Russia was ‘forced to invade’ Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin says on Thusday.
Putin also said there was no other way to defend son country in the midst of “risks that threatened the very existence of Russia”.
“The West has not moved on our security requirements. We had no other option,” he added.
“We are not trying to harm world ordered.”
The Russian military launched the highly anticipated invasion of Ukraine earlier on the same day, when President Vladimir Putin ignored international condemnation and sanctions and threatened others countries that any attempt at interference lead to “consequences you never saw”.
Big explosions were heard before dawn in KyivKharkiv and Odessa like world the leaders decried start of a Russian invasion it could cause mass casualties and democratically overthrow Ukraine elected government. Russian military columns crossed the Ukrainian border to Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, the Ukrainian Border Guard Service said, in what appears to be an assault along the entire border with Russia.
Seven soldiers deceased in Russian airstrikes in the first some hours of the invasionsaid the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.
the head of Ukrainian military said on Thursday he had been ordered by President Volodymyr Zelensky to repel Russian forces invasion of son country.
“The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine gave the order to inflict maximum losses against the aggressor,” Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Ukraine, said General of division Valery Zaluzhny.
Earlier on On Thursday, Zelenskyy introduced martial law, saying Russia was targeting Ukraine military infrastructure and explosions are heard across the country. Zelenskyy said he had just spoke to President Joe Biden and the United States was rallying international support for Ukraine. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic.
