a new video address, the 44-year-old leader said, "We've derailed their plan."

But the Russian troops continued to march on with their coordinated attacks. They launched missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv.

They also reportedly took over the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant north of the capital, the Interfax news agency said, citing Ukraine’s energy ministry.

According to the United Kingdom’s defence ministry, the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv were now 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-approves-military-aid-for-ukraine-worth-350-million-456773">US President Joe Biden approves military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million</a>

As of Saturday, at least 198 civilians, including three children, had been killed since Moscow launched the attack, Ukraine said.

Russia has not said how many of its soldiers have been killed in the invasion, which it calls a "special military operation."

Moscow has said that its goal is to "de-Nazify" Ukraine.

Watch |&nbsp;Countries shut their airspace amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/countries-shut-their-airspace-amid-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-456850/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

After Ukraine refused to hold talks in Belarus, Russia said it has given orders to its army “to broaden its offensive” against its neighbour “from all directions”.

After Ukraine refused to hold talks in Belarus, Russia said it has given orders to its army “to broaden its offensive” against its neighbour “from all directions”. Russia’s defence ministry in a statement on Saturday, said, “After the Ukrainian side rejected the negotiation process, today all units were given orders to develop the advance from all directions in accordance with the operation's plans.” On Friday, the Kremlin had said that Putin was ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks with Ukraine, but the Kyiv leadership wanted talks in Warsaw instead. The announcement came on the same day US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum to provide up to $600 million in "immediate military assistance" to Ukraine. Earlier, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced that their force thwarted the Kremlin’s advancement to capture Kyiv. Also read | 'We've derailed their plan,' says Ukraine President Zelensky in video message Speaking in a new video address, the 44-year-old leader said, "We've derailed their plan." But the Russian troops continued to march on with their coordinated attacks. They launched missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv. They also reportedly took over the Kyiv hydroelectric power plant north of the capital, the Interfax news agency said, citing Ukraine’s energy ministry. According to the United Kingdom’s defence ministry, the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv were now 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre. Also read | US President Joe Biden approves military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million As of Saturday, at least 198 civilians, including three children, had been killed since Moscow launched the attack, Ukraine said. Russia has not said how many of its soldiers have been killed in the invasion, which it calls a "special military operation." Moscow has said that its goal is to "de-Nazify" Ukraine. Watch | Countries shut their airspace amid Russian invasion of Ukraine (With inputs from agencies)

Russian army to broaden offensive ‘from all sides’ against Ukraine, says Kremlin

Chinese banks have limited financing to purchase raw materials from Russia in order to avoid Western sanctions as its troops continue to press on Kyiv.

Bloomberg news agency reported that at least two of China's largest state-owned banks, ICBC and Bank of China, are restricting funding for the purchase of Russian commodities.

ICBC is the world's largest bank by assets, while Bank of China is the country's largest commercial bank for currency trading.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amid-the-ongoing-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-residents-share-videos-from-bomb-shelters-456778/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, but President Xi Jinping’s government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to US and European markets by doing too much.

Even if Beijing wanted to, its ability to support President Vladimir Putin by importing more Russian gas and other goods is limited.

Relations with Moscow have warmed since Xi took power in 2012, motivated by shared resentment of Washington, but their interests can conflict.&nbsp;

While their militaries hold joint exercises, Putin is uneasy about the growing Chinese economic presence in Central Asia and Russia’s Far East.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-recognises-taiwan-as-part-of-china-opposes-islands-independence-450437">Also read |&nbsp;Russia recognises Taiwan as part of China, opposes island's independence</a>

“China-Russia relations are at the highest level in history, but the two countries are not an alliance,” said Li Xin, an international relations expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday sparked a wave of international sanctions against Moscow, mainly from Western countries.

Washington has, among other things, imposed sanctions on energy giant Gazprom and other large Russian companies, which will no longer be able to raise money on Western financial markets.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-russia-iran-china-hold-joint-naval-drills-in-northern-indian-ocean-447132">In pics: Russia, Iran, China hold joint naval drills in northern Indian Ocean</a>

Xi’s government might support Putin within those limits, and Chinese companies might use the situation to pursue better deals,&nbsp;but will balk at openly violating sanctions and being targeted for penalties, experts said.

“China doesn’t want to get so involved that it ends up suffering as a result of its support for Russia,” said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist for Capital Economics.

Chinese trade with Russia rose to $146.9 billion last year, but that is less than one-tenth of China’s total $1.6 trillion in trade with the United States and EU.

“It all hinges on whether they’re willing to risk their access to Western markets to help Russia, and I don’t think they are,” said Williams. “It’s just not that big a market.”

Xi’s government has tried to distance itself from the attack by urging respect for national sovereignty, which Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last weekend includes Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese banks have limited financing to purchase raw materials from Russia in order to avoid Western sanctions as its troops continue to press on Kyiv. Bloomberg news agency reported that at least two of China's largest state-owned banks, ICBC and Bank of China, are restricting funding for the purchase of Russian commodities.

Chinese banks have limited financing to purchase raw materials from Russia in order to avoid Western sanctions as its troops continue to press on Kyiv. Bloomberg news agency reported that at least two of China's largest state-owned banks, ICBC and Bank of China, are restricting funding for the purchase of Russian commodities. ICBC is the world's largest bank by assets, while Bank of China is the country's largest commercial bank for currency trading. China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, but President Xi Jinping’s government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to US and European markets by doing too much. Even if Beijing wanted to, its ability to support President Vladimir Putin by importing more Russian gas and other goods is limited. Relations with Moscow have warmed since Xi took power in 2012, motivated by shared resentment of Washington, but their interests can conflict. While their militaries hold joint exercises, Putin is uneasy about the growing Chinese economic presence in Central Asia and Russia’s Far East. Also read | Russia recognises Taiwan as part of China, opposes island's independence “China-Russia relations are at the highest level in history, but the two countries are not an alliance,” said Li Xin, an international relations expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday sparked a wave of international sanctions against Moscow, mainly from Western countries. Washington has, among other things, imposed sanctions on energy giant Gazprom and other large Russian companies, which will no longer be able to raise money on Western financial markets. In pics: Russia, Iran, China hold joint naval drills in northern Indian Ocean Xi’s government might support Putin within those limits, and Chinese companies might use the situation to pursue better deals, but will balk at openly violating sanctions and being targeted for penalties, experts said. “China doesn’t want to get so involved that it ends up suffering as a result of its support for Russia,” said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist for Capital Economics. Chinese trade with Russia rose to $146.9 billion last year, but that is less than one-tenth of China’s total $1.6 trillion in trade with the United States and EU. “It all hinges on whether they’re willing to risk their access to Western markets to help Russia, and I don’t think they are,” said Williams. “It’s just not that big a market.” Xi’s government has tried to distance itself from the attack by urging respect for national sovereignty, which Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last weekend includes Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Chinese banks limit financing for Russian purchases to avoid Western sanctions

Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker on Saturday said 100,000 people have crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia's invasion this week.

"From the onset of warfare in Ukraine through today, along the entire border with Ukraine, 100,000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland," Szefernaker told reporters in the border village of Medyka, southeastern Poland.&nbsp;

Those arriving were mostly women, children, and the elderly after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday banned men of military age from leaving the country.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-russia-launches-coordinated-cruise-missiles-on-many-cities-456710/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said Friday, as many more continued to move towards the borders. He said a majority went to Poland and Moldova.

Cars were backed up for several kilometers (miles) at some border crossings as authorities in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova mobilised to receive them, providing shelter, food and legal help. These countries also eased their usual border procedures, among them COVID-19 testing requirements.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-new-refugee-crisis-as-russia-attacks-ukraine-thousands-flee-the-chaos-456411" hreflang="en">A new 'refugee crisis': As Russia attacks Ukraine, thousands flee the chaos</a>

At border crossings in Poland, Ukrainians arrived on foot and by car and train — some with their pets — and were greeted by Polish authorities and volunteers offering them food and hot drinks.

Some sought to join relatives who have already settled in Poland and other EU nations, whose strong economies have for many years attracted Ukrainian workers.

For many the first stop was the train station in Przemysl, a city in southeastern Poland that is a transit point for many. Ukrainians slept on cots and in chairs as they awaited their next moves, relieved to escape the shelling of Kyiv and other places.

European Union member Poland, which has the region's largest Ukrainian community of about 1 million people, has seen a throng of refugees at its borders since the Russian invasion began. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker on Saturday said 100,000 people have crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia's invasion this week.

Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker on Saturday said 100,000 people have crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia's invasion this week. "From the onset of warfare in Ukraine through today, along the entire border with Ukraine, 100,000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland," Szefernaker told reporters in the border village of Medyka, southeastern Poland. Those arriving were mostly women, children, and the elderly after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday banned men of military age from leaving the country. More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said Friday, as many more continued to move towards the borders. He said a majority went to Poland and Moldova. Cars were backed up for several kilometers (miles) at some border crossings as authorities in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova mobilised to receive them, providing shelter, food and legal help. These countries also eased their usual border procedures, among them COVID-19 testing requirements. Also see | A new 'refugee crisis': As Russia attacks Ukraine, thousands flee the chaos At border crossings in Poland, Ukrainians arrived on foot and by car and train — some with their pets — and were greeted by Polish authorities and volunteers offering them food and hot drinks. Some sought to join relatives who have already settled in Poland and other EU nations, whose strong economies have for many years attracted Ukrainian workers. For many the first stop was the train station in Przemysl, a city in southeastern Poland that is a transit point for many. Ukrainians slept on cots and in chairs as they awaited their next moves, relieved to escape the shelling of Kyiv and other places. European Union member Poland, which has the region's largest Ukrainian community of about 1 million people, has seen a throng of refugees at its borders since the Russian invasion began. (With inputs from agencies)

100,000 Ukrainians cross border into Poland, says Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker

It may be only a matter of time before Russian troops control the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and topple President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

However, that may not be the end of the story. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops could find themselves in Ukraine for the long haul depending on whether Ukrainians have the stomach to launch an insurgency.

If so, Mr. Putin knows the drill. Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 after a costly decade-long war in which they battled a US-Pakistani-Saudi-backed Islamic insurgency. Their defeat resembled the humiliation suffered by the United States at the hands of the Vietcong in the 1970s and the Afghan Taliban with last year’s US withdrawal from the Central Asian state.

As Ukrainians weigh their options for a post-Zelenskyy era, Chechnya, rather than Afghanistan, will likely be on their minds. Russian troops brutally quelled an Islamic insurgency in Chechnya in two wars. They besieged and devastated the Chechen capital of Grozny.

Ukrainians may be right to focus on Chechnya. Their country is not Afghanistan. It does not border on a country like Pakistan that would be willing to invite the wrath of Russia.

NATO members Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, are unlikely to volunteer as Ukraine's Pakistan. NATO expects its buildup along Russia's European frontiers to deter Mr. Putin from expanding his war beyond Ukraine and is unlikely to want to give the Russian leader a blatant excuse. However, that would not stop NATO members from supporting a Ukrainian insurgency covertly.

Ukrainians may also look at Iraq as they consider their options. That could be more problematic for Mr. Putin. Elements of the Iraqi army, granted with the support of Iran and Syria, posed part of the backbone of the costly fight against the US presence in the country following the 2003 US-led invasion.

Mr. Putin may have had that in mind when he this week called on the Ukrainian military to seize power in their country in a bid to avoid an even bloodier battle than the fighting so far, particularly in Kyiv.

If Mr. Putin is betting on the fact that the Ukrainian military trained and armed itself to fight a conventional war like the Russian invasion, he may want to think twice. Iraq would suggest otherwise.

That is undoubtedly what proponents of a long-drawn-out insurgency believe.

“By combining serving military units with combat veterans, reservists, territorial defense units, and large numbers of volunteers, Ukraine can create tens of thousands of small and highly mobile groups capable of attacking Russian forces. This will make it virtually impossible for the Kremlin to establish any kind of administration over occupied areas or secure its lines of supply,” said former Ukraine defense minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk.

A poll conducted in December by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology suggested that one in three Ukrainians would be willing to join an armed resistance against Russian forces.

Politics scholar Olexiy Haran, said after earlier in the day delivering food to defenders of Kyiv near his home, that volunteers led by military and former officers had already established irregular fighting units armed primarily with automatic weapons across the city.

“People are armed. Yesterday, 18,000 Kyivites took up arms. There are volunteer groups all around the city. They pursue any Russian soldier, paratrooper or subversive group that is trying to organize a provocation,” Mr. Haran said.

Russia scholars Michael Kofman and Jeffrey Edmonds may unwittingly have articulated Mr. Putin’s counter-argument and assumption when they argued in a Foreign Affairs article this week that a shift by the Ukrainian military from conventional to partisan warfare “is easier in theory than in practice.”

Messrs. Kofman and Edmonds reasoned further that partisan tactics would be less effective than past wars, presumably including former Yugoslavia and Iraq.

“These tactics would be less effective than in previous wars, thanks to the rise of new technologies, such as drones using thermal cameras and cheap, high-resolution satellite imaging. Today, small groups of fighters may struggle to hide and to win on the battlefield,” the two scholars wrote.

The same would be true for insurgents, as evident with Yemen's Houthis.

Ukrainians would further benefit from the fact that Kyiv is not Grozny, and Ukraine is not Chechnya, where the world looked the other way in part because Russia was fighting an Islamist and jihadist insurgency. Mr. Putin’s assertion that he is fighting neo-Nazis and drug dealers in Kyiv have little international currency.

Abkhazia, one of two Russian-supported territories that broke away from Georgia in 2008, may be Mr. Putin's best-case scenario. Abkhazia is wracked by political instability rather than insurgency and violence.

