Russia attacks Ukraine in conflict with global consequences

Russia on Thursday launched a sweeping attack on Ukraine, hitting cities and bases with aerial bombardment or artillery strikes, as civilians fled in trains and cars. Ukraine’s government said Russian tanks and troops crossed the border in a “full-scale war” that could rewrite the geopolitical order, with consequences being felt around the world.

Initiating the largest-scale Moscow aggression since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a major military operation in a speech that downplayed international sanctions and condemnation and made a grim allusion to the arsenal nuclear power of their country by threatening “consequences they have never seen” to any foreign country that tried to interfere.

Sirens and huge explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital and other cities, as people filled train stations and highways. The government of the former Soviet republic reported an anticipated invasion from the east, north and south, reporting more than 40 dead and dozens wounded.

More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers killed in attacks

The NATO chief said the “brutal act of war” had broken peace on the European continent, as the US-led alliance moved more troops into eastern Europe. The conflict was already rattling global financial markets, with stocks plummeting and oil prices soaring amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would soar.

Russia Ukraine Chaos wreaks destruction over the world

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has severed diplomatic relations with Russia and declared martial law. The authorities urged the population, which had been preparing for an attack for some time, not to panic. Ukrainian officials indicated that Russian troops were entering Ukraine and large explosions were heard in the capital, Kiev; Kharkiv in the east and Odessa in the west.

Ukraine calls on the international community to act immediately

“As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history,” Zelenskyy tweeted. “Russia has embarked on an evil path, but Ukraine is defending itself and will not give up its freedom.”

“A large-scale war has started in Europe,” said Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak. “Russia attacks not only Ukraine, but the norms of everyday life in the modern world.”

World leaders condemned the attack, which could cause huge casualties, topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government, upset Europe’s post-Cold War balance and have a serious economic impact around the world.

“Today we wake up in a different world,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, as NATO agreed to reinforce its air, land and sea contingents on its eastern flank, near Ukraine and Russia. However, international powers have said that they will not make a military intervention to defend Ukraine.

“We are facing war and horror. What could be worse?” said Liudmila Gireyeva, 64, in Kiev. She planned to travel to the western city of Lviv and then try to reach Poland to join her daughter. Putin “will be cursed by history, and the Ukrainians curse him.”

Boris Johnson Speaks on Russia’ Agression on Ukraine

After several weeks in which he denied he had plans to invade, Putin claimed the attack was necessary to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine, a false claim the United States had predicted he would use to justify an invasion.

The Russian president accused the United States and its allies of neglecting Russia’s demands to prevent Ukraine’s entry into NATO and to offer security guarantees to Moscow.

His spokesman said Thursday that Russia’s goal is not to occupy Ukraine, but to “demilitarize” it.

“This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who accused “Russia of using its force to try to rewrite history.”

The attacks began by air, but then the Ukrainian border guard released security camera footage showing a line of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukrainian government-controlled territory from the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula.

An Associated Press photographer in Mariupol heard explosions and saw dozens of people with suitcases heading to their cars to leave the city. Another AP reporter saw the remains of an explosion in Kiev. AP identified damage elsewhere in Ukraine.

The Russian Army claimed to have disabled all Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses in a matter of hours and European authorities declared the country’s airspace a zone of active conflict.

Initially it was not possible to verify the Russian claims, nor were the Ukrainian claims that several Russian planes had been shot down. Ukraine’s anti-aircraft system and air force date back to the Soviet era and are vastly outmatched by Russia’s massive air power and arsenal of precision weapons.

US President Joe Biden has promised new sanctions to punish Russia for an “unprovoked and unwarranted” attack. The president was scheduled to address the Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven. More sanctions were expected to be announced on Thursday.

President Zelenskyy urged world leaders to provide assistance to Ukraine and help it protect its airspace, and urged his compatriots to defend the country. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that “the world can and must stop Putin. This is the time to act.”

The mayor of Kiev, Vitaly Klitschko, recommended that the population of the capital stay at home unless they are involved in essential tasks and urged them to prepare emergency luggage with documents and essential items in case they had to evacuate.

Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missiles at Ukrainian military command centers, air bases and military depots in Kiev, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities but was using precision weapons and “there is no threat to civilians.”

The consequences of the conflict and the subsequent sanctions against Russia began to reverberate around the world.

World markets plunged and crude oil prices soared nearly $8 a barrel. Stock market benchmarks fell in Europe and Asia and US futures tumbled. Brent oil rose above $100 a barrel on Thursday, on fears of possible disruptions to Russian supplies. The ruble sank.

Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin warned other countries not to intervene. “Whoever tries to stop us, or simply creates threats to our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and will lead to consequences that they have never seen in history.”

In a reminder of Russia’s nuclear power, Putin warned that “nobody should have any doubt that a direct attack on our country will lead to destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.”

President Zelenskyy said he asked to set up a call with Putin on Wednesday night, but the Kremlin did not respond.

The attack began even as the UN Security Council was meeting to contain an invasion. Members who were still unaware of Putin’s announcement about the operation asked him to stand down. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the emergency meeting, telling Putin: “Give peace a chance.”

European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have vowed to hold the Kremlin accountable.

“In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,” they said on Twitter.