Putin announces military action in eastern Ukraine
WELT special on the escalation in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin has officially announced a military operation in eastern Ukraine. A few minutes after his speech, explosions were reported from several regions, including Kiev. Follow all developments here and at WELT on TV.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a “military operation” in eastern Ukraine. Shortly after his televised address, explosions were reported from several Ukrainian regions. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister speaks of a “major invasion” of his country.
Dhe Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a military operation in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. “I made the decision for a special military operation,” he said in a television speech on Thursday night. “Your goal is to protect people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide for eight years.” Putin had previously spoken of genocide in the regions without any evidence.
The Kremlin chief called on the Ukrainian military to “lay down their arms” and threatened retaliation for any interference in the Russian operation. He strives for the “demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine”.
US President Joe Biden spoke after Putin’s announcement that Moscow had “deliberately” started a “war” against Ukraine. Russia alone is responsible for the resulting deaths and human suffering, Biden said. The US and its allies would firmly “hold Russia accountable” for this.
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Germany also condemned the announced invasion. “Russian aggression will have an unprecedented price politically, economically and morally,” said German UN ambassador Antje Leendertse at a short-notice emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday evening (local time).
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the attack. “Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless diplomatic efforts, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country,” Stoltenberg said.
Ukrainian foreign minister speaks of “major invasion of Ukraine”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that Putin had launched a “major invasion of Ukraine.” Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. “This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend and win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”
In Ukraine, after Putin’s speech, explosions were heard in the capital Kiev and in the port city of Mariupol. AFP reporters reported on Thursday night at least two explosions in downtown Kiev that triggered alarms in vehicles.
According to AFP, there were also explosions in the city of Odessa on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine. Russian news agency Interfax reported that Russia was attacking the city from the water.
Before the Russian troops marched in, there had been speculation about the attack routes
Source: Infographic WORLD
Separatists asked Putin for ‘help’
Before Putin’s speech, the Kremlin said the separatists in eastern Ukraine had asked Russia for “help” in “repelling aggression” by the Ukrainian army. On Monday, Russia signed treaties of friendship with the self-declared People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. These also provide guarantees of assistance in the event of attacks.
Eyewitnesses reported in the media and blogs that the Russian soldiers were already in the conflict area. The Russian leadership claimed that there were no own soldiers there. The separatists said they wanted to take care of security on their own.
After the recognition of the “People’s Republics” by the Federation Council in Moscow, Putin had, as a precautionary measure, obtained permission for the deployment of Russian armed forces abroad. The Russian state agency Tass published the letters from the heads of the “People’s Republics” asking for help from Russia to avoid casualties among the peaceful population and a humanitarian catastrophe in the region. At the same time, they thanked Putin for recognizing them as independent states.
There is now military aggression by the Ukrainian armed forces, infrastructure is being destroyed, including schools and kindergartens, it said. “The actions of the regime in Kiev testify to the refusal to end the war in Donbass,” the letter said. Ukraine vehemently rejects waging war against Donbass, seeing Russia as an aggressor.
Selenskyj called Putin – in vain
According to a speech published on Thursday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had unsuccessfully sought talks with Putin. On the Ukrainian border “almost 200,000 soldiers are positioned, thousands of combat vehicles,” he said, referring to Russian troops. “Russia may soon start a major war in Europe,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the parliament in Kiev had decided on a nationwide state of emergency. The Ukrainian military ordered the mobilization of reservists.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to Moscow. “President Putin, in the name of humanity: bring your troops back to Russia,” Guterres said after the emergency UN Security Council meeting. “This conflict must end now.” Guterres spoke of what may be the most serious conflict in Europe for decades and his “saddest day” as UN Secretary-General. The consequences for the global economy are unpredictable. “It is clear to me that this war makes no sense. It violates the principles of the (UN) Charter.”