The Russian army did not carry out air missile or artillery strikes on Ukraine, said the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
“The military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are disabled with high-precision weapons,” the ministry said.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense stressed that nothing threatens the country’s civilian population.
Putin’s address
In an address to the Russians, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided on a special military operation in the Donbass.
“Circumstances require us to take decisive and immediate action. The People’s Republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help. 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 treaties ratified by the Federal Assembly and mutual assistance with the DPR and LPR, I have decided to conduct a special military operation,” Putin said in a televised address to the Russians.
“Its goal (Russian special operations) is to protect people who have been subjected to abuse, genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years, and for this we will strive to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, as well as bring to justice those who committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful residents, including citizens of the Russian Federation,” Putin said.
“We have not been left with the opportunity to protect Russia, except for the one we use today … I have decided to conduct a special military operation,” Putin said, adding that the purpose of this operation is to protect people.
Putin said that Russia had tried for 30 years against expansion of NATO to the East and faced deceit, attempts to pressure and blackmail. Now the “NATO war machine” is coming close to the borders of Russia.
He said that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down their arms would be able to leave the combat zone without hindrance.
Russia closes airspace near the borders of Ukraine
Today, the Russian aviation authorities informed the airlines about the closure of the country’s airspace near the borders of Ukraine for civil aircraft.
Full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation – Ukraine
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, announced the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba today. He said Russia launched ‘strikes in peaceful Ukrainian cities’.
Explosions have been heard from Kieve and Kharkiv cities. Electricity stations and ammunition dumps have been hit.
Ukraine has called for Russia to relinquish the Chair of the UN Security Council. “You declared the war … it is the responsibility of this council to stop the war,” said the representative.
Martial Law was imposed in Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky convened the National Security and Defense Council.
Due to the high risk of aviation security for civil aviation from 00.45 UTC (2.45 Kyiv time), the Central Election Commission of Ukraine took urgent measures to close the airspace of Ukraine for civil airspace users.
International Reaction
US President Joe Biden issued a statement on the 23rd after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine. Biden warned that “unjustified attacks” would result in “catastrophic loss of life.” He accused the world of pursuing Russia’s responsibilities. Biden will shortly announce measures against Russia.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has claimed that Russia carried out a “reckless attack” on Ukraine. He said that it is a “grave breach of international law” and a “serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security”. He added that NATO Allies will meet to ‘address Russia’s renewed aggression.
World leaders have denounced Russia in the UN special meet underway.