Anti-government protesters have demanded a halt to sales of real estate and energy assets to Russian nationals and a notion of a “shared sovereignty” between Abkhazia and Ukraine. They also denounced a proposed Russian-style law that would allow the government to label non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public figures, and media as foreign agents.

Abkhazia may be Ukraine’s least likely model, at least for the near future.

Nevertheless, whatever Ukrainians decide, a Russian occupation of Kyiv and replacement of Mr. Zelenskyy with a more Moscow-friendly figure is likely to be the beginning rather than the end of the story.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) &nbsp;&nbsp;

It may be only a matter of time before Russian troops control the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and topple President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, that may not be the end of the story.

It may be only a matter of time before Russian troops control the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and topple President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, that may not be the end of the story. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops could find themselves in Ukraine for the long haul depending on whether Ukrainians have the stomach to launch an insurgency. If so, Mr. Putin knows the drill. Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 after a costly decade-long war in which they battled a US-Pakistani-Saudi-backed Islamic insurgency. Their defeat resembled the humiliation suffered by the United States at the hands of the Vietcong in the 1970s and the Afghan Taliban with last year’s US withdrawal from the Central Asian state. As Ukrainians weigh their options for a post-Zelenskyy era, Chechnya, rather than Afghanistan, will likely be on their minds. Russian troops brutally quelled an Islamic insurgency in Chechnya in two wars. They besieged and devastated the Chechen capital of Grozny. Ukrainians may be right to focus on Chechnya. Their country is not Afghanistan. It does not border on a country like Pakistan that would be willing to invite the wrath of Russia. NATO members Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, are unlikely to volunteer as Ukraine's Pakistan. NATO expects its buildup along Russia's European frontiers to deter Mr. Putin from expanding his war beyond Ukraine and is unlikely to want to give the Russian leader a blatant excuse. However, that would not stop NATO members from supporting a Ukrainian insurgency covertly. Ukrainians may also look at Iraq as they consider their options. That could be more problematic for Mr. Putin. Elements of the Iraqi army, granted with the support of Iran and Syria, posed part of the backbone of the costly fight against the US presence in the country following the 2003 US-led invasion. Mr. Putin may have had that in mind when he this week called on the Ukrainian military to seize power in their country in a bid to avoid an even bloodier battle than the fighting so far, particularly in Kyiv. If Mr. Putin is betting on the fact that the Ukrainian military trained and armed itself to fight a conventional war like the Russian invasion, he may want to think twice. Iraq would suggest otherwise. That is undoubtedly what proponents of a long-drawn-out insurgency believe. “By combining serving military units with combat veterans, reservists, territorial defense units, and large numbers of volunteers, Ukraine can create tens of thousands of small and highly mobile groups capable of attacking Russian forces. This will make it virtually impossible for the Kremlin to establish any kind of administration over occupied areas or secure its lines of supply,” said former Ukraine defense minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk. A poll conducted in December by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology suggested that one in three Ukrainians would be willing to join an armed resistance against Russian forces. Politics scholar Olexiy Haran, said after earlier in the day delivering food to defenders of Kyiv near his home, that volunteers led by military and former officers had already established irregular fighting units armed primarily with automatic weapons across the city. “People are armed. Yesterday, 18,000 Kyivites took up arms. There are volunteer groups all around the city. They pursue any Russian soldier, paratrooper or subversive group that is trying to organize a provocation,” Mr. Haran said. Russia scholars Michael Kofman and Jeffrey Edmonds may unwittingly have articulated Mr. Putin’s counter-argument and assumption when they argued in a Foreign Affairs article this week that a shift by the Ukrainian military from conventional to partisan warfare “is easier in theory than in practice.” Messrs. Kofman and Edmonds reasoned further that partisan tactics would be less effective than past wars, presumably including former Yugoslavia and Iraq. “These tactics would be less effective than in previous wars, thanks to the rise of new technologies, such as drones using thermal cameras and cheap, high-resolution satellite imaging. Today, small groups of fighters may struggle to hide and to win on the battlefield,” the two scholars wrote. The same would be true for insurgents, as evident with Yemen's Houthis. Ukrainians would further benefit from the fact that Kyiv is not Grozny, and Ukraine is not Chechnya, where the world looked the other way in part because Russia was fighting an Islamist and jihadist insurgency. Mr. Putin’s assertion that he is fighting neo-Nazis and drug dealers in Kyiv have little international currency. Abkhazia, one of two Russian-supported territories that broke away from Georgia in 2008, may be Mr. Putin's best-case scenario. Abkhazia is wracked by political instability rather than insurgency and violence. Anti-government protesters have demanded a halt to sales of real estate and energy assets to Russian nationals and a notion of a “shared sovereignty” between Abkhazia and Ukraine. They also denounced a proposed Russian-style law that would allow the government to label non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public figures, and media as foreign agents. Abkhazia may be Ukraine’s least likely model, at least for the near future. Nevertheless, whatever Ukrainians decide, a Russian occupation of Kyiv and replacement of Mr. Zelenskyy with a more Moscow-friendly figure is likely to be the beginning rather than the end of the story. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Imaging the day after a Russian conquest of Kyiv: Not a pretty picture

Fears are growing of the sovereignty of Belarus as Russia presses ahead with its invasion of Ukraine.

Satellite imagery taken showed several large deployments of ground forces and about 150 transport helicopters in southern Belarus, about 20 miles from the border with Ukraine.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-russia-is-targeting-civilians-claims-kyiv-based-journalist-456589/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The images showed one large helicopter deployment near the Belarusian town of Chojniki, which had over 90 helicopters parked on a road with the deployment extending for more than five miles.&nbsp;

Images also showed a large deployment of ground forces with several hundred vehicles in convoy position in several fields.

Autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko, in power for almost three decades, allowed Russian troops to use Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine from the north.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-new-refugee-crisis-as-russia-attacks-ukraine-thousands-flee-the-chaos-456411" hreflang="en">A new 'refugee crisis': As Russia attacks Ukraine, thousands flee the chaos</a>

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main challenger to Lukashenko in an August 2020 vote that was rejected as a sham by the opposition and the West, denounced the deployment as Lukashenko’s payback for Moscow’s support for his crackdown on post-election protests.

On Sunday, Belarus will&nbsp;hold a referendum seen as a bid for Lukashenko to further extend his stay in power and arrange an eventual transition.

The amendments proposed by the regime include a change to the post-Soviet status of neutrality of Belarus which would allow the country to host Russian nuclear weapons and Russian forces on a permanent basis.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pics-underground-metro-stations-in-kyiv-serve-as-bomb-shelters-amid-russian-invasion-456185">Pics: Underground metro stations in Kyiv serve as bomb shelters amid Russian invasion</a>

The Belarusian leader has increasingly relied on the Kremlin’s political and financial support amid bruising Western sanctions triggered by his crackdown on domestic protests, has called for closer defense ties with Moscow.

In recent weeks, Russia has moved troops from Siberia and the Far East to Belarus for sweeping joint drills.&nbsp;

The Kremlin-backed strongman Lukashenko after the elections, leaving him "dependent" on Putin to stay in power, said Olga Dryndova, editor of Belarus-Analysen at the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen.

"Moscow does not need to make Belarus officially part of Russia, which would cause public discontent and resistance," she said.

"With Russian tanks in Belarus, Lukashenko could remain the face of the regime with the real power lying elsewhere."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday that Belarus and its people deserve better than to become the "accomplices and vassals" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to wage war.

"The complicity of Alexander Lukashenko's regime in the invasion of Ukraine by Russia -- in the most total disregard of international law and signed agreements -- marks a new and very serious stage in the process of the submission of Mr Lukashenko to Russia," he added.

Le Drian said NATO would have to "draw the consequences" of the referendum in the Alliance's defence stance. Belarus shares a border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as well as Ukraine and Russia.

(With inputs from agencies)

Fears are growing of the sovereignty of Belarus as Russia presses ahead with its invasion of Ukraine. Satellite imagery taken showed several large deployments of ground forces and about 150 transport helicopters in southern Belarus, about 20 miles from the border with Ukraine.

Fears are growing of the sovereignty of Belarus as Russia presses ahead with its invasion of Ukraine. Satellite imagery taken showed several large deployments of ground forces and about 150 transport helicopters in southern Belarus, about 20 miles from the border with Ukraine. The images showed one large helicopter deployment near the Belarusian town of Chojniki, which had over 90 helicopters parked on a road with the deployment extending for more than five miles. Images also showed a large deployment of ground forces with several hundred vehicles in convoy position in several fields. Autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko, in power for almost three decades, allowed Russian troops to use Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine from the north. Also see | A new 'refugee crisis': As Russia attacks Ukraine, thousands flee the chaos Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the main challenger to Lukashenko in an August 2020 vote that was rejected as a sham by the opposition and the West, denounced the deployment as Lukashenko’s payback for Moscow’s support for his crackdown on post-election protests. On Sunday, Belarus will hold a referendum seen as a bid for Lukashenko to further extend his stay in power and arrange an eventual transition. The amendments proposed by the regime include a change to the post-Soviet status of neutrality of Belarus which would allow the country to host Russian nuclear weapons and Russian forces on a permanent basis. Also see | Pics: Underground metro stations in Kyiv serve as bomb shelters amid Russian invasion The Belarusian leader has increasingly relied on the Kremlin’s political and financial support amid bruising Western sanctions triggered by his crackdown on domestic protests, has called for closer defense ties with Moscow. In recent weeks, Russia has moved troops from Siberia and the Far East to Belarus for sweeping joint drills. The Kremlin-backed strongman Lukashenko after the elections, leaving him "dependent" on Putin to stay in power, said Olga Dryndova, editor of Belarus-Analysen at the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen. "Moscow does not need to make Belarus officially part of Russia, which would cause public discontent and resistance," she said. "With Russian tanks in Belarus, Lukashenko could remain the face of the regime with the real power lying elsewhere." French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday that Belarus and its people deserve better than to become the "accomplices and vassals" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to wage war. "The complicity of Alexander Lukashenko's regime in the invasion of Ukraine by Russia -- in the most total disregard of international law and signed agreements -- marks a new and very serious stage in the process of the submission of Mr Lukashenko to Russia," he added. Le Drian said NATO would have to "draw the consequences" of the referendum in the Alliance's defence stance. Belarus shares a border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as well as Ukraine and Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

Fears grow regarding sovereignty of Belarus as Russia presses ahead with its invasion of Ukraine

Ruling Nepali Congress spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat on Saturday called on Russia to hold peaceful and diplomatic means and stop further bloodshed and loss of lives in Ukraine.&nbsp;

“We urge Russia to use peaceful and diplomatic means to address its concern if there is any. We strongly ask Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Stop further bloodshed and&nbsp;loss of innocent lives. Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected,” Mahat said in a tweet.&nbsp;

Nepal has so far taken the strongest position against Russia among all the South Asian nations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-nepal-agree-on-joint-development-of-cross-border-transmission-lines-456561" hreflang="en">India, Nepal agree on joint development of cross border transmission lines</a>

Nepal Foreign Ministry also called on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint not to escalate tension.

“Recognition of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent entities goes contrary to the provisions of the UN Charter,” Nepal’s foreign office said in a statement. “Nepal opposes any use of force against a sovereign country in any circumstance and believes in a peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomacy and dialogue.”

As a member of the United Nations, Nepal views that the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the UN Charter are sacrosanct and must be fully respected by all member states.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepals-parliament-postponed-for-the-second-time-anti-mcc-protest-continues-456417" hreflang="en">Nepal’s parliament postponed for the second time, anti-MCC protest continues</a>

Earlier, the Embassy of Nepal in Germany had issued a travel advisory for all Nepali nationals residing in Ukraine after civilian flights were temporarily restricted over Ukraine’s airspace following the escalating situation between Ukraine and Russia.

In the wake of growing tension and possible war between the world power Russia and its neighbouring country Ukraine, the Nepal government has urged all its citizens currently residing in Ukraine or on a visit there to return home as soon as possible.

As per the latest update from the Foreign Ministry currently, 38 Nepali citizens living in Ukraine have come into contact with the Nepali Embassy in Berlin, Germany.&nbsp;

The Ministry has also asked Nepalis in Ukraine to contact the Nepali Embassy in Berlin for any assistance.

Ruling Nepali Congress spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat on Saturday called on Russia to hold peaceful and diplomatic means and stop further bloodshed and loss of lives in Ukraine.

Ruling Nepali Congress spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat on Saturday called on Russia to hold peaceful and diplomatic means and stop further bloodshed and loss of lives in Ukraine. “We urge Russia to use peaceful and diplomatic means to address its concern if there is any. We strongly ask Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. Stop further bloodshed and loss of innocent lives. Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected,” Mahat said in a tweet. Nepal has so far taken the strongest position against Russia among all the South Asian nations. Also read | India, Nepal agree on joint development of cross border transmission lines Nepal Foreign Ministry also called on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint not to escalate tension. “Recognition of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent entities goes contrary to the provisions of the UN Charter,” Nepal’s foreign office said in a statement. “Nepal opposes any use of force against a sovereign country in any circumstance and believes in a peaceful resolution of disputes through diplomacy and dialogue.” As a member of the United Nations, Nepal views that the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the UN Charter are sacrosanct and must be fully respected by all member states. Also read | Nepal’s parliament postponed for the second time, anti-MCC protest continues Earlier, the Embassy of Nepal in Germany had issued a travel advisory for all Nepali nationals residing in Ukraine after civilian flights were temporarily restricted over Ukraine’s airspace following the escalating situation between Ukraine and Russia. In the wake of growing tension and possible war between the world power Russia and its neighbouring country Ukraine, the Nepal government has urged all its citizens currently residing in Ukraine or on a visit there to return home as soon as possible. As per the latest update from the Foreign Ministry currently, 38 Nepali citizens living in Ukraine have come into contact with the Nepali Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The Ministry has also asked Nepalis in Ukraine to contact the Nepali Embassy in Berlin for any assistance.

