UKRAINE: LIVE FEED of multiple cameras from across Ukraine:
LIVE FEED from Kiev:
Russian Ministry of Defense: “Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being put out of action by high-precision means of destruction.”
image from the Ukrainian President’s office sent to CNN’s @mchancecnn following the loud explosions the team heard on the ground in #Kyiv #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/IpJTDdmSCc
— Michael Holmes (@holmescnn) February 24, 2022
- RUSSIA IS ATTACKING UKRAINE’S MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE WITH HIGH-PRECISION WEAPONS – RIA CITES RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY
- RUSSIA SAYS IT’S TARGETING UKRAINE ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: IFX
- RUSSIA: USING HIGH PRECISION STRIKES ON UKRAINE MILITARY: IFX
- ZELENSKIY: UKRAINE IS INTRODUCING MARTIAL LAW
- UKRAINE IMPOSES MARTIAL LAW ACROSS THE COUNTRY: ZELENSKIY
- RUSSIAN DEFMIN: NO THREAT TO UKRAINE POPULATION: TASS
- UKRAINE PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIA CARRIED OUT MISSILE STRIKES ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ON OUR BORDER GUARDS
- RUSSIAN-BACKED REBELS SAY START ATTACK ON UKRAINE-CONTROLLED TOWN NEAR LUHANSK – IFAX
⚡️ @mod_russia says they are not doing any missile, artillery or rocket strikes on #Ukrainian cities, citizens of #Ukraine are not threatened, what is happening is precision strikes destroy UKR military infrastructure, anti-air systems, air force and air fields.
— Maxim A. Suchkov (@m_suchkov) February 24, 2022
🇷🇺 Moscow exchange suspends trade on all markets.
— Anthony Barton (@ABartonMacro) February 24, 2022
Ukraine is urging the following action:
The world must act immediately. Future of Europe & the world is at stake. 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— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022
Tulsi Gabbard weighs in:
This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraine’s becoming a member of NATO, which would mean US/NATO forces right on Russia’s border
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) February 24, 2022
Reports are coming in that the Russians have taken over an air base and/or airport near Kiev, possibly with the aim of taking out command and control centers supporting operations in Donbas.
- RUSSIAN MILITARY CARRYING OUT AIRSTRIKES ON UKRAINIAN MILITARY COMPOUNDS AND COMMUNICATION CENTERS NEAR KYIV
- UKRAINE TO IMPOSE MARTIAL LAW – TOP SECURITY OFFICIAL, ACCORDING TO LOCAL MEDIA
- UKRAINE INTERIOR MINISTRY URGES CITIZENS TO HIDE IN SHELTERS
- INTERIOR MINISTRY WARNS UKRAINE CAPITAL OF MISSILE ATTACK
Ukraine is saying Russia’s operation is expending beyond the east, which Putin had previously proclaimed as independent territory. It’s increasingly looking like Russia is taking out all main military command and control centers across Ukraine, while focusing ground troops and manpower on Donbas. Strikes outside the east appear to be focused on neutralizing airfields so there’s no air retaliation. CNN is citing that its correspondents have heard strikes in seven cities across the country.
Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022
Update(10:30pmET): The White House is responding: “Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond…The world will hold Russia accountable,” Biden said in a late evening statement. Biden adds that he will address the crisis, vowing “further consequences” tomorrow:
Statement by President Biden on Russia’s Unprovoked and Unjustified Attack on Ukraine
The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. 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.
I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team. Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.
CNN is citing Ukraine’s Interior Ministry to say Russian missiles have hit locations in Kiev; however, this remains unclear. There’s conjecture that Russia could be targeting Ukraine military “command and control” centers.
Russian aircraft are now en route to conduct additional targeted strikes on a number of key defense sites through all of #Ukraine
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2022
To clarify what is underway is a full scale & comprehensive military assault throughout #Ukraine
Airborne & amphibious landings,missile strikes from air,ground & naval forces, electronic & cyber attacks & a large ground force to occupy a large swath of territory
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2022
Russia’s ambassador to the UN told the emergency security council meeting: “We are not calling it a war, we are calling a special military operation” in Donbas.
