Explosions in Ukraine as Putin orders Russia to attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially ordered military action in Ukraine.
Mr Putin called on the Ukrainian army to "lay down" its arms on Thursday morning (local time).
He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees.
He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a “demilitarisation” of Ukraine.
Mr Putin said that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.
“I have a few words for those who could feel tempted to interfere with ongoing developments: whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history,” he said.
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UN chief Antonio Guterres told Mr Putin to stop his troops from attacking Ukraine.
"In the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia," he said.
"In the name of humanity, do not allow to start, in Europe, what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century."
“The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional 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.”
It comes just hours after Russian separatists in Ukraine's city of Donetsk asked the Kremlin for assistance.
Hours after Russian-backed forces issued their plea, at least five explosions were heard in Donetsk, a Reuters witness said. Four military trucks were seen heading to the scene.
Explosions heard during live cross
A witness also claims they heard explosions in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.
This appears to be supported by CNN journalist Matthew Chance as he did a live cross for CNN.
"I just heard a big bang right here behind me," he says.
"There are big explosions taking place in Kyiv taking place."
He claims he could not tell where exactly they were but the cross was taking place in a central part of the city and there were "four or five" explosions.
Chance then puts on body armour.
Video being circulated on Twitter shows explosions in the sky above Mariupol in Donetsk – a region occupied by Russian-backed separatists. It is also a region Mr Putin earlier this week recognised as independent.
'You can't be serious'
Permanent representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya was asked by a reporter at a press conference about claims Russian forces were acting to calm Ukrainian aggression.
Mr Kyslystya didn't mince his words.
"You can't be serious. Are you serious? You want me to dissect the crazy lunatic semantics of a person whose president violates the charter, whose president declared war and he is playing with words? And you asked me to interpret it? It's lunacy! It's lunacy! Absolutely," he said.
Much Russia's invasion has involved claims from the Kremlin that deployed soldiers in the eastern parts of Ukraine have been acting as peacekeepers.
Of course, this hasn't been bought by powers in the West including the US who have seen the arrival of Russian troops in Ukraine as an act of aggression and the sign of an imminent invasion.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison slammed suggestions the Russian military is trying to maintain peace when he spoke to the media earlier on Thursday.
"They're not peacekeepers. They're invaders," Mr Morrison said.
"That's how we see it and we'll call it out. If they don't like it, that's tough."
US responds to Russia's actions
US President Joe Biden issued a statement not long after Mr Putin spoke.
The president called the attack "unprovoked and unjustified".
"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war which that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," he said.
"Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies will respond in a united and decisive way."
"The world will hold Russia accountable."
He earlier declared the US had "no intention of fighting Russia".
"We want to send an unmistakable message though, that the United States, together with our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO," he said.
It is expected Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will issue a response to the attack later on Thursday.
with The Associated Press, Reuters and AFP
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