Nepal urges Russia to ‘stop further bloodshed’ in Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine conflict: First pictures of attack on Kyiv on Day 2

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that his country had been left on its own to fight Russia following the Kremlin's large-scale invasion which killed 130 Ukrainians on the first day.

"We have been left alone to defend our state," Zelenisky declared in a video address to the nation made at the end of the first day of the Russian attack.&nbsp;

"Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid," he added.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-choice-but-to-invade-ukraine-to-defend-russia-says-vladimir-putin-456201" hreflang="en">‘No choice but to invade Ukraine to defend Russia’, says Vladimir Putin</a>

According to Zelensky, 137 Ukrainians, both military and civilian, have been killed and another 316 have been wounded since the attack began early Thursday morning.

“Sadly, today we lost 137 heroes, our citizens. Ten of them were officers. 316 people have been wounded. Defending the Zmiinyi Island, all our border guards died a heroic death. But they have not surrendered. They will all be awarded posthumously the title of the Hero of Ukraine. Let those who gave their lives for Ukraine be remembered forever.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ukraine-russia-conflict-first-pictures-455872" hreflang="en">Ukraine-Russia conflict: First pictures from ground zero</a>

Zelensky also said that Russian "sabotage groups" had entered Kyiv, and urged residents to remain vigilant and observe curfews.&nbsp;

The president added that he remained in Ukraine with his family despite Russia identifying him as "target number one".&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian troops take over a key airbase located 38 KMs away from Kyiv

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-russian-troops-take-over-a-key-airbase-located-38-kms-away-from-kyiv-456235/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“I remain in the capital, my family is also in Ukraine, my children are in Ukraine. My family are not traitors, they are citizens of Ukraine. Where exactly they are I have no right to say. According to the information we have the enemy has marked me as target No 1, my family as target No 2."

"They want to destroy Ukraine politically by taking down the head of state," Zelensky said.

Earlier the Ukrainian President had said that&nbsp;there was now a "new&nbsp;iron&nbsp;curtain" between Russia and the rest of the world, like in the Cold War.

"What do we hear today? It's not just rocket explosions, combat and the roar of aircraft. This is the sound of a new&nbsp;iron&nbsp;curtain&nbsp;lowering and closing Russia off from the civilised world," he said in a video address.&nbsp;

On Thursday, Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air, and sea. This is the largest military attack in Europe since World War II and confirms the worst fears of the West.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that his country had been left on its own to fight Russia following the Kremlin's large-scale invasion which killed 130 Ukrainians on the first day. "We have been left alone to defend our state," Zelenisky declared in a video address to the nation made at the end of the first day of the Russian attack. "Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid," he added. Also read | ‘No choice but to invade Ukraine to defend Russia’, says Vladimir Putin According to Zelensky, 137 Ukrainians, both military and civilian, have been killed and another 316 have been wounded since the attack began early Thursday morning. “Sadly, today we lost 137 heroes, our citizens. Ten of them were officers. 316 people have been wounded. Defending the Zmiinyi Island, all our border guards died a heroic death. But they have not surrendered. They will all be awarded posthumously the title of the Hero of Ukraine. Let those who gave their lives for Ukraine be remembered forever.” Also read | Ukraine-Russia conflict: First pictures from ground zero Zelensky also said that Russian "sabotage groups" had entered Kyiv, and urged residents to remain vigilant and observe curfews. The president added that he remained in Ukraine with his family despite Russia identifying him as "target number one". Watch | Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russian troops take over a key airbase located 38 KMs away from Kyiv “I remain in the capital, my family is also in Ukraine, my children are in Ukraine. My family are not traitors, they are citizens of Ukraine. Where exactly they are I have no right to say. According to the information we have the enemy has marked me as target No 1, my family as target No 2." "They want to destroy Ukraine politically by taking down the head of state," Zelensky said. Earlier the Ukrainian President had said that there was now a "new iron curtain" between Russia and the rest of the world, like in the Cold War. "What do we hear today? It's not just rocket explosions, combat and the roar of aircraft. This is the sound of a new iron curtain lowering and closing Russia off from the civilised world," he said in a video address. On Thursday, Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air, and sea. This is the largest military attack in Europe since World War II and confirms the worst fears of the West.

Ukrainian President says his country 'left alone' to fight Russia; claims enemy marked him as 'target no. 1'

As Russia closes in on capital Kyiv, the Indian embassy in Ukraine has issued a new advisory to Indian nationals, especially students, stuck there, saying that arrangements are being made to evacuate&nbsp;them.

Asking them to remain “strong, safe and alert”, the embassy has urged students living closest to border checkpoints -- CHOP-ZAHONY, Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, PORUBNE-SIRET Romanian border near Chernivtsi -- to depart first in an organised manner.

“Once above routes are operational, Indian nationals travelling by their own arrangements for transport would be advised to proceed to above border checkpoints, and remain in touch with the Helpline Numbers set up at respective check­points for facilitation through the border. Numbers would&nbsp;be shared once the control rooms are established,” the advisory stated.

Students have been advised to remain in touch with student contractors, for orderly movement.

<img alt="Indian embassy advisory" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b29b9eb8-185b-467d-9819-0b21b01aef1b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/addv.jpeg" />

The advisory has asked its citizens to carry essential items along with them, including passport, cash, and COVID-19 double vaccination certificate

"Carry passport, cash preferably in USD for any emergency expenses, and other essentials. COVID-19 double vaccination certificate, if available," the advisory states.

"Print out Indian flag and paste prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling," it added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-evacuate-stranded-citizens-in-ukraine-from-neighbouring-countries-sources-456437" hreflang="en">India to evacuate stranded citizens in Ukraine from neighbouring countries</a>

Meanwhile, government sources have said that evacuation flights are being organised for Indians stranded in Ukraine.

According to sources, they will be flown back from neighbouring countries and the cost will be borne by the Government of India

Air India has been roped in for the evacuation process. It will operate two flights to the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on Friday, while a third flight is planned for tomorrow (Saturday) from Budapest.

As Russia closes in on capital Kyiv, the Indian embassy in Ukraine has issued a new advisory to Indian nationals, especially students, stuck there, saying that arrangements are being made to evacuate them.

As Russia closes in on capital Kyiv, the Indian embassy in Ukraine has issued a new advisory to Indian nationals, especially students, stuck there, saying that arrangements are being made to evacuate them. Asking them to remain “strong, safe and alert”, the embassy has urged students living closest to border checkpoints -- CHOP-ZAHONY, Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, PORUBNE-SIRET Romanian border near Chernivtsi -- to depart first in an organised manner. “Once above routes are operational, Indian nationals travelling by their own arrangements for transport would be advised to proceed to above border checkpoints, and remain in touch with the Helpline Numbers set up at respective checkpoints for facilitation through the border. Numbers would be shared once the control rooms are established,” the advisory stated. Students have been advised to remain in touch with student contractors, for orderly movement. The advisory has asked its citizens to carry essential items along with them, including passport, cash, and COVID-19 double vaccination certificate "Carry passport, cash preferably in USD for any emergency expenses, and other essentials. COVID-19 double vaccination certificate, if available," the advisory states. "Print out Indian flag and paste prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling," it added. Also read | India to evacuate stranded citizens in Ukraine from neighbouring countries Meanwhile, government sources have said that evacuation flights are being organised for Indians stranded in Ukraine. According to sources, they will be flown back from neighbouring countries and the cost will be borne by the Government of India Air India has been roped in for the evacuation process. It will operate two flights to the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on Friday, while a third flight is planned for tomorrow (Saturday) from Budapest.

Indian embassy in Ukraine issues advisory, asks citizens to follow these steps

A new 'refugee crisis': As Russia attacks Ukraine, thousands flee the chaos

As Russia attacks Ukraine, thousands flee the chaos

In Pics: From New York to Japan, anti-war demonstrations take over the streets

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Nearly 1,400 people were detained by Russian police during anti-war protests across the country after President Vladimir Putin sent troops to invade Ukraine, an independent monitor reported Thursday.

"More than 1,391 people have already been detained in 51 cities," said OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies. According to the monitor, more than 700 people have been detained in Moscow and over 340 in Saint Petersburg, the second-largest city.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-president-says-his-country-had-been-left-alone-to-fight-russia-456242" hreflang="en">Ukrainian President says his country had been 'left alone' to fight Russia</a>

In the early hours of Thursday, a number of Russian activists called on social media for people to take to the streets after Putin launched an offensive on Ukraine.

Approximately 2,000 protesters gathered near Pushkin Square in central Moscow, and up to 1,000 protesters gathered in Saint Petersburg, the former imperial capital.

Around Pushkin Square in Moscow, protesters chanted "No to war!"

"I am in shock. My relatives and loved ones live in Ukraine," Anastasia Nestulya, 23, said in Moscow.

"What can I tell them over the phone? You hang in there?" She said many were afraid to protest.

In Saint Petersburg, many struck a similar note.

"I have a feeling that the authorities have gone mad," said Svetlana Volkova, 27. The Russian protestor said that most people were unwilling to protest.&nbsp;

"People have been fooled by propaganda."

As he was dragged away by three police officers, a young man shouted: "Who are you fighting with? Arrest Putin."

In recent years, protest laws in Russia have been toughened, and demonstrations often result in mass arrests.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ukraine-russia-conflict-stephen-king-piers-morgan-other-celebs-react-455996" hreflang="en">Ukraine-Russia conflict: Stephen King, Piers Morgan &amp; other celebs react</a>

Alexei Navalny, the jailed opposition leader who used to organise Russia's largest anti-Putin protests said he was against the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

The independent television channel Dozhd published a video in which Navalny was heard saying, "I am against this war.".

"This war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from problems that exist inside the country," the 45-year-old said.&nbsp;

Russian authorities had warned anti-war sympathisers against protesting.

Investigative Committee, the government body that investigates major crimes, warned Russians, that they could face legal repercussions for joining unsanctioned protests related to "the tense foreign political situation".

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Ukrainians around the world hold rallies &amp; call to 'stop Putin now'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-ukrainians-around-the-world-hold-rallies-call-to-stop-putin-now-456231/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"One should be aware of the negative legal consequences of these actions in the form of prosecution up to criminal liability," the committee said.

On social media, these arrests have earned Russia and Putin some major scorn with some going so far as to label the Russian premier a "tyrant".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
1400 arrested across 51 locations at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/antiwar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#antiwar</a> protests in Russia. I stand with them. This is NOT Russia attacking, but a tyrant who needs to go <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoMoreWar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoMoreWar</a>
— Darryll 🌈 (@darryllm) <a href="https://twitter.com/darryllm/status/1496941376113901569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
800 people arrested at Moscow antiwar protest. Russia is a fascist state and will hopefully someday be dissolved. <a href="https://t.co/1sAlRYkWJP">https://t.co/1sAlRYkWJP</a>
— Exiled Arizona (@exiledarizona) <a href="https://twitter.com/exiledarizona/status/1496902579497803777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🙏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> also for those in Russia being arrested for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AntiWar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AntiWar</a> protests as they stand up to Putin! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UkraineInvasion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UkraineInvasion</a> <a href="https://t.co/uRGBCcTQsD">https://t.co/uRGBCcTQsD</a>
— Miss H Pinner🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌈🧡#EqualityForAll (@hazelmpinner) <a href="https://twitter.com/hazelmpinner/status/1496975549805506562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Modern realities of Putin's power. 
6 cops detain one man who took to the streets of his country to protest against the war.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Moscow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Moscow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/protest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#protest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AntiWar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AntiWar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AntiWarProtest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AntiWarProtest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kiev?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kiev</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kyiv?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kyiv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/subwaystation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#subwaystation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RussiaInvadedUkraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RussiaInvadedUkraine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/russianinvasion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#russianinvasion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UkraineRussiaConflict?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UkraineRussiaConflict</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Putin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Putin</a> <a href="https://t.co/UnEWkWyEwJ">pic.twitter.com/UnEWkWyEwJ</a>
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaudharyParvez/status/1497032414366863360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Many have come out in support of the protestors

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
To protest in Russia against the Russian government is the benchmark for all of us. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/moscow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#moscow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StPetersburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StPetersburg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/protest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#protest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/antiwar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#antiwar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a>
— Sophie Walker (@SophieRunning) <a href="https://twitter.com/SophieRunning/status/1496977130999234562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/antiwar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#antiwar</a> protest in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a> 
The police arrests the protestors. One of them: "Arrest Putin, not me" :) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UkraineRussiaConflict?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UkraineRussiaConflict</a> <a href="https://t.co/kW3Le29Twa">pic.twitter.com/kW3Le29Twa</a>
— Tatevik Hovhannisyan (@tatevik_arm) <a href="https://twitter.com/tatevik_arm/status/1496962877743325187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This. 
This is a freedom convoy. This is what it looks like to stand up to a dictator. 
 
