Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday morning announced the commencement of a military operation in Ukraine to defend separatists in the east of the country.
Africa Today News, New York reports that is coming after weeks after intense diplomacy coupled with the imposition of Western sanctions failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.
Speaking in a statement which was aired on television shortly before 6am (0300 GMT), Putin said; I have made the decision of a military operation’.
Putin went on to warn other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen.
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He accused the United States and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demands to stop Ukraine from joining Nato and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said he wanted a ‘demilitarisation’ of the former Soviet state but not its occupation.
Putin said all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.
‘All responsibility for bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine,’ Putin said.
The Russian defence ministry said it was targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure with precision weapons after President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation against the country.
‘Military infrastructure, air defence facilities, military airfields, and aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being disabled with high-precision weapons,’ the defence ministry said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies.
Shortly after Putin spoke, explosions could be heard in the pre-dawn quiet of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Gunfire rattled near the capital’s main airport, Africa Today News, New York gathered.
Explosions also rocked the breakaway eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk and civilian aircraft were warned away.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK