Smoke rises from the territory of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s unit, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Kyiv.
Kyiv: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Russia has launched a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine.” President Vladimir Putin earlier said Russia was to conduct a “military operation.” Here are the live updates (in local time):
24th February, 9:35 pm: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced on Thursday new sanctions against Russia over the military operation in Ukraine, saying the UK will aim to “squeeze Russia from the global economy.”
24th February, 9:15 pm: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that a package of additional tough sanctions against Russia from the European Union is approaching amid Moscow’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine as discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron.
24th February, 8:35 pm: Expressing his disappointments over UN Chief Antonio Guterres’s statement on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said that Guterres statements were amenable to West’s pressure and were at odds with his status and powers under the UN Charter.
24th February, 7:15 pm: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that Russia was left with no other choice than military operations in Ukraine, agencies reported.
24th February, 6:40 pm: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets, the alliance’s council said on Thursday.
24th February, 6:30 pm: Russia and China on Thursday discussed Moscow’s recognition of the people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The discussions took place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi
24th February, 6:00 pm: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday called on Russia and Ukraine to resolve the crisis through dialogue within the Minsk Agreements.
24th February, 5:40 pm: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday met with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing crisis at the Ukraine-Russia border.
24th February, 5:10 pm: Ukraine military plane with 14 aboard crashes near Kyiv: Agencies
24th February, 4:40 pm: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is deploying additional defensive land and air forces to the eastern part of the Alliance, as well as additional maritime assets, the alliance’s council said on Thursday.
24th February, 4:10 pm: Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) on Thursday announced the suspension of scheduled and charter flights to/from Ukraine due to the closure of its airspace for civilian airspace users until 23:59 pm (Kiev time).
24th February, 3:10 pm: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls emergency parliamentary sitting on Sunday over Ukraine invasion. Putin ‘jeopardising peace in Europe’, he says. He also said that the assault on Ukraine was completely without justification and called it “Putin’s war.”
24th February, 2:35 pm: Frightened Ukrainians took to metro stations in the capital Kyiv today as air raid sirens rang out across the country’s main cities following Russia’s launch of its feared military attack
24th February, 1:50 pm: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy gives emotional address to nation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said weapons will be issued to those who want them and called on Ukrainians to donate blood.
In an address to the nation, he said Russia had suffered losses during the initial stages of its invasion and added Ukraine had severed diplomatic relations with Russia. He concluded his emotional speech, “Glory to Ukraine!”
24th February, 1:41 pm: The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have claimed to have shot down five Russian aircraft and a helicopter, media reports said on Thursday. However, the Russian military has denied the claims.
24th February, 1:40 pm: Russia must “immediately” end military operations in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday as he extended solidarity with Kiev.
24 February, 1:21 pm: The current events have nothing to do with a desire to infringe on the interests of Ukraine & Ukrainian people. They are connected with defending Russia from those who have taken Ukraine hostage & are trying to use it against our country: Russian President Vladimir Putin
24 February, 1:11 pm: Lithuania declares a state of emergency: Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda signed a decree calling for a state of emergency in his country.
24 February, 1:10 pm: Ukraine says killed ‘around 50 Russian occupiers’
24 February, 12:48 pm: It’s a case of blatant aggression which started at 5 o’clock in the morning. We have confirmed information that a lot of Ukrainian aerodromes, military airports, military installations were attacked by bombs & missile attacks. Some attacks happened on outskirts of capital. Some attacks happened deep inside the territory of Ukraine. We’re getting the first information about casualties among our soldiers & among civilian population: Dr Igor Polikha, Ambassador of Ukraine to India
24 February, 12:40 pm: Ukrainian president urges world leaders to provide defence assistance, help protect Ukraine’s airspace from Russia.
24 February, 12:24 pm: Ukraine Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov says anyone who is ready and able to hold a weapon can join the ranks of the Territorial Defence Forces
24 February, 12:15 pm: Russia’s target is not just Donbass, the target is not just Ukraine, the target is stability in Europe and the whole international rules-based order. For that, we will hold Russia accountable: Ursula von der Leyen, President of European Commission
24 February, 11:15 am: Ukraine says at least 7 killed, 9 wounded by Russian shelling
24 February, 11:02 am: Police officers inspect the remains of a missile that fell in the street, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Kyiv
24 February, 11:00 am: Smoke fumes out of a military installation near the airport, tanks move into the city, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine, in Mariupol
24 February, 10:58 am: Ukraine interior ministry says 1 killed, 1 wounded in Brovary, Kyiv. Shelling across Ukraine
24 February, 10:56 am: Russian-backed separatists say they now control two towns in the Luhansk region of Ukraine
24 February, 10:50 am: Ukraine interior ministry says 1 killed, 1 wounded in Brovary, Kyiv. Shelling across Ukraine
