In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.” He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a “demilitarization” of Ukraine. Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to “immediately put down arms and go home.”
Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian “aggression.” The announcement immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned.
Explosions heard in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and the eastern port city of Mariupol, shortly after Putin announced an operation to “demilitarise” the country, AFP reported.
Ukraine calls for peace
Soon after Putin’s address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.
“The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” Zelenskyy said in an overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. “But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.”
The US, UN condemn Russia
US President Joe Biden condemned Putin’s decision to launch military operations in Ukraine calling it “unprovoked and unjustified”.
“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable,” a statement by the White House read.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his televised address urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to not send Russian troops against Ukraine and “give peace a chance”.
India expresses regret
India called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine and cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiralling into a major crisis. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the Council that New Delhi had only two days ago at the Council meeting on Ukraine called for urgent de-escalation of tensions and emphasized sustained and focused diplomacy to address all issues concerning the situation.
Balaji Subramanian 
Palak Dogra 
Sindhuri Sai