Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, was the first to report explosions after Vladimir Putin’s announcement to invade the territory.

The Russian president announced the military operation in Ukraine to defend the separatists in the east of that country.

“ I have made the decision for a military operation ,” Putin declared in an unexpected television message shortly before 6:00 a.m. from Moscow. (3am GMT).

Later other cities began to sound their attack warning sirens.

Kharkov, also known as Kharkiv, is the second largest city in Ukraine. It is one of the main industrial, cultural and educational centers of Ukraine. Its industry is mainly specialized in the production of weapons and machinery.

Video of the first explosions in Ukraine by Putin’s Russian offensive

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba assured that Russia launched a military operation to invade Ukraine “on a large scale”.

Odessa was another of the cities to report strong detonations during the early hours of Thursday. It is the third largest region in Ukraine. It is a strategic location as it has access to the Black Sea.

Another of the main targets was the city of Dnipropetrovsk, it is the fourth largest city in the country and is located in the eastern part of the territory.

It became a vital industrial center of Ukraine and after being one of the main centers of the nuclear, weapons and space industry of the former Soviet Union.

The city of Mariúpol, located southeast of the territory, was also one of the first to report attacks early this Thursday.

It is a port town of strategic importance, due to its location on the shores of the Sea of Azov at the confluence of the Kalmius and Kalchyk rivers.

Mariupol is an important port and one of the most prominent centers of metallurgy and machine building. It is also known as the “steel capital” of Ukraine. In addition to this, the city is an important industrial and economic center of Ukraine and one of the ten largest cities in the country.

Lugansk militias cross the Donetsk River where the line of contact passes

After the first military clashes on Thursday, the Russian Army said Thursday that it destroyed Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense systems and left Ukraine’s air bases “out of service” , where Moscow launched a military operation hours earlier.

“The military infrastructure of the air bases of the Ukrainian armed forces was out of service ,” the Russian Defense Ministry said, quoted by local news agencies. “The anti-aircraft defense facilities of the Ukrainian armed forces were destroyed,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military said on Thursday it had shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter in the country’s east, shortly after Moscow launched a military offensive.

“Five planes and one helicopter of the aggressor were shot down ,” the Ukrainian Army General Staff said in a statement.

Russia and Ukraine: Vladimir Putin launches a major military operation on Ukrainian territory