By The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has taken a step further in the direction of a full-blown war as Russian forces launch military attack on their neighbour.
Attacks have been reported on Ukrainian military targets by Russian forces in line with the declaration by President Vladimir Putin.
According to BBC, Putin in a pre-recorded TV address announced the military attack on Ukraine, saying the goal was demilitarisation and “denazification” of Ukraine.
Putin also warned that any outside power intervening on Ukraine’s behalf would face an “instant” response.
Since the declaration, Russia’s military breached the border in a number of places, in the north, south and east, including from Belarus, a long-time Russian ally. There are reports of fighting in some parts of eastern Ukraine.
Recall that, earlier this week, Moscow recognised the independence of two self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine — which is the main reason why Russian invaded.
No fewer than 10 civilians are reportedly dead, including six in an air strike in Brovary near the capital Kyiv. A man was also killed in shelling outside the major eastern city of Kharkiv.
More than 40 soldiers had died and dozens more were wounded, according to a Ukrainian presidential adviser. Ukraine also said it had killed 50 Russian troops and shot down six Russian aircraft, but this has not been verified.
To address the tension, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced martial law across all of Ukraine, severed all diplomatic relations with Russia and said weapons would be distributed to anyone who wanted them.