Meanwhile…
Trump calls @IngrahamAngle to talk Ukraine: ‘This is something that should have never happened. It would have never happened during my administration…It really started with the weakness in Afghanistan. I really think this is when [Putin] started thinking he could do this.’
— Byron York (@ByronYork) February 24, 2022
Airspace is closed over Ukraine to all commercial air traffic:
Zero trackable civil aviation activity over Ukraine right now. pic.twitter.com/aeY23ihP9q
— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) February 24, 2022
* * *
Update(10:00pmET): At the very moment an emergency session of the UN national security council was in session in New York, Putin gave a speech ordering “a special operation in Donbas”. Russian state media is also confirming. “I have declared a special military operation,” Putin said. Fox News is reporting that Russian forces have entered Ukraine from Crimea.
Putin announced the Russian military action to ‘demilitarize’ Ukraine.” And further he provocatively asserted:
“We decided to launch a special military action […] aimed at demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.”
“The circumstances make us take decisive and immediate actions. The people’s republics of Donbas asked Russia for assistance,” Putin said. “In this regard, in accordance with Article 51, Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council and in pursuance of the friendship and mutual assistance treaties with the DPR and LPR, ratified by the Federal Assembly, I have decided to conduct a special military operation.” He told Ukrainians to “lay down their arms.”
Crucially, he said that Russia has “no intentions of occupying Ukraine.”
The AP is further confirming “President Vladimir Putin says Russia will conduct a military operation in eastern Ukraine.” Putin warned in his televised speech, “A couple of words for those who would be tempted to intervene. Russia will respond immediately and you will have consequences that you never have had before in your history.”
WATCH: Large explosions seen near Ukraine’s Kharkiv after Putin declares war pic.twitter.com/pOnLsClXBs
— BNO News (@BNONews) February 24, 2022
The following details are coming across the news wires:
- PUTIN CALLS ON UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS TO IMMEDIATELY LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS AND GO HOME -TASS
- RUSSIA’S PUTIN SAYS IN CASE OF FOREIGN INTERFERENCE, RUSSIA WILL REACT IMMEDIATELY – TASS
- RUSSIAN FORCES ENTERING UKRAINE FROM CRIMEA IN THE SOUTH -FOX NEWS
- PUTIN SAYS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY BLOODSHED WILL BE ON THE CONSCIENCE “OF THE UKRAINAIN REGIME” – RIA NEWS AGENCY
CNN and other Western correspondents are claiming to have heard blasts in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev – with their live reporter dramatically donning a helmet and flack jacket, after which everything appeared calm…
CNN reporter puts on flak jacket as explosions get louder in Kyiv pic.twitter.com/03p9aYC3j3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 24, 2022
Putin has said the following:
– Operation is aimed to protect people.
– Ukrainian servicemen who lay down their arms will be able to return to their families.
– Goal is to demilitarize Ukraine.— Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) February 24, 2022
* * *
Update(8:26pmET): Russian aviation authorities have ordered some airspace over the Rostov region closed. The region impacted is just to the east of Russia’s border with Ukraine. According to an official alert this is “in order to provide safety” for civil aviation flights.
Further a new Reuters report indicates airlines in the West have begun to receive updated flight risk alerts for the region. “Airlines should stop flying over any part of Ukraine because of the risk of an unintended shootdown or a cyber attack targeting air traffic control amid tensions with Russia, a conflict zone monitor said on Wednesday,” the late Wednesday report reads.
#Russia has closed the airspace along the northeast Ukrainian border for civil aviation according to #NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). #UkraineCrisis https://t.co/uezDbPKCUg pic.twitter.com/cUxmJyMAEo
— Donald Standeford (@Don_Standeford) February 23, 2022
According to further details from the air traffic monitor:
Safe Airspace, which was set up to provide safety and conflict zone information for airlines after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, said it had increased its risk level to “do not fly”.