Not the privileged adult temper tantrum/ street party/ bender drenched in fragility that terrorized Ottawa for 3+ weeks.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AntiWar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AntiWar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Protest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Protest</a> <a href="https://t.co/dk00b3Ky1q">https://t.co/dk00b3Ky1q</a>
— Minka Singh (@minkasingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/minkasingh/status/1497029009464516612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Nearly 1,400 people were detained by Russian police during anti-war protests across the country after President Vladimir Putin sent troops to invade Ukraine, an independent monitor reported Thursday. "More than 1,391 people have already been detained in 51 cities," said OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies. According to the monitor, more than 700 people have been detained in Moscow and over 340 in Saint Petersburg, the second-largest city. Also read | Ukrainian President says his country had been 'left alone' to fight Russia In the early hours of Thursday, a number of Russian activists called on social media for people to take to the streets after Putin launched an offensive on Ukraine. Approximately 2,000 protesters gathered near Pushkin Square in central Moscow, and up to 1,000 protesters gathered in Saint Petersburg, the former imperial capital. Around Pushkin Square in Moscow, protesters chanted "No to war!" "I am in shock. My relatives and loved ones live in Ukraine," Anastasia Nestulya, 23, said in Moscow. "What can I tell them over the phone? You hang in there?" She said many were afraid to protest. In Saint Petersburg, many struck a similar note. "I have a feeling that the authorities have gone mad," said Svetlana Volkova, 27. The Russian protestor said that most people were unwilling to protest. "People have been fooled by propaganda." As he was dragged away by three police officers, a young man shouted: "Who are you fighting with? Arrest Putin." In recent years, protest laws in Russia have been toughened, and demonstrations often result in mass arrests. Also read | Ukraine-Russia conflict: Stephen King, Piers Morgan & other celebs react Alexei Navalny, the jailed opposition leader who used to organise Russia's largest anti-Putin protests said he was against the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. The independent television channel Dozhd published a video in which Navalny was heard saying, "I am against this war.". "This war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from problems that exist inside the country," the 45-year-old said. Russian authorities had warned anti-war sympathisers against protesting. Investigative Committee, the government body that investigates major crimes, warned Russians, that they could face legal repercussions for joining unsanctioned protests related to "the tense foreign political situation". Watch | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Ukrainians around the world hold rallies & call to 'stop Putin now' "One should be aware of the negative legal consequences of these actions in the form of prosecution up to criminal liability," the committee said. On social media, these arrests have earned Russia and Putin some major scorn with some going so far as to label the Russian premier a "tyrant". 1400 arrested across 51 locations at #antiwar protests in Russia. I stand with them. This is NOT Russia attacking, but a tyrant who needs to go #NoMoreWar — Darryll 🌈 (@darryllm) February 24, 2022 × 800 people arrested at Moscow antiwar protest. Russia is a fascist state and will hopefully someday be dissolved. https://t.co/1sAlRYkWJP — Exiled Arizona (@exiledarizona) February 24, 2022 × 🙏 #Ukraine also for those in Russia being arrested for #AntiWar protests as they stand up to Putin! #UkraineInvasion https://t.co/uRGBCcTQsD — Miss H Pinner🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌈🧡#EqualityForAll (@hazelmpinner) February 24, 2022 × Modern realities of Putin's power. 6 cops detain one man who took to the streets of his country to protest against the war.#Russia #Ukraine #Moscow #protest #AntiWar #AntiWarProtest #Kiev #Kyiv #subwaystation #RussiaInvadedUkraine #russianinvasion #UkraineRussiaConflict #Putin pic.twitter.com/UnEWkWyEwJ — Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) February 25, 2022 × Many have come out in support of the protestors To protest in Russia against the Russian government is the benchmark for all of us. #moscow #StPetersburg #protest #antiwar #Ukraine — Sophie Walker (@SophieRunning) February 24, 2022 × #antiwar protest in #Russia The police arrests the protestors. One of them: "Arrest Putin, not me" :) #UkraineRussiaConflict pic.twitter.com/kW3Le29Twa — Tatevik Hovhannisyan (@tatevik_arm) February 24, 2022 × This. This is a freedom convoy. This is what it looks like to stand up to a dictator. Not the privileged adult temper tantrum/ street party/ bender drenched in fragility that terrorized Ottawa for 3+ weeks.#Ukraine #AntiWar #Protest https://t.co/dk00b3Ky1q — Minka Singh (@minkasingh) February 25, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies)

In Russia, police arrest thousands participating in 'anti-war' protests, threaten with 'legal repercussions'

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Russian authorities moved quickly to cancel flights in southern Russia after President Vladimir Putin announced military action against Ukraine.

Newswire AFP reported that Ukraine was under attack from Russia and Belarus border.

Russian and Belarus had earlier taken part in large scale military exercise although Russia had said it had pulled out some troops from Belarus but satellite photos a few days ago suggested military units were still deployed in the area.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/latest-satellite-pictures-show-russian-troop-deployment-near-ukraine-455540">Also Read in Pictures:&nbsp;Latest satellite pictures show Russian troop deployment near Ukraine</a>

As loud explosions were heard across Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was "a glaring violation" and a "dark day" for Europe.

The Ukrainian government-held town of Shchastya said it had fallen to Russian-backed eastern insurgents.

"Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms this unscrupulous act by President Putin. Our solidarity goes out to Ukraine and its people," the German chancellor said.

Amid the explosions, air raid sirens rang out in Ukraine's capital Kyiv as the Russian defence ministry said it will not target Ukrainian cities with missiles.

Watch:&nbsp;Russia announces military operations in Ukraine&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-announces-military-operations-in-ukraine-as-tensions-mount-to-their-climax-455839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Reports said Belarusian troops had joined Russian forces to attack Ukraine.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Russian authorities moved quickly to cancel flights in southern Russia after President Vladimir Putin announced military action against Ukraine. Newswire AFP reported that Ukraine was under attack from Russia and Belarus border. Russian and Belarus had earlier taken part in large scale military exercise although Russia had said it had pulled out some troops from Belarus but satellite photos a few days ago suggested military units were still deployed in the area. Also Read in Pictures: Latest satellite pictures show Russian troop deployment near Ukraine As loud explosions were heard across Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was "a glaring violation" and a "dark day" for Europe. The Ukrainian government-held town of Shchastya said it had fallen to Russian-backed eastern insurgents. "Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms this unscrupulous act by President Putin. Our solidarity goes out to Ukraine and its people," the German chancellor said. Amid the explosions, air raid sirens rang out in Ukraine's capital Kyiv as the Russian defence ministry said it will not target Ukrainian cities with missiles. Watch: Russia announces military operations in Ukraine Reports said Belarusian troops had joined Russian forces to attack Ukraine.

Ukraine under attack along Russia, Belarus borders: Report

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday (February 24), several reports emerged that the Russian forces have fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine. News agencies also stated that Russia has landed troops on its coast on Thursday, officials and media said, after President Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east. AFP reported that loud explosions were heard in Mariupol, which is in eastern Ukraine. A CNN correspondent reported that he heard sounds of explosions from Kharkiv and he later informed that explosions near Kyiv were missile strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the citizens not to panic and also vowed victory. He also imposed martial law across the country. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba stated how the world can help Ukraine need right now. "The world must act immediately. Future of Europe & the world is at stake," Kuleba said in a tweet, adding a to-do list. To do list: 1. Devastating sanctions on Russia NOW, including SWIFT 2. Fully isolate Russia by all means, in all formats 3. Weapons, equipment for Ukraine 4. Financial assistance 5. Humanitarian assistance ×

Russia-Ukraine conflict: What does Ukraine need right now? Its minister has some answers.

"The world will hold Russia accountable" for its attack against Ukraine, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday. He warned the attack will cause "catastrophic loss of life."

Following the announcement of the start of military operations in Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden said he would address the US public on Thursday to speak on the 'consequences' for Russia. He described the attack as "unprovoked and unjustified".

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-updates-russia-ukraine-crisis-air-raid-siren-rings-out-in-kyiv-after-explosions-455211">Live updates: Russia-Ukraine crisis: Air raid siren rings out in Kyiv after explosions</a></h2>

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable," he said.

Biden said his prayers were with the people of Ukraine "as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces", adding that Putin had chosen a premeditated war that would bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

In a last-minute plea to Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to stop the war "in the name of humanity", after the Russian leader announced the military operation.

"President Putin, in the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia," he said after an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the crisis.&nbsp;

"In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century," he said, adding the conflict "must stop now."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ukraine-russia-conflict-first-pictures-455872">Ukraine-Russia conflict: First pictures</a>

Condemning the "reckless and unprovoked attack" on Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO allies would meet to tackle the consequences of Moscow's "aggressive actions".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the Russian military operation in Ukraine as "a glaring violation" of international law on a "dark day" for Europe.

"Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms this unscrupulous act by President Putin. Our solidarity goes out to Ukraine and its people," he added in a statement.

Scholz, whose country currently holds the presidency of the G7 forum, said it was "a terrible day for Ukraine".

He urged Moscow to stop its military operation "immediately".

Watch |&nbsp;Emergency UNSC meeting on Ukraine: Security Council to vote on a resolution condemning Russia

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/emergency-unsc-meeting-on-ukraine-security-council-to-vote-on-a-resolution-condemning-russia-455868/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, also condemned the "horrific events in Ukraine", saying Russian President Vladimir Putin "has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack".

"The UK and our allies will respond decisively," he tweeted, adding he had spoken to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Even as world leaders condemn this alleged "attack," Russia's ambassador to the UN said in an emergency meeting of the Security Council late Wednesday that Moscow's military operation against Ukraine is only targeted at&nbsp;"the junta" in power in Kyiv.

"I wanted to say in conclusion that we aren't being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the junta that is in power in Kiyv," said Vassily Nebenzia.

"These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War, said European Commission foreign policy chief Josep Borrell

"The EU will respond in the strongest possible terms and agree on the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented," he added.

"We have a land war in Europe that we thought was only to find in history books. It is a flagrant breach of international law. For Russia, this attack will have severe political and economic consequences," said Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

China said it was closely monitoring the situation.

"China is closely monitoring the latest situation. We call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from getting out of control," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying.

(With inputs from agencies)

"The world will hold Russia accountable" for its attack against Ukraine, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday. He warned the attack will cause "catastrophic loss of life.

"The world will hold Russia accountable" for its attack against Ukraine, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday. He warned the attack will cause "catastrophic loss of life." Following the announcement of the start of military operations in Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden said he would address the US public on Thursday to speak on the 'consequences' for Russia. He described the attack as "unprovoked and unjustified". Live updates: Russia-Ukraine crisis: Air raid siren rings out in Kyiv after explosions "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable," he said. Biden said his prayers were with the people of Ukraine "as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces", adding that Putin had chosen a premeditated war that would bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. In a last-minute plea to Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to stop the war "in the name of humanity", after the Russian leader announced the military operation. "President Putin, in the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia," he said after an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the crisis. "In the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century," he said, adding the conflict "must stop now." Also read | Ukraine-Russia conflict: First pictures Condemning the "reckless and unprovoked attack" on Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO allies would meet to tackle the consequences of Moscow's "aggressive actions". German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the Russian military operation in Ukraine as "a glaring violation" of international law on a "dark day" for Europe. "Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms this unscrupulous act by President Putin. Our solidarity goes out to Ukraine and its people," he added in a statement. Scholz, whose country currently holds the presidency of the G7 forum, said it was "a terrible day for Ukraine". He urged Moscow to stop its military operation "immediately". Watch | Emergency UNSC meeting on Ukraine: Security Council to vote on a resolution condemning Russia Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, also condemned the "horrific events in Ukraine", saying Russian President Vladimir Putin "has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack". "The UK and our allies will respond decisively," he tweeted, adding he had spoken to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Even as world leaders condemn this alleged "attack," Russia's ambassador to the UN said in an emergency meeting of the Security Council late Wednesday that Moscow's military operation against Ukraine is only targeted at "the junta" in power in Kyiv. "I wanted to say in conclusion that we aren't being aggressive against the Ukrainian people but against the junta that is in power in Kiyv," said Vassily Nebenzia. "These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War, said European Commission foreign policy chief Josep Borrell "The EU will respond in the strongest possible terms and agree on the harshest package of sanctions we have ever implemented," he added. "We have a land war in Europe that we thought was only to find in history books. It is a flagrant breach of international law. For Russia, this attack will have severe political and economic consequences," said Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck. China said it was closely monitoring the situation. "China is closely monitoring the latest situation. We call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from getting out of control," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying. (With inputs from agencies)

'In the name of humanity': UN Chief's plea, Biden's warning as leaders react to Russia's Ukraine move

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday (February 24) that Russia was attacking the country's "military infrastructure" and border guards. In a video message on Facebook addressed to the nation, Zelensky has urged the citizens not to panic and also vowed victory. The address came after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine. Ukraine's border guard service said as mentioned by news agency AFP that the country is coming under artillery attack along its northern border with Russia and Belarus on Thursday. The official added that Ukrainian forces were returning fire. The statement was issued as a Ukrainian interior ministry official reported the Ukrainian government-held town of Shchastya had fallen to Russian-backed eastern insurgents. Amid the heightened tensions, Zelensky has also introduced martial law across the country, adding that he had spoken by phone with US President Joe Biden. White House released a statement after the phone call between Biden and the Ukrainian President. It read: "President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces." "I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the United Nations Security Council. He asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine," it further read. "Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia. We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," it further added. WATCH | Russia announces military operations in Ukraine as tensions mount to their climax ×

'Ukraine under attack': President Zelensky imposes martial law, calls up Joe Biden

Global stocks and U.S. bond yields dived on Thursday, while the dollar, gold and oil prices rocketed higher as Russian troops landed in Ukrainian cities on the Black Sea and Ukraine said Moscow had launched a full-scale invasion.

Russian troops landed in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa and in Mariupol in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Russian news agencies reported.

At the same time, Ukrainian military command centres in the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv came under attack by missile strikes, the Ukrainska Pravda news website cited a Ukrainian interior ministry official as saying.

