Russia Holds Special Military Operations, President Putin: Our Plan Does Not Include Occupation Of Ukrainian Territory

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: Kremlin.ru)

JAKARTA - Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air, and sea on Thursday, the biggest attack by one country against another in Europe since World War Two and confirmation of the West's worst fears.

Russian missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities, with local authorities reporting troop lines flowed across its border into the eastern regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Luhansk, landing by the sea in the southern cities of Odessa and Mariupol.

Explosions were heard before dawn in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Gunfire rang out near the main airport and sirens blared throughout the city.

A resident of Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, the closest major city to the Russian border, said windows in apartment blocks shook from the constant explosions. The town was in a panic as people tried to flee, said the resident, who asked not to be named.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's goal was to destroy his country.

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under attack", Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter, citing Reuters on February 24.

"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", he stressed.

As a result of this attack, at least eight people were killed and nine others injured in the Russian attack, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister said.

President Putin said in a televised address he had ordered "special military operations" to protect people, including Russian nationals who had been subjected to "genocide" in Ukraine, an accusation the West has long described as absurd propaganda.

Russian military illustration. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense)

"And for this, we will fight for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. Russia cannot feel safe, thrive, and live with the constant threats emanating from the territory of modern Ukraine. All responsibility for the bloodshed will rest with the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine", he said.

Separately, US President Joe Biden said his prayers are with the Ukrainian people "as they suffer unwarranted and unjustified attacks" while promising tough sanctions in response. He will meet with G7 leaders, he said.

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell also promised the toughest financial sanctions the bloc has ever imposed.

"This is one of the darkest hours in Europe since the Second World War", he said.

The full scope of Russia's military operation was not immediately clear but Putin said: "Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territory. We will not impose anything by force."

Speaking as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York, President Putin said he had ordered Russian troops to protect the people and asked the Ukrainian military to lay down their arms.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on world leaders to impose all possible sanctions against Russia, including against Putin.

Three hours after Putin gave his order, Russia's defense ministry said it had destroyed military infrastructure at a Ukrainian airbase and downgraded its air defenses, Russian media reported.

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that military command centers in Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv had been hit by missiles, while Russian troops had landed in the southern port cities of Odessa and Mariupol.

A Reuters witness later heard three loud explosions in Mariupol. Russian-backed separatists in the east later said they had captured two towns, RIA news agency reported. There was no immediate comment by authorities in Ukraine.

Russia announced it would close all shipping in the Sea of Azov. Russia controls the strait leading to the sea through which Ukraine has ports including Mariupol.

"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction that this attack will cause, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive manner", said President Biden, speaking to Zelenskiy by telephone.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Russia's actions while NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said NATO allies would meet to address the consequences of Russia's "reckless and unprovoked attack".

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, speaking after a Security Council meeting, made a last-minute plea to Putin to end the war "in the name of humanity".

China, which signed a friendly treaty with Russia three weeks ago, repeated calls for all sides to exercise restraint and rejected descriptions of Russia's actions as an invasion. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Putin had chosen "a path of bloodshed and destruction".

To note, Ukraine closed its airspace to civil aviation citing a high safety risk, while European aviation regulators warned of the dangers of flying over the border areas of Russia and Belarus.