Russia Declares War in Ukraine, Air Raid Sirens Reported In Capital Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a “full-scale invasion” was underway. Shortly after the announcement, explosions were heard in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and several other cities, according to the international reports.

Air raid sirens have been reported in the centre of Kyiv. Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and justified the operation by claiming the government was overseeing a “genocide” in the east of the country. The extent of Thursday’s attacks was not immediately clear, but Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the worst-case scenario was playing out. His announcement of the military operation came ahead of a last-ditch summit involving European Union leaders in Brussels planned for Thursday.