The attacks came after a blistering warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to immediately lay down their weapons and go home, and said the responsibility for any bloodshed will be on the conscience "of the Ukrainian regime", according to comments carried by Russian news agencies.

Putin also authorised special military operations in Ukraine's Donbass region.

Several explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, before dawn, after an initial series of sounds similar to artillery fire, a Reuters witness reported, shortly after Russia announced the military operation.

The comments worsened an already grim selloff in Asian trade, pushing MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down more than 3.2%, with Australian shares off more than 3% and Chinese blue chips down 1.3%.

Tokyo's Nikkei was 2.4% lower. U.S. stock&nbsp;market&nbsp;futures were also down sharply, with S&amp;P 500 e-minis down 2.3% and Nasdaq futures 2.8% weaker.

"The&nbsp;market&nbsp;was always trying to judge if they would stop at Donbass, and it looks pretty clear that they are moving toward Kyiv, which was always one of the worst case scenarios, because we now have a long night ahead of us trying to understand how bad this gets, and what sanctions get put up, because there has to be a fresh round of sanctions now against Putin and the Russian government," said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone.

"That's where the worst case, or the bear case scenario is for&nbsp;markets, and that's what we're seeing. There are no buyers here for risk, and there are a lot of sellers out there, so this&nbsp;market&nbsp;is getting hit very hard."

Asset&nbsp;markets have seen a sharp increase in volatility over the deepening crisis, with the Cboe Volatility Index, known as Wall Street's fear gauge, up more than 55% over the past nine days.

Brent crude futures, which seesawed between sharp rises and falls on Wednesday, jumped more than 3.5% to shoot past $100 a barrel on Thursday for the first time since September 2014. West Texas Intermediate leaped 4.6% to $96.22 per barrel, their highest since August 2014.[O/R]

Spot gold jumped more than 1.7% to hit its highest level since early January 2021. [GOL/]

The deepening selloff in equities came after U.S. stocks already took a beating on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.38% to barely above the level that would have confirmed a correction. The MSCI World Index, a leading gauge of equity&nbsp;markets globally, skidded to its lowest level since April 2021.

Investors have also been grappling with the prospect of imminent policy tightening by the U.S. Federal Reserve aimed at combating surging inflation, which NAB analysts say could be exacerbated by a commodities supply shock.

While expectations of an aggressive 50-basis-point hike at the Fed's March meeting have eased, Fed funds futures continue to point to at least six rate hikes this year. [FEDWATCH]

All the same, immediate geopolitical threats weighed on U.S. yields on Thursday, pushing the benchmark U.S. 10-year yield down sharply to 1.8681% from its U.S. close of 1.977% on Wednesday. The 2-year yield also fell, to 1.5% from a close of 1.6%.

The global flight to safety boosted the dollar, which jumped more than half a percent a basket of other major trading partners to 96.715.

The euro was down 0.8% on the day at $1.1220.

The Russian rouble turned violently lower after posting small gains early in the session. It was last down nearly 4% on top of a 3% slump against the dollar on Wednesday.

The sell-off spread to cryptocurrency&nbsp;markets, pushing bitcoin below $35,000 for the first time in a month.

"Markets are now more adequately pricing in the risk of something horrific happening. That combined with the uncertainty is a horrible environment to be in. No one wants risk exposure when that's floating around," said Rob Carnell, head of Asia Pacific research at ING.

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia announces military operations in Ukraine as tensions mount to their climax

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-announces-military-operations-in-ukraine-as-tensions-mount-to-their-climax-455839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Global stocks and U.S. bond yields dived on Thursday, while the dollar, gold and oil prices rocketed higher as Russian troops landed in Ukrainian cities on the Black Sea and Ukraine said Moscow had launched a full-scale invasion.

Global stocks and U.S. bond yields dived on Thursday, while the dollar, gold and oil prices rocketed higher as Russian troops landed in Ukrainian cities on the Black Sea and Ukraine said Moscow had launched a full-scale invasion. Russian troops landed in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odessa and in Mariupol in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Russian news agencies reported. At the same time, Ukrainian military command centres in the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv came under attack by missile strikes, the Ukrainska Pravda news website cited a Ukrainian interior ministry official as saying. The attacks came after a blistering warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to immediately lay down their weapons and go home, and said the responsibility for any bloodshed will be on the conscience "of the Ukrainian regime", according to comments carried by Russian news agencies. Putin also authorised special military operations in Ukraine's Donbass region. Several explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, before dawn, after an initial series of sounds similar to artillery fire, a Reuters witness reported, shortly after Russia announced the military operation. The comments worsened an already grim selloff in Asian trade, pushing MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan down more than 3.2%, with Australian shares off more than 3% and Chinese blue chips down 1.3%. Tokyo's Nikkei was 2.4% lower. U.S. stock market futures were also down sharply, with S&P 500 e-minis down 2.3% and Nasdaq futures 2.8% weaker. "The market was always trying to judge if they would stop at Donbass, and it looks pretty clear that they are moving toward Kyiv, which was always one of the worst case scenarios, because we now have a long night ahead of us trying to understand how bad this gets, and what sanctions get put up, because there has to be a fresh round of sanctions now against Putin and the Russian government," said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone. "That's where the worst case, or the bear case scenario is for markets, and that's what we're seeing. There are no buyers here for risk, and there are a lot of sellers out there, so this market is getting hit very hard." Asset markets have seen a sharp increase in volatility over the deepening crisis, with the Cboe Volatility Index, known as Wall Street's fear gauge, up more than 55% over the past nine days. Brent crude futures, which seesawed between sharp rises and falls on Wednesday, jumped more than 3.5% to shoot past $100 a barrel on Thursday for the first time since September 2014. West Texas Intermediate leaped 4.6% to $96.22 per barrel, their highest since August 2014.[O/R] Spot gold jumped more than 1.7% to hit its highest level since early January 2021. [GOL/] The deepening selloff in equities came after U.S. stocks already took a beating on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.38% to barely above the level that would have confirmed a correction. The MSCI World Index, a leading gauge of equity markets globally, skidded to its lowest level since April 2021. Investors have also been grappling with the prospect of imminent policy tightening by the U.S. Federal Reserve aimed at combating surging inflation, which NAB analysts say could be exacerbated by a commodities supply shock. While expectations of an aggressive 50-basis-point hike at the Fed's March meeting have eased, Fed funds futures continue to point to at least six rate hikes this year. [FEDWATCH] All the same, immediate geopolitical threats weighed on U.S. yields on Thursday, pushing the benchmark U.S. 10-year yield down sharply to 1.8681% from its U.S. close of 1.977% on Wednesday. The 2-year yield also fell, to 1.5% from a close of 1.6%. The global flight to safety boosted the dollar, which jumped more than half a percent a basket of other major trading partners to 96.715. The euro was down 0.8% on the day at $1.1220. The Russian rouble turned violently lower after posting small gains early in the session. It was last down nearly 4% on top of a 3% slump against the dollar on Wednesday. The sell-off spread to cryptocurrency markets, pushing bitcoin below $35,000 for the first time in a month. "Markets are now more adequately pricing in the risk of something horrific happening. That combined with the uncertainty is a horrible environment to be in. No one wants risk exposure when that's floating around," said Rob Carnell, head of Asia Pacific research at ING. WATCH | Russia announces military operations in Ukraine as tensions mount to their climax ×

Global market plunges, stocks dive after Vladimir Putin launches military operations in Ukraine

In a surprise televised address on Thursday (February 24), Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a military operation 'to demilitarise Ukraine'.&nbsp;

Moments after that, a CNN correspondent reported that he heard sounds of explosions from Kharkiv. He later informed citing the Ukrainian interior ministry that explosions near Kyiv were missile strikes.&nbsp;

AFP news agency also reported that explosions were heard in Mariupol, which is in eastern Ukraine. The explosions were heard before dawn Thursday in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and the eastern port city of Mariupol.&nbsp;

AFP correspondents in both cities heard powerful blasts and in Mariupol, close to the frontline and the Russian border, residents reported hearing artillery in the city's eastern suburbs.&nbsp;

Here's a video of&nbsp;explosions. 

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Explosions in Ukraine's city of Mariupol <a href="https://t.co/57ZZVyx5w2">pic.twitter.com/57ZZVyx5w2</a>
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) <a href="https://twitter.com/spectatorindex/status/1496691616492691460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet, "Putin has launched a full-scale war against Ukraine."&nbsp;

"Strikes continue on peaceful Ukrainian cities. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend and win. The world can and must stop Putin. It's time to act - just now," he added.&nbsp;

Ukraine Representative to Russian Representative at UN emergency meeting said, "Russian President on record declared war...It's the responsibility of this body to stop this war. I call on everyone to stop the war. "Should I play the video of your president calling the war."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Russia announces military operations in Ukraine as tensions mount to their climax

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-announces-military-operations-in-ukraine-as-tensions-mount-to-their-climax-455839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

In a surprise televised address on Thursday (February 24), Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a military operation 'to demilitarise Ukraine'. Moments after that, a CNN correspondent reported that he heard sounds of explosions from Kharkiv.

In a surprise televised address on Thursday (February 24), Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a military operation 'to demilitarise Ukraine'. Moments after that, a CNN correspondent reported that he heard sounds of explosions from Kharkiv. He later informed citing the Ukrainian interior ministry that explosions near Kyiv were missile strikes. AFP news agency also reported that explosions were heard in Mariupol, which is in eastern Ukraine. The explosions were heard before dawn Thursday in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and the eastern port city of Mariupol. AFP correspondents in both cities heard powerful blasts and in Mariupol, close to the frontline and the Russian border, residents reported hearing artillery in the city's eastern suburbs. Here's a video of explosions. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. BREAKING: Explosions in Ukraine's city of Mariupol pic.twitter.com/57ZZVyx5w2 — The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) February 24, 2022 × Meanwhile, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet, "Putin has launched a full-scale war against Ukraine." "Strikes continue on peaceful Ukrainian cities. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend and win. The world can and must stop Putin. It's time to act - just now," he added. Ukraine Representative to Russian Representative at UN emergency meeting said, "Russian President on record declared war...It's the responsibility of this body to stop this war. I call on everyone to stop the war. "Should I play the video of your president calling the war." WATCH | Russia announces military operations in Ukraine as tensions mount to their climax ×

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Explosions reported in Kyiv after Vladimir Putin launches military operations

During a United Nations meeting on Ukraine&nbsp;speakers warned on Wednesday that a Russian invasion of the country would likely create a new "refugee crisis" around the world.

As many as five million people could be displaced by war, the US warned, while Ukraine's foreign minister said such a conflict would mark "the end of the world order as we know it."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-the-wake-of-putins-military-operation-threat-oil-prices-soar-past-100-for-the-first-time-since-2014-455849" hreflang="en">In the wake of Putin's 'military operation' threat, oil prices soar past $100 for the first time since 2014</a>

The dire warnings were made during a UN General Assembly session on "temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories," which is held at UN headquarters in New York each year since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "our world is facing a moment of peril" over the crisis.

"If the conflict in Ukraine expands, the world could see a scale and severity of need unseen for many years," he said.

"It is time for restraint, reason and de-escalation," Guterres added, stressing there was no room for actions or statements that would "take this dangerous situation over the abyss."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/even-as-tensions-over-ukraine-rise-us-russian-space-cooperation-continues-455825">Even as tensions over Ukraine rise, US-Russian space cooperation continues</a>

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, said an invasion could result in the displacement of another five million people, in addition to the three million already displaced by Russian military action in eastern Ukraine.

"If Russia continues down this path, it could -- according to our estimates -- create a new refugee crisis, one of the largest facing the world today," she said.

Considering that Ukraine is one of the largest providers of wheat to developing nations, Thomas-Greenfield said Russian military operations "could cause a spike in food prices and lead to even more desperate hunger in places like Libya, Yemen, and Lebanon."

"The tidal waves of suffering this war will cause are unthinkable," she said.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, pleaded with the United Nations to hold Moscow accountable for attacking "the core principles of international law."

Watch |&nbsp;Russia announces military operations in Ukraine as tensions mount to their climax

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-announces-military-operations-in-ukraine-as-tensions-mount-to-their-climax-455839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"If Russia does not get a severe, swift and decisive response now, this will mean a total bankruptcy of the international security system and international institutions, which are tasked with maintaining the global security order.

"This is a grim scenario, which will throw us back to the darkest times of the 20th century," he said.

The minister called Russian claims that it is acting to prevent Kyiv from launching military operations in the Donbas area "absurd" and urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

During a United Nations meeting on Ukraine speakers warned on Wednesday that a Russian invasion of the country would likely create a new "refugee crisis" around the world.

During a United Nations meeting on Ukraine speakers warned on Wednesday that a Russian invasion of the country would likely create a new "refugee crisis" around the world. As many as five million people could be displaced by war, the US warned, while Ukraine's foreign minister said such a conflict would mark "the end of the world order as we know it." Also read | In the wake of Putin's 'military operation' threat, oil prices soar past $100 for the first time since 2014 The dire warnings were made during a UN General Assembly session on "temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories," which is held at UN headquarters in New York each year since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that "our world is facing a moment of peril" over the crisis. "If the conflict in Ukraine expands, the world could see a scale and severity of need unseen for many years," he said. "It is time for restraint, reason and de-escalation," Guterres added, stressing there was no room for actions or statements that would "take this dangerous situation over the abyss." Also read | Even as tensions over Ukraine rise, US-Russian space cooperation continues Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, said an invasion could result in the displacement of another five million people, in addition to the three million already displaced by Russian military action in eastern Ukraine. "If Russia continues down this path, it could -- according to our estimates -- create a new refugee crisis, one of the largest facing the world today," she said. Considering that Ukraine is one of the largest providers of wheat to developing nations, Thomas-Greenfield said Russian military operations "could cause a spike in food prices and lead to even more desperate hunger in places like Libya, Yemen, and Lebanon." "The tidal waves of suffering this war will cause are unthinkable," she said. Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, pleaded with the United Nations to hold Moscow accountable for attacking "the core principles of international law." Watch | Russia announces military operations in Ukraine as tensions mount to their climax "If Russia does not get a severe, swift and decisive response now, this will mean a total bankruptcy of the international security system and international institutions, which are tasked with maintaining the global security order. "This is a grim scenario, which will throw us back to the darkest times of the 20th century," he said. The minister called Russian claims that it is acting to prevent Kyiv from launching military operations in the Donbas area "absurd" and urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

'Tidal waves of suffering': At least 5 million would be displaced by a Russian invasion of Ukraine, warns US

Igor Polikha, the ambassador of Ukraine in India said that India should intervene in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt this invasion.

