President Putin Allows Military Operation In Eastern Ukraine: Explosions Shake Donetsk, Heard In The Capital Kyiv

Russian military illustration. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense/Dmitry Shutov)

JAKARTA - Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, marking the start of a war in Europe over Russia's demands for an end to NATO's eastward expansion.

Shortly after President Putin spoke in a special televised address on Russian state TV, explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, before dawn. Gunfire was heard near the capital's main airport, the Interfax news agency said.

Explosions also rocked the breakaway city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine and civilian aircraft were alerted as the United States said a major attack by Russia on its neighbor was imminent.

President Putin said he had authorized special military operations in breakaway areas of eastern Ukraine and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces were only a matter of time.

Hours earlier, pro-Russian separatists had issued a plea to Moscow to help stop the alleged Ukrainian aggression, a claim the United States denies as Russian propaganda.

Furthermore, President Putin said he had ordered Russian troops to protect the people and demanded Ukrainian troops lay down their weapons.

"All responsibility for the bloodshed will rest with the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine," President Putin said.

He repeated his position that NATO expansion to include Ukraine was unacceptable and said Russia had no choice but to defend itself against what he said were threats emanating from Ukraine.

The scope of Russia's military operations was not immediately clear. Moscow has long denied that it has any plans to attack despite having amassed tens of thousands of troops near its neighbour.

Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday Moscow had approved the attack and had not yet responded to an invitation to talks.

"Today I started a telephone conversation with the President of the Russian Federation. The result was silence," he said.

US President Joe Biden said his prayers are with the Ukrainian people "as they suffer unprovoked and unjustified attacks by Russian military forces".

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will cost lives and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will cause, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive manner. The world will ask for it." Russia's responsibility."

He said he would announce further sanctions against Russia on Thursday, in addition to the financial measures imposed this week.

For information, the Russian military operation began when the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the Ukraine crisis in New York.