Kyiv:As Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday and warned other nations any attempt to interfere saying it would lead to “unforeseen consequences”, Kyiv slammed back, saying “Ukraine will defend itself and will win”. The Ukrainian air defense shot down Russian planes and Kyiv said “situation remains under control” as it also urged the world to swiftly issue sanctions against Moscow and isolate it. According to the Joint Forces Command, “five planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down in the area of the Armed Forces today”. Calling it “a worthy rebuff” to the Russian aggression, it said “The enemy suffers losses”. As Putin was making his announcement earlier, loud explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine. Air sirens went off in the background of many live reportings on TV, indicating that the city was under attack. Ukranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said his country will defend itself from Putin’s “war of aggression”, as diplomatic steps were enhanced by Ukraine with other partners for aid and assistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke to US president Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, EU Council president Charles Michel, Poland President Andrzej Duda, and British PM Boris Johnson. “Urge to stop Putin, war against Ukraine & the world immediately! Building an anti-Putin coalition. Immediate sanctions, defense and financial support to Kyiv! Close the airspace! The world must force Russia into peace,” Zelensky said. Zelensky earlier held talks with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, as the White House began preparing the international assistance. “A minute ago I had a conversation with President Biden. The United States has already begun to prepare international assistance,” Zelensky said in his address to his citizens. The Ukrainian armed forces has posted a statement saying that Russian military began “intensive shelling” of its units in the east of the country. Russia also launched missile strikes on Boryspil airport near Kyiv and several other airports, the statement said. Ukrainian air force is fighting off air attacks by Russia. A BBC report quoted a Kyiv statement that denied reports about Russian paratroops in the southern port city of Odesa. According to the BBC, the Ukrainian government has given an indication of the breadth of the Russian military action so far. There have been cruise missile strikes launched early morning on Kyiv, as well as troop movements in Odessa to the south of the country. Troops have also been crossing the border in Kharkiv, about 25 miles from the Russian border, the official said. Media reports have cited Ukraine’s Interior Ministry which said some of the missile strikes have attacked Ukraine’s military missile command centres and military headquarters in Kyiv. The Russian defence ministry was quoted as denying attacks on Ukrainian cities, as it said it was “targeting military infrastructure, air defence and air forces” with “high-precision weapons”. Multiple reports quoting Ukrainian officials also said troops in Belarus have joined the Russian attack. That would mean Ukraine was under attack from both north and south. A message from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: “At 5 am the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation started intensive shelling of our units in the east, and also launched rocket bomb strikes at the airports in Boryspil, Ozernomu, Kulbakinomu, Chuguev, Kramatorsk, Chornobayivtsi, and so on..” It also talked about “artillery shelling of the territory and settlements of Ukraine along the state border”. Besides Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also is rallying international aid to Ukraine after issuing sharp condemnation. In a statement, Biden said he condemned the attack as “unprovoked and unjustified”. Trudeau tweeted “Russia’s egregious attack on Ukraine” is “unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. The US president said he will be meeting with G7 leaders and the US and allies “will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia”. “We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” he said. UNI VP ING BAV