Igor Polikha, the ambassador of Ukraine in India said that India should intervene in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt this invasion. Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday (February 24) as moments after that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Russia was attacking the "military infrastructure" and border guards. ALSO READ | Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights, Air India's special flight returns mid-air Seeking an urgent intervention from India, he said, "India is a very influential global player… We are asking for a strong voice of India". "Modi Ji is one of the most powerful and most respected leaders in the world," he said, adding that India has a "special privilege" and a strategic relationship with Russia and Ukraine is expecting a much more favourable attitude by the Indian government in this crisis. During his address, Polikha also applauded India's history and civilization as he quoted Chanakya and Mahabharat for India's global role in diplomacy. ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine conflict: How is India planning its response considering Indian students in Kiev He said, "I'm dealing with India from my young student years and I know a lot about your history of diplomacy. You had such bright guys… like Chanakya, or a he is otherwise called, Kautilya, approximately 2500 years back when on the major parts of Europe, there was no civilization." Weighing in on the conflict, he said that there is fresh information about casualties. They say they are attacking only military facilities, but we have suffered "civilian casualties". He told the media, "We have the first civilian casualties even on the outskirts of the capital. There's fighting in some areas. According to information from our Ministry of Defence, the Ukrainian side shot down five Russian fighter planes, two helicopters, and destroyed two tanks and several trucks." "Some attacks happened on the outskirts of the capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of Ukraine. We`re getting the first information about casualties among our soldiers and the civilians," he further said. WATCH: Ukraine claims: Downed five Russian planes, Moscow denies ×

Ukraine envoy seeks PM Modi's intervention in Russia-Ukraine conflict; cites Chanakya

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday (February 24) as news agencies mentioned that Russian ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-envoy-seeks-pm-modis-intervention-in-russia-ukraine-conflict-cites-chanakya-and-kautilya-456035">Ukraine envoy seeks PM Modi's intervention in Russia-Ukraine conflict; cites Chanakya and Kautilya</a>

How did the Russia-Ukraine border crisis got escalated to a war-like situation? Here's a timeline of months of tensions around Ukraine:

Troop movements 
On November 10, 2021, the United States reports unusual Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border.

On November 28, Ukraine said Russia is massing nearly 92,000 troops for an offensive at the end of January or early February.

However, Moscow denies it and accused Kyiv of a military build-up of its own.&nbsp;

Russia also demanded "legal guarantees" that Ukraine will never join NATO.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-closes-airspace-to-civilian-flights-air-indias-special-flight-returns-mid-air-455945">Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights, Air India's special flight returns mid-air</a>

Moscow demands 
On December 7, US President Joe Biden threatened Russian counterpart Putin with "strong economic and other measures" if he invades Ukraine. &nbsp;

Ten days later, Moscow put forward proposals to limit US and NATO influence on former Soviet states.

Build-up in Belarus 
On January 17, Russian troops began arriving in ex-Soviet Belarus for military drills. At that point in time, said that the drills were aimed at "thwarting external aggression".

Two days later, Washington announced an extra $200 million in security aid to Kyiv.&nbsp;

NATO on standby 
On January 24, NATO put troops on standby and sent ships and fighter jets to bolster Europe's eastern defences. The next day, Moscow began military exercises involving some 6,000 troops and at least 60 fighter jets in southern Russia near Ukraine and in Moscow-annexed Crimea.&nbsp;

On January 26, Washington refused to shut the NATO door on Ukraine and the alliance said many of Moscow's security demands are "unrealistic".&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/russia-ukraine-conflict-how-is-india-planning-its-response-considering-indian-students-in-kiev-455987">Russia-Ukraine conflict: How is India planning its response considering Indian students in Kiev</a>

China warns US 
The United States said it believes Putin "is going to use military force between now and the middle of February". The next day, China warned that Russia's security concerns should be "taken seriously".&nbsp;

On January 28, Putin said the West has ignored "Russia's fundamental concerns" on NATO's expansion and has "strike weapons systems near Russia's borders".&nbsp;

Manoeuvres in Belarus 
On February 2, the United States sent 3,000 troops to fortify NATO forces in eastern Europe. Russia and Belarus began 10 days of military manoeuvres on February 10.&nbsp;

Retreat or reinforcement? 
On February 15, Moscow said some of its forces are returning to their bases. But NATO claimed that it saw no sign of a withdrawal.

Artillery fire 
On February 17, shellfire intensified all along the frontline of the two Russian-backed enclaves in eastern Ukraine. A day later, the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk separatist regions said they are evacuating residents to Russia.&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Moscow of "false provocations" to justify further "aggression" against Ukraine.&nbsp;

Attack imminent? 
On February 19, Ukraine said that two of its soldiers died in attacks on the frontline with Russian-backed separatists. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a meeting with Putin, as Moscow test-fired nuclear-capable missiles. Russia is "on the brink" of invading Ukraine, Washington said.&nbsp;

Putin-Biden summit? 
France and Germany called on their nationals to leave Ukraine. On February 21, France said that Putin and Biden have agreed in principle to a summit.&nbsp;

But the White House said it was notably cautious and the Kremlin said it is too early. The Russian military said it has killed five "saboteurs" who crossed into Russia from Ukraine. Ukraine denied the claims.&nbsp;

Putin recognises separatist republics 
In a televised address on February 22, Putin recognised the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. Putin ordered Russian troops into separatist areas in eastern Ukraine on a "peacekeeping" mission.&nbsp;

Condemnation and sanctions 
Several hours later during an emergency Security Council session, the UN and most of its members denounced the Russian decisions.

Washington said it will slap new sanctions on Russia. The EU will also adopt sanctions, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.&nbsp;

Moscow said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is still ready for talks with Blinken, whom he is scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday.&nbsp;

Putin announces military operation 
On Thursday (February 24), Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine in a surprise television address. He called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms, claiming he wants a "demilitarisation" of the former Soviet state but not its occupation.&nbsp;

Explosions were heard 
Explosions were heard ring out before dawn in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and several cities near the frontline and along the country's coast.

'Full-scale invasion' 
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Putin of launching a "full-scale invasion".

Martial law 
Zelensky declared martial law and later broke diplomatic ties with Russia.&nbsp;

'Maximum losses' 
The head of the Ukrainian military said that he has received orders from Zelensky to repel a Russian invasion and to "inflict maximum losses".

Airbases, defences 'destroyed' 
Russia's defence ministry said it has neutralised Ukrainian military airbases and its air defence systems.&nbsp;

50 'occupiers' killed 
Ukraine said it has killed "around 50 Russian occupiers" while repulsing an attack on a town on the frontline with Moscow-backed rebels.

China watches 'closely' 
China called for restraint on all sides and said it is "closely watching" the latest situation.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Ukraine claims to have downed 5 Russian planes, calls on army veterans to join

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-claims-to-have-downed-5-russian-planes-calls-on-army-veterans-to-join-456037/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday (February 24) as news agencies mentioned that Russian ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday (February 24) as news agencies mentioned that Russian ground forces invaded Ukraine from several directions. ALSO READ | Ukraine envoy seeks PM Modi's intervention in Russia-Ukraine conflict; cites Chanakya and Kautilya How did the Russia-Ukraine border crisis got escalated to a war-like situation? Here's a timeline of months of tensions around Ukraine: Troop movements On November 10, 2021, the United States reports unusual Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border. On November 28, Ukraine said Russia is massing nearly 92,000 troops for an offensive at the end of January or early February. However, Moscow denies it and accused Kyiv of a military build-up of its own. Russia also demanded "legal guarantees" that Ukraine will never join NATO. ALSO READ | Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights, Air India's special flight returns mid-air Moscow demands On December 7, US President Joe Biden threatened Russian counterpart Putin with "strong economic and other measures" if he invades Ukraine. Ten days later, Moscow put forward proposals to limit US and NATO influence on former Soviet states. Build-up in Belarus On January 17, Russian troops began arriving in ex-Soviet Belarus for military drills. At that point in time, said that the drills were aimed at "thwarting external aggression". Two days later, Washington announced an extra $200 million in security aid to Kyiv. NATO on standby On January 24, NATO put troops on standby and sent ships and fighter jets to bolster Europe's eastern defences. The next day, Moscow began military exercises involving some 6,000 troops and at least 60 fighter jets in southern Russia near Ukraine and in Moscow-annexed Crimea. On January 26, Washington refused to shut the NATO door on Ukraine and the alliance said many of Moscow's security demands are "unrealistic". ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine conflict: How is India planning its response considering Indian students in Kiev China warns US The United States said it believes Putin "is going to use military force between now and the middle of February". The next day, China warned that Russia's security concerns should be "taken seriously". On January 28, Putin said the West has ignored "Russia's fundamental concerns" on NATO's expansion and has "strike weapons systems near Russia's borders". Manoeuvres in Belarus On February 2, the United States sent 3,000 troops to fortify NATO forces in eastern Europe. Russia and Belarus began 10 days of military manoeuvres on February 10. Retreat or reinforcement? On February 15, Moscow said some of its forces are returning to their bases. But NATO claimed that it saw no sign of a withdrawal. Artillery fire On February 17, shellfire intensified all along the frontline of the two Russian-backed enclaves in eastern Ukraine. A day later, the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk separatist regions said they are evacuating residents to Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Moscow of "false provocations" to justify further "aggression" against Ukraine. Attack imminent? On February 19, Ukraine said that two of its soldiers died in attacks on the frontline with Russian-backed separatists. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a meeting with Putin, as Moscow test-fired nuclear-capable missiles. Russia is "on the brink" of invading Ukraine, Washington said. Putin-Biden summit? France and Germany called on their nationals to leave Ukraine. On February 21, France said that Putin and Biden have agreed in principle to a summit. But the White House said it was notably cautious and the Kremlin said it is too early. The Russian military said it has killed five "saboteurs" who crossed into Russia from Ukraine. Ukraine denied the claims. Putin recognises separatist republics In a televised address on February 22, Putin recognised the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. Putin ordered Russian troops into separatist areas in eastern Ukraine on a "peacekeeping" mission. Condemnation and sanctions Several hours later during an emergency Security Council session, the UN and most of its members denounced the Russian decisions. Washington said it will slap new sanctions on Russia. The EU will also adopt sanctions, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. Moscow said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is still ready for talks with Blinken, whom he is scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday. Putin announces military operation On Thursday (February 24), Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine in a surprise television address. He called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms, claiming he wants a "demilitarisation" of the former Soviet state but not its occupation. Explosions were heard Explosions were heard ring out before dawn in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and several cities near the frontline and along the country's coast. 'Full-scale invasion' Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Putin of launching a "full-scale invasion". Martial law Zelensky declared martial law and later broke diplomatic ties with Russia. 'Maximum losses' The head of the Ukrainian military said that he has received orders from Zelensky to repel a Russian invasion and to "inflict maximum losses". Airbases, defences 'destroyed' Russia's defence ministry said it has neutralised Ukrainian military airbases and its air defence systems. 50 'occupiers' killed Ukraine said it has killed "around 50 Russian occupiers" while repulsing an attack on a town on the frontline with Moscow-backed rebels. China watches 'closely' China called for restraint on all sides and said it is "closely watching" the latest situation. WATCH | Ukraine claims to have downed 5 Russian planes, calls on army veterans to join × (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine under attack: Here's a timeline of months of tensions around Russia-Ukraine conflict

A drunk sat on a bench, swaying. A few older women, bundled against a biting wind, scurried from a grocery store, clutching plastic bags. Otherwise, the streets of Shchastya were deserted, while the thud of mortar and artillery fire reverberated through town.

Shchastya means “happiness” in Ukrainian, but in recent days the town has been one of the saddest places on earth, and may get a whole lot worse.

With its largely Russian-speaking and Russia-backing population, its proximity to the front lines in eastern Ukraine and the presence of a strategic electrical generating plant, it is particularly vulnerable to attack by separatist forces lurking on the far bank of the river running through town.

That has led military analysts and Ukrainian officials to suggest that Shchastya may well emerge as the stepping off point for a Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an offensive originating in the separatist areas that Moscow recognized as independent states on Monday.

The mayor, Oleksandr Bunets, stood outside city hall on Wednesday, smoking a cigarette and surveying the desultory scene. The day before, Shchastya had taken the heaviest shelling in the region, and fighting continued Wednesday between the government and Russian-backed separatist fighters.

“They will try to capture the town,” said Bunets, who was appointed to his position as military-civilian administrator because the townspeople had kept on electing Russian sympathizers as mayor. “They tried yesterday, and they tried the day before.”

In a report released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior overnight on Wednesday, listing attacks on government-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine, Shchastya and its environs were by far the most-targeted sites. The report listed 917 instances of incoming munitions from tanks, artillery, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.