“Regardless of the actual movements of Russian forces into Ukraine, the level of tension and uncertainty in Ukraine is now extreme,” Safe Airspace said on its website. “This itself gives rise to significant risk to civil aviation.”
International and European carriers are now being warned about the potential for conflict in Ukraine, with fresh reports they’ve been issued “do not fly” orders for much of the region.
Multiple airlines, including European carriers, have tonight been informed by aviation risk management agencies that Ukraine 🇺🇦 – as a whole – is now considered a “Do Not Fly” ⛔️ area on the basis of “extreme tension and developments on Feb 23”
— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) February 24, 2022
Additionally the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already issued an alert as of almost two weeks ago warning that a cross-border conflict could erupt at any moment, endangering the skies over the region.
* * *
As the ground war heats up on the frontline in Donbas, we could be hours away from seeing Russian regular forces clash with the Ukrainian Army, after late at night local time the heads of the Donetsk and Luhansk breakaway republics issued a formal request for immediate military help from Moscow.
The pro-Russia rebel leaders said the urgent military help is necessary to repel Ukrainian “aggression” – according to The Associated Press, after Kremlin officials confirmed the letter. “Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the rebel chiefs wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin to tell him that shelling by the Ukrainian military has caused civilian deaths and forced many people to flee,” AP reports.
It comes less than 24 hours after Russian parliament issued formal approval for Putin to deploy military forces abroad. Latvia said earlier on Wednesday it has intelligence confirming the arrival of Russian tanks, troops, and armored vehicles in Donbas.
The appeal from the two eastern Ukraine republics raises the specter of Russia’s military entering direct combat operations with Ukrainian forces. From there it’s easier to imagine things spinning out of control and escalating to the point of fighting going beyond the war-torn Donbas region.
At the same time, Ukraine has now requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, according to an overnight statement by its foreign minister.
NEW: Russia has deployed a battle group with armored personnel carriers and troops in Krasnaya Yaruga, just 9 miles from Ukraine’s border.
A senior US defense official said today 80 percent of Russian forces around Ukraine are in “forward positions and ready to go.”
📷:@Maxar pic.twitter.com/52mbj8of8d
— Jack Detsch (@JackDetsch) February 23, 2022
According to brief details cited in Bloomberg based on breaking Interfax reports:
• Leaders sent letters to Putin
• Not clear what specific aggression the separatist appeal refers to
• Ukraine has repeatedly said it have no plans for military offensive against the separatists
Based on Putin’s lengthy and bellicose speech that accompanied independence recognition for the republics, it’s very likely the Russian leader will pull the trigger on this.
#BREAKING: The heads of the DPR and LPR asked Putin to “help repel” what they claim as “aggression of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in order to avoid civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster in the Donbass” Russian President spokesman Peskov said, RIA News reports pic.twitter.com/lirTsNccVG
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) February 23, 2022
And some further worrying signs at a moment things on the ground are likely about to get more and more unpredictable…
Chemical plant in #Crimea evacuated, according to the foreign minister of #Ukraine. https://t.co/jOlEmgEOWS
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 23, 2022
“We officially declare that Ukraine has not planned and does not plan any sabotage actions at this facility and refute all allegations in this regard,” Ukrainian intelligence officials said in a statement.
All of this comes at a moment of major websites and banks in some cases being offline in Ukraine, following an earlier reported major cyberattack.
Ominous signs on #Ukraine
• Separatists request Russia mil. help
• >Ru troops/artillery moving in (US)
• 🇺🇦in State of Emergency
• Kharkiv airport closed(Local rprts)
• Ukraine received intel:Kyiv cud be attacked tonight (WSJ)
• Internet disruptions in Donetsk @netblocks— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) February 23, 2022
by Tyler Durden
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