Russia launches ‘full-scale invasion’ in Ukraine

GOOBJOOG NEWS/KIEV: Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on Thursday, with missiles and bombs raining from the sky on major Ukranian cities after Russian president Vladimir Putin, gave the order to attack.

Huge explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

Hundreds’ of Ukrainian troops have already been killed in early clashes, Kiev said, as the fight came to them on all fronts at a moment’s notice, adding that Ukraine’s military had killed 50 Russian forces and destroyed six warplanes in the fighting so far.

Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, declared martial law and said that Russia was targeting military infrastructure across Ukraine, urging all Ukranians to stay at home and to remain calm, but hours after Russian troops launched an attack on Ukraine, long lines of traffic could be seen on a road leading out of the capital Kyiv. 

World leaders have condemned the invasion, including U.S. President Joe Biden who denounced the “unprovoked and unjustified attack” and warned of “catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” pledging the world will “hold Russia accountable”.

French President Emmanuel Macron, has strongly condemned Russia’s military invasion in Ukraine and vowed that Paris would work closely with allies and partners in a bid to end the conflict.

European Union policy chief Josep Borrell said Russia faces “unprecedented isolation” over its attack on Ukraine and will be hit with the “harshest sanctions”. 

However, President Vladimir Putin has warned that if other countries interfere with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, they will be met with “consequences that you have never experienced in your history”.