Stanytsia Luhanska, about a half-hour’s drive to the east, was the second-most active site, the report said, with 220 instances of incoming fire. Most of the incoming fire in Shchastya seemed to be hitting army positions just outside town.

On Tuesday, artillery strikes started a fire at the electrical plant, the town’s largest employer; employees evacuated to a bomb shelter while it burned, the company said. The fire was eventually extinguished, but water pipes were damaged and residents now fetch water from wells in plastic pails.

This is a particularly glum time for the town, but the name, Happiness, has been a stretch for years now.

Two-story brick apartment buildings, dreary and forlorn, slope down a hill of sandy soil and pine trees to the Seversky Donets River, with the industrial blight of the coal-fired power plant on one side and separatist military positions on the other. The roads are potholed, and many of the apartment blocks are partly deserted, reflecting the exodus after the war began that slashed the population by about half, to 7,000 today.

The mayor’s status as a military appointee — Bunets holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Ukrainian army but now serves in a civilian capacity — captures the complexities in many of the front-line mining and farming towns of eastern Ukraine. It also helps explain why they are seen as ripe for a first step into Ukraine by the Russian military.

Pro-Russia sentiment runs deep, paradoxically, even as these sites have borne the brunt of the conflict over the past eight years and would suffer in any new military action. Pro-Russia views have declined over the years, due in part to the efforts of countless Ukrainian nongovernmental groups. But they have never vanished, and many people have family ties with Russia.

The former mayor of Shchastya, for example, switched sides and lives in the Luhansk People’s Republic, across the river. Bunets, in contrast, hails from the western Ukrainian town of Mukachevo, and his staff members make a point of speaking only in Ukrainian with the Russian-speaking local population, stirring some resentment.

They kept it up Wednesday, speaking in Ukrainian to perplexed residents who turned up at city hall with complaints of broken water mains and homes without electricity, as explosions boomed in the distance.

“The government language of Ukraine is Ukrainian, and government bodies have to speak Ukrainian,” Bunets said. In emergencies, he said, he will speak Russian. “Right now, people are complaining that there is no water. We can’t supply water for now. Repair work is ongoing when it is quiet.”

With most of the shelling directed at the plant and government military installations, no civilians had been injured as of midday Wednesday, Bunets added.

He denied there was any strong pro-Russian feeling in the town and said people certainly did not want to live in one of the ministatelets that are now recognized by Russia. “Honestly, people want to live in a normal, civilized country,” he said. “There are many positive benefits to civilization.”

Nevertheless, it is not hard to find people expressing sympathetic views about Russia. Igor Rashupkina, 50, a driver for the electrical company, said he hoped the city didn't fall but nonetheless harbored no ill will toward Russia. His son, he said, works in the oil industry in Siberia.

Because the Russian border is close, many families in Shchastya are divided between the two countries. “I was born here. This is my town. I won’t leave” no matter what happens, Rashupkina said.

Before it became a potential flashpoint for what could become the biggest land war in Europe since 1945, Shchastya was not always such a grim place, said Maryna Danyliuk, 65, a retired worker at the electrical power plant.

She moved here in 1987, from Chelyabinsk, a city in the Ural Mountains in Russia, to marry a Ukrainian man. “I loved this town back then,” she said. “It was so green and very comfortable; everything worked. Now, it is pale.”

Since the war began in 2014, though, the town’s proximity to the front line has taken its toll. “The city changed. It became evil, unfriendly,” Danyliuk said. “It never became the same city I knew before. It feels like a snake is just around the corner.”

On Monday, as the artillery barrages exploded on the town’s outskirts, she called her sister in Chelyabinsk. “ ‘Can you hear this?’” she said she shouted at her sibling. “ ‘Can you hear this? These are your people shelling me now, your Russians shelling me now!’”

Danyliuk, who a few years ago switched to speaking Ukrainian even though she grew up in Russia, said that if the town seemed about to fall, she would run.

“I will miss these sands and pine trees,” she said. “I will miss the pine forest behind my house where I walk my dog, my garden and, of course, my house.”

A drunk sat on a bench, swaying. A few older women, bundled against a biting wind, scurried from a grocery store, clutching plastic bags. Otherwise, the streets of Shchastya were deserted, while the thud of mortar and artillery fire reverberated through town.

A drunk sat on a bench, swaying. A few older women, bundled against a biting wind, scurried from a grocery store, clutching plastic bags. Otherwise, the streets of Shchastya were deserted, while the thud of mortar and artillery fire reverberated through town. Shchastya means “happiness” in Ukrainian, but in recent days the town has been one of the saddest places on earth, and may get a whole lot worse. With its largely Russian-speaking and Russia-backing population, its proximity to the front lines in eastern Ukraine and the presence of a strategic electrical generating plant, it is particularly vulnerable to attack by separatist forces lurking on the far bank of the river running through town. That has led military analysts and Ukrainian officials to suggest that Shchastya may well emerge as the stepping off point for a Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an offensive originating in the separatist areas that Moscow recognized as independent states on Monday. The mayor, Oleksandr Bunets, stood outside city hall on Wednesday, smoking a cigarette and surveying the desultory scene. The day before, Shchastya had taken the heaviest shelling in the region, and fighting continued Wednesday between the government and Russian-backed separatist fighters. “They will try to capture the town,” said Bunets, who was appointed to his position as military-civilian administrator because the townspeople had kept on electing Russian sympathizers as mayor. “They tried yesterday, and they tried the day before.” In a report released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior overnight on Wednesday, listing attacks on government-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine, Shchastya and its environs were by far the most-targeted sites. The report listed 917 instances of incoming munitions from tanks, artillery, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Stanytsia Luhanska, about a half-hour’s drive to the east, was the second-most active site, the report said, with 220 instances of incoming fire. Most of the incoming fire in Shchastya seemed to be hitting army positions just outside town. On Tuesday, artillery strikes started a fire at the electrical plant, the town’s largest employer; employees evacuated to a bomb shelter while it burned, the company said. The fire was eventually extinguished, but water pipes were damaged and residents now fetch water from wells in plastic pails. This is a particularly glum time for the town, but the name, Happiness, has been a stretch for years now. Two-story brick apartment buildings, dreary and forlorn, slope down a hill of sandy soil and pine trees to the Seversky Donets River, with the industrial blight of the coal-fired power plant on one side and separatist military positions on the other. The roads are potholed, and many of the apartment blocks are partly deserted, reflecting the exodus after the war began that slashed the population by about half, to 7,000 today. The mayor’s status as a military appointee — Bunets holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Ukrainian army but now serves in a civilian capacity — captures the complexities in many of the front-line mining and farming towns of eastern Ukraine. It also helps explain why they are seen as ripe for a first step into Ukraine by the Russian military. Pro-Russia sentiment runs deep, paradoxically, even as these sites have borne the brunt of the conflict over the past eight years and would suffer in any new military action. Pro-Russia views have declined over the years, due in part to the efforts of countless Ukrainian nongovernmental groups. But they have never vanished, and many people have family ties with Russia. The former mayor of Shchastya, for example, switched sides and lives in the Luhansk People’s Republic, across the river. Bunets, in contrast, hails from the western Ukrainian town of Mukachevo, and his staff members make a point of speaking only in Ukrainian with the Russian-speaking local population, stirring some resentment. They kept it up Wednesday, speaking in Ukrainian to perplexed residents who turned up at city hall with complaints of broken water mains and homes without electricity, as explosions boomed in the distance. “The government language of Ukraine is Ukrainian, and government bodies have to speak Ukrainian,” Bunets said. In emergencies, he said, he will speak Russian. “Right now, people are complaining that there is no water. We can’t supply water for now. Repair work is ongoing when it is quiet.” With most of the shelling directed at the plant and government military installations, no civilians had been injured as of midday Wednesday, Bunets added. He denied there was any strong pro-Russian feeling in the town and said people certainly did not want to live in one of the ministatelets that are now recognized by Russia. “Honestly, people want to live in a normal, civilized country,” he said. “There are many positive benefits to civilization.” Nevertheless, it is not hard to find people expressing sympathetic views about Russia. Igor Rashupkina, 50, a driver for the electrical company, said he hoped the city didn't fall but nonetheless harbored no ill will toward Russia. His son, he said, works in the oil industry in Siberia. Because the Russian border is close, many families in Shchastya are divided between the two countries. “I was born here. This is my town. I won’t leave” no matter what happens, Rashupkina said. Before it became a potential flashpoint for what could become the biggest land war in Europe since 1945, Shchastya was not always such a grim place, said Maryna Danyliuk, 65, a retired worker at the electrical power plant. She moved here in 1987, from Chelyabinsk, a city in the Ural Mountains in Russia, to marry a Ukrainian man. “I loved this town back then,” she said. “It was so green and very comfortable; everything worked. Now, it is pale.” Since the war began in 2014, though, the town’s proximity to the front line has taken its toll. “The city changed. It became evil, unfriendly,” Danyliuk said. “It never became the same city I knew before. It feels like a snake is just around the corner.” On Monday, as the artillery barrages exploded on the town’s outskirts, she called her sister in Chelyabinsk. “ ‘Can you hear this?’” she said she shouted at her sibling. “ ‘Can you hear this? These are your people shelling me now, your Russians shelling me now!’” Danyliuk, who a few years ago switched to speaking Ukrainian even though she grew up in Russia, said that if the town seemed about to fall, she would run. “I will miss these sands and pine trees,” she said. “I will miss the pine forest behind my house where I walk my dog, my garden and, of course, my house.”

The potentially grim fate of a Ukrainian town called 'happiness'

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Russian forces fired missiles at several targets as loud explosions were reported in Ukraine, officials and media said on Thursday (February 24). Reports also mentioned that Russia has landed troops on its coast after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east. Amid escalating tensions, high-level meetings are underway in India's Ministry of External Affairs to discuss the contingency plans that are being put into operation to activate alternate routes to bring back stranded citizens from Ukraine, sources claimed. Ukrainian authorities closed the airspace to civilian flights citing a high risk to safety and given airspace closure, alternate evacuation routes are being activated. Additional Russian speaking officials have been sent to our Embassy in Ukraine and are being deployed in countries neighbouring Ukraine. Sources further informed that the Indian Embassy in Ukraine is functional and its advisories should be followed carefully. Watch WION's report: High-level discussions are underway at MEA. How is India planning its response considering there are several students in Ukraine?@PriyankaSh25 talks to @sidhant for details Watch more: https://t.co/AXC5qRcEPB pic.twitter.com/m7hWNj6dsg — WION (@WIONews) February 24, 2022 × Meanwhile, a special Air India flight returning from mid-air as Ukraine airspace is closed due to notice to airmen (NOTAM) as war has been started between Russia and Ukraine. India-based news agency ANI reported citing sources that an empty flight of Air India AI-1947 is returning from over Iran air space as Ukraine imposed restrictions on civilian aircraft. "Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," Air India informed. Previously, India's permanent representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine said, "We call for an immediate de-escalation." He added that the situation is in danger of "spiralling into a major crisis" and if not handled carefully, it may undermine security, adding the security of all parties should be taken into account. "Over 20,000 Indian students are in Ukraine, we are facilitating the return of all Indian nationals including students as we may be required," Tirumurti said. WATCH: India closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine amid Russian invasion ×

Russia-Ukraine conflict: How is India responding, as Indian students are stuck?

Ukraine-Russia conflict: First pictures from ground zero

While Ukraine bears Russian missile strikes, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as scheduled.

Amid the ongoing crisis at the Ukraine-Russia border, Khan arrived in Moscow late on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-the-name-of-humanity-un-chiefs-plea-bidens-warning-and-more-leaders-react-to-russian-aggressions-455883">'In the name of humanity': UN Chief's plea, Biden's warning and more; leaders react to Russian aggressions</a>

During his ill-timed visit to Russia, the first such trip by a Pakistani PM in 23 years Imran Khan aims to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multibillion-dollar gas pipeline in collaboration with Russian companies.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian&nbsp;premier, will meet with Khan during this visit. The two men are expected to discuss issues regarding economic cooperation.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his entire visit are GOING Ahead as Planned and CONTRARY to what AP has reported, the Meeting is On, per sources. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Russia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Russia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMIKinRussia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMIKinRussia</a>
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnasMallick/status/1496750027548602369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The Pakistani&nbsp;Federal Minister for Information &amp; Broadcasting also tweeted that "Speculations about PM&nbsp; 
@ImranKhanPTI&nbsp;&nbsp;visit are misplaced. The Visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule"

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Speculations about PM <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> visit are misplaced. The Visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) <a href="https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1496766900834951169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Pakistani media reported earlier that Moscow and Islamabad were in talks regarding the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin this year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-united-states-watches-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-excited-to-meet-vladimir-putin-in-moscow-455824">As United States watches, Pakistan PM Imran Khan 'excited' to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow</a>

According to a Pakistani newspaper, Putin's visit has been discussed for the past two years, but couldn't materialize due to a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement&nbsp;of the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday, several reports emerged that the Russian forces have fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrives in Moscow to hold talks amid Ukraine crisis

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-arrives-in-moscow-to-hold-talks-amid-ukraine-crisis-455818/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

News agencies also stated that Russia has landed troops on its coast on Thursday, officials and media said, after President Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.&nbsp;

World leaders have condemned the attack, warning&nbsp;that&nbsp;"the world will hold Russia accountable" for its attack against Ukraine, and the&nbsp;"catastrophic loss of life" this attack will cause.

(With inputs from agencies)

While Ukraine bears Russian missile strikes, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as scheduled. Amid the ongoing crisis at the Ukraine-Russia border, Khan arrived in Moscow late on Wednesday.

