Mariupol, Ukraine, on Thursday.Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP/Shutterstock
Months of tensions climaxed this week with Russia beginning along-feared invasion of Ukraine— a still-unfolding situation that officials say has already claimedmore than 100 lives.
The incursion followed a build-up on Russian troops on the Ukraine border stretching back to last year and warnings from the U.S. that Russia would face harsh sanctions if it did indeed illegally enter its neighbor.
Moscow evacuates its Ukrainian embassy
After months of speculation about an impending attack, Moscowevacuated its embassyin Kyiv, the Ukraine capital, on Wednesday, a move that raised concerns that military action was imminent.
That same day, Ukraine’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a state of emergency and urged citizens in Russia to get out of the country.
Troops begin crossing over from Russia
The first signs of the Russian invasion took place in the pre-dawn hours on Thursday local time, when camera footage at a border crossing station between Crimea and Ukraine revealed people wearing camouflage fatigues entering the area — after which the cameras were seemingly and abruptly turned off.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Putin announces “special military operation”
Emilio Morenatti/AP/Shutterstock
Strikes begin
Minutes after Putin’s Thursday morning speech, reports of missile attacks and explosions were reported across Ukraine.
Russian forces assaulted the countryfrom three sides, with those in the cities of Odessa, Dnipro, Mariupol and Kramatorsk all reporting large blasts (many of which were at military bases, though civilian areas were also attacked).
Awide array of weaponry— including helicopters, tanks, and long range artillery — have been used in the attack, according to reports based on footage collected during the events.
Explosions, airstrikes or troop movements have touched multiple cities, including the capital of Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million, the AP reported.
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Citizens flee as air travel becomes impossible
As explosions began, Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure announced an evacuation of passenger and staff from the Kyiv airport and the Ukraine airspace wasclosed to commercial flights.
Thousands of Ukrainians have fled or attempted to flee via borders to the west, leading experts to warn of an oncoming refugee crisis.
In anaddressto the United Nations Security Council emergency meeting on Monday, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the conflict already had dire consequences: Roughly 3 million Ukrainians were in need of “food, shelter and lifesaving assistance.”
The U.N.’s high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, wrote on Twitter on Friday, “More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours — a majority to Poland and Moldova — and many more are moving towards its borders.”
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Ukraine declares martial law
As the first Russian strikes unfolded on Thursday, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyaddressed the nation, saying “Dear Ukrainian citizens, this morning President Putin announced a special military operation in Donbas. Russia conducted strikes on our military infrastructure and our border guards. There were blasts heard in many cities of Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy continued: “We’reintroducing martial lawon the whole territory of our country,” inferring that Ukrainian soldiers — and not police officers — would be creating and enforcing laws.
Ukraine also severed all diplomatic relations with Russia, with Zelenskyy saying that some civilians would soon be taking up arms and that weapons would be given to anyone who wants one.
The Ukrainian leaderagain addressed the nation Thursday evening, saying, “Now the fate of the country depends entirely on our army, on our heroes, our security forces, all our defenders. And on our people, your wisdom and the great support of all friends of our country. Glory to Ukraine!”
source: people.com