While Ukraine bears Russian missile strikes, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as scheduled. Amid the ongoing crisis at the Ukraine-Russia border, Khan arrived in Moscow late on Wednesday. Also read | 'In the name of humanity': UN Chief's plea, Biden's warning and more; leaders react to Russian aggressions During his ill-timed visit to Russia, the first such trip by a Pakistani PM in 23 years Imran Khan aims to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multibillion-dollar gas pipeline in collaboration with Russian companies. Vladimir Putin, the Russian premier, will meet with Khan during this visit. The two men are expected to discuss issues regarding economic cooperation. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his entire visit are GOING Ahead as Planned and CONTRARY to what AP has reported, the Meeting is On, per sources. #Pakistan #Russia #PMIKinRussia — Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) February 24, 2022 × The Pakistani Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting also tweeted that "Speculations about PM @ImranKhanPTI visit are misplaced. The Visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule" Speculations about PM @ImranKhanPTI visit are misplaced. The Visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 24, 2022 × Pakistani media reported earlier that Moscow and Islamabad were in talks regarding the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin this year. Also read | As United States watches, Pakistan PM Imran Khan 'excited' to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow According to a Pakistani newspaper, Putin's visit has been discussed for the past two years, but couldn't materialize due to a variety of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Following Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday, several reports emerged that the Russian forces have fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine. Watch | Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrives in Moscow to hold talks amid Ukraine crisis News agencies also stated that Russia has landed troops on its coast on Thursday, officials and media said, after President Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east. World leaders have condemned the attack, warning that "the world will hold Russia accountable" for its attack against Ukraine, and the "catastrophic loss of life" this attack will cause. (With inputs from agencies)

Even amid Russian 'military operation' on Ukraine, Imran Khan-Vladimir Putin meet to go ahead as planned

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. There is a war-like situation in eastern Europe after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a military operation against Ukraine on Thursday (February 24). In the aftermath, Ukrainian authorities closed the airspace to civilian flights citing a high risk to safety. Europe's aviation regulator also warned against the dangers to aircraft flying in bordering areas of Russia and Belarus, because of the increased military activities. Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise said the country's airspace was closed to civilian flights starting from 0045 GMT on Thursday, with air traffic services suspended. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said airspace in Russia and Belarus within 100 nautical miles of their borders with Ukraine could also pose safety risks. The agency said in a conflict zone bulletin, "In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft." It added, "The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels." Before the suspension was announced, Britain, Canada, France, Italy and the United States had told their airlines to avoid certain airspace above eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Air India's special flight returned mid-air A special Air India flight returning from mid-air as Ukraine airspace is closed due to notice to airmen (NOTAM) as war has been started between Russia and Ukraine. India-based news agency ANI reported citing sources that an empty flight of Air India AI-1947 is returning from over Iran air space as Ukraine imposed restrictions on civilian aircraft. "Air India flight AI1947 is coming back to Delhi due to NOTAM at, Kyiv, Ukraine," Air India informed. Notice to airmen (NOTAM), is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the flight. Air India is scheduled to operate a second special flight for Ukraine to bring back stranded Indian citizens. WATCH: Russia Ukraine conflict: Ukraine urges UN to do everything to stop war ×

Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights, Air India's special flight returns mid-air

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Ukrainian authorities said one person was killed and one injured in the Kyiv region as explosions could be heard in the capital as&nbsp;President Putin on Thursday ordered military action against Ukraine.

Russia's defence ministry said it had attacked military bases in Ukraine adding, "military infrastructure at Ukrainian army airbases has been rendered out of action."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/target-ukraine-russias-icbm-strategy-revealed-455357">Also Read in Pics|&nbsp;Target Ukraine: Russia's ICBM strategy revealed</a>

Amid strikes by Russian forces, Ukraine's defence ministry claimed it had shot down five Russian planes including a helicopter in the eastern region.

Watch:&nbsp;Military infrastructure being disabled in Ukraine, says Russia

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-military-infrastructure-being-disabled-in-ukraine-no-threat-to-ukrainian-civilians-455924/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"According to the Joint Forces Command, today, February 24, in the area of the Joint Forces operation, five planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down," the Ukraine military said.

Reports claimed Ukraine had come under attack from Belarus as President Alexander Lukashenko called a meeting with his army chiefs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russias-next-wonder-weapon-kedr-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-454013">Also Read in Pics |&nbsp;Russia's next wonder weapon: Kedr intercontinental ballistic missile</a>

Reports said Belarusian troops had joined Russian forces to attack Ukraine. As air raid sires rang out in Kyiv as&nbsp;reports said all Russian diplomats were evacuated from Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Russian-backed separatists said they had shot down two Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian border guards reported that the Russian military had crossed Ukraine's border into Chernihiv, Kharviv and Luhansk region.

Newswire Reuters reported that armoured tanks were&nbsp;heading towards Mariupol. Earlier explosions were heard in Mariupol after Putin had ordered military action against Ukraine.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Ukrainian authorities said one person was killed and one injured in the Kyiv region as explosions could be heard in the capital as President Putin on Thursday ordered military action against Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had attacked military bases in Ukraine adding, "military infrastructure at Ukrainian army airbases has been rendered out of action." Also Read in Pics| Target Ukraine: Russia's ICBM strategy revealed Amid strikes by Russian forces, Ukraine's defence ministry claimed it had shot down five Russian planes including a helicopter in the eastern region. Watch: Military infrastructure being disabled in Ukraine, says Russia "According to the Joint Forces Command, today, February 24, in the area of the Joint Forces operation, five planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down," the Ukraine military said. Reports claimed Ukraine had come under attack from Belarus as President Alexander Lukashenko called a meeting with his army chiefs. Also Read in Pics | Russia's next wonder weapon: Kedr intercontinental ballistic missile Reports said Belarusian troops had joined Russian forces to attack Ukraine. As air raid sires rang out in Kyiv as reports said all Russian diplomats were evacuated from Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russian-backed separatists said they had shot down two Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian border guards reported that the Russian military had crossed Ukraine's border into Chernihiv, Kharviv and Luhansk region. Newswire Reuters reported that armoured tanks were heading towards Mariupol. Earlier explosions were heard in Mariupol after Putin had ordered military action against Ukraine. (With inputs from Agencies)

Ukraine's army airbases rendered out of action, says Russia

After Russia fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on the south coast, the ruble plunged to a record low on Thursday, while the euro plunged to a multi-year low against the Swiss franc.

In addition, riskier commodity-linked currencies like the Australian dollar also tanked as Ukraine said Russia had launched a full-scale invasion.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-the-name-of-humanity-un-chiefs-plea-bidens-warning-and-more-leaders-react-to-russian-aggressions-455883">'In the name of humanity': UN Chief's plea, Biden's warning and more; leaders react to Russian aggressions</a>

The dollar rose nine per cent against the ruble, which has been battered lately in the wake of worries about the effects of the sanctions on the Russian economy, while the Moscow Stock Exchange plunged almost 14 per cent after trading was suspended earlier in the day. The country's central bank said it was intervening to "stabilise the situation".

"To stabilise the situation on the financial market, the Bank of Russia has decided to start interventions in the foreign exchange market," the central bank said in a statement, adding that it and other financial institutions: "have clear action plans for any scenario."

While explosions were reported in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and gunfire was heard near Kyiv's main airport, safe havens such as the yen and dollar were in demand.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ukraine-russia-conflict-first-pictures-455872">Ukraine-Russia conflict: First pictures</a>

With a fall of 0.84 per cent to $1.1209, the euro reached its lowest level since January 31.

Euro depreciated as much as 1.28 per cent versus other traditional haven currencies, hitting a nearly one-month low of 128.37 yen and as much as 0.84 per cent versus the Swiss franc, which reached 1.0292, the weakest since May 2015.

There was a 0.90 per cent drop in the Australian dollar to $0.7167, while the New Zealand dollar declined by 1.00 per cent to $0.6706.

"The situation certainly looks like it's going to get worse before it gets better, and that means the commodity currencies can weaken," said Joseph Capurso, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia: Military infrastructure being disabled in Ukraine, no threat to Ukrainian civilians

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-military-infrastructure-being-disabled-in-ukraine-no-threat-to-ukrainian-civilians-455924/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"If things get real bad," Aussie could test $0.70, and if the euro is poised to fall "quite a bit more," he said.

Sterling was a bit more resilient, declining 0.41 per cent to $1.3490, the lowest since February 15.

For the first time since January 31, the US dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, rose as much as 0.60 per cent to 96.762.

Besides its status as a safe haven, the dollar has also been boosted by expectations that the Federal Reserve will begin raising rates next month, although the rising risk related to Ukraine forced traders to lower their expectations from 25 per cent earlier in the day to 16 per cent.

(With inputs from agencies)

After Russia fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on the south coast, the ruble plunged to a record low on Thursday, while the euro plunged to a multi-year low against the Swiss franc.

After Russia fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on the south coast, the ruble plunged to a record low on Thursday, while the euro plunged to a multi-year low against the Swiss franc. In addition, riskier commodity-linked currencies like the Australian dollar also tanked as Ukraine said Russia had launched a full-scale invasion. Also read | 'In the name of humanity': UN Chief's plea, Biden's warning and more; leaders react to Russian aggressions The dollar rose nine per cent against the ruble, which has been battered lately in the wake of worries about the effects of the sanctions on the Russian economy, while the Moscow Stock Exchange plunged almost 14 per cent after trading was suspended earlier in the day. The country's central bank said it was intervening to "stabilise the situation". "To stabilise the situation on the financial market, the Bank of Russia has decided to start interventions in the foreign exchange market," the central bank said in a statement, adding that it and other financial institutions: "have clear action plans for any scenario." While explosions were reported in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and gunfire was heard near Kyiv's main airport, safe havens such as the yen and dollar were in demand. Also read | Ukraine-Russia conflict: First pictures With a fall of 0.84 per cent to $1.1209, the euro reached its lowest level since January 31. Euro depreciated as much as 1.28 per cent versus other traditional haven currencies, hitting a nearly one-month low of 128.37 yen and as much as 0.84 per cent versus the Swiss franc, which reached 1.0292, the weakest since May 2015. There was a 0.90 per cent drop in the Australian dollar to $0.7167, while the New Zealand dollar declined by 1.00 per cent to $0.6706. "The situation certainly looks like it's going to get worse before it gets better, and that means the commodity currencies can weaken," said Joseph Capurso, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Watch | Russia: Military infrastructure being disabled in Ukraine, no threat to Ukrainian civilians "If things get real bad," Aussie could test $0.70, and if the euro is poised to fall "quite a bit more," he said. Sterling was a bit more resilient, declining 0.41 per cent to $1.3490, the lowest since February 15. For the first time since January 31, the US dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, rose as much as 0.60 per cent to 96.762. Besides its status as a safe haven, the dollar has also been boosted by expectations that the Federal Reserve will begin raising rates next month, although the rising risk related to Ukraine forced traders to lower their expectations from 25 per cent earlier in the day to 16 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

As Russia fires missiles at Ukraine, its currency ruble falls 9% against dollar

A day after the United States and many partners imposed a broad range of sanctions against Moscow, Ukraine declared a state of emergency, began mobilising reservists, and urged its residents to leave Russia immediately.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is open to talks, but he lauded the military's readiness, which he said has been upgraded and improved by drills.

Concerted Western actions fell short of the sanctions package threatened by the Biden administration if Russia invaded Ukraine on a large scale.

Here are some of the most important developments in the crisis:&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for "diplomatic solutions" over Ukraine but warned that "the interests of Russia and the security of our citizens are non-negotiable for us."

Ukraine is set to impose a state of emergency and has asked its citizens to leave Russia amid fears of military conflict.

The Ukrainian military says one soldier has been killed and six wounded in shelling by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine in the past 24 hours. It has called in the services of military reservists.

Australia, Canada, and Japan imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the Ukraine crisis, following closely behind US measures targeting Ukraine's separatist regions. Sanctions have been slapped by the UK, while the EU is also on a similar path.

Germany has taken steps to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from Russia.

(With inputs from agencies)

A day after the United States and many partners imposed a broad range of sanctions against Moscow, Ukraine declared a state of emergency, began mobilising reservists, and urged its residents to leave Russia immediately.

A day after the United States and many partners imposed a broad range of sanctions against Moscow, Ukraine declared a state of emergency, began mobilising reservists, and urged its residents to leave Russia immediately. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is open to talks, but he lauded the military's readiness, which he said has been upgraded and improved by drills. Concerted Western actions fell short of the sanctions package threatened by the Biden administration if Russia invaded Ukraine on a large scale. Here are some of the most important developments in the crisis: Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for "diplomatic solutions" over Ukraine but warned that "the interests of Russia and the security of our citizens are non-negotiable for us." Ukraine is set to impose a state of emergency and has asked its citizens to leave Russia amid fears of military conflict. The Ukrainian military says one soldier has been killed and six wounded in shelling by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine in the past 24 hours. It has called in the services of military reservists. Australia, Canada, and Japan imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the Ukraine crisis, following closely behind US measures targeting Ukraine's separatist regions. Sanctions have been slapped by the UK, while the EU is also on a similar path. Germany has taken steps to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia-Ukraine crisis: Here are top developments that you should know

Latest satellite pictures show Russian troop deployment near Ukraine

russia-ukraine-conflict

Russia Ukraine Conflict, News on Russia Ukraine Conflict, stories on Russia Ukraine Conflict, articles on Russia Ukraine Conflict, Russia Ukraine Conflict stories at Wion, Russia Ukraine Conflict news, Russia Ukraine Conflict latest news

russia ukraine-conflict