LIVE: Russia's military ops in Ukraine a 'forced measure', says Putin

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Ukrainian forces were fighting to prevent Russian troops from capturing the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl.

1:54 PM

MEA control room in Delhi for Indians in Ukraine

1:50 PM

40 US troops arrive in Latvia, with more to come

Some forty US service members arrived in Latvia from Italy early on Thursday, the first group of what is expected to be a deployment of more than 300 troops, the Latvian Defense Ministry said.

 

The troops, which will be based at Adazi military base just outside the Latvian capital Riga, arrived around midnight local time, before hostilities began in Ukraine, it added.

 

U.S. President Joe Biden's Tuesday announcement of a redistribution of troops in Europe includes sending 800 infantry soldiers to the Baltic region and up to eight F-35 fighter jets to several operating locations along NATO's eastern flank, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

1:41 PM

Ukraine says at least 8 people killed by Russian shelling, 9 wounded

At least eight people have been killed and nine were wounded by the Russian shelling, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs said on Thursday as Russia has launched massive air and ground assault on the neighbouring country.

 

The border guard said separately Russian military columns have crossed Ukrainian border into Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

1:22 PM

8 people killed in Ukraine in initial reports of casualties

At least eight people have been killed and nine were wounded by the Russian shelling, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs has said, according to Reuters.

 

1:14 PM

Imran Khan ends two-day Russia visit

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is ending his two-day visit to Moscow hours after Russia began a military operation in Ukraine. Pakistani government officials have offered few details on the substance of Khan's visit, which was planned more than a month ago and was expected to focus on Pakistan's energy needs. It was the first visit to Moscow by a Pakistani leader in more than 20 years, the AP reported.

12:34 PM

Indian embassy advises citizens against travelling to Kyiv

12:23 PM

Russia takes out Ukraine's air defences, air bases: Reports

Russia's defence ministry said on Thursday it had taken out military infrastructure at Ukraine's air bases and "suppressed" its air defences, Russian news agencies reported. The ministry denied reports that its aircraft had been downed over Ukraine. Earlier, Ukraine's military had said five Russian planes and one helicopter were shot down over its Luhansk region.

11:57 AM

Ukraine introduces martial law to fight 'full-scale invasion'

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy made an urgent national address to the nation in the wake of the Russian declaration of its “special military operation” this morning. In a brief video address, Zelenskiy said Russia has carried out missile strikes on Ukraine infrastructure and on Ukrainian border guards with explosions being heard in many cities across the country. He has introduced martial law, the Guardian reported.

11:56 AM

German Chancellor says Russia's attack terrible for Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has sharply condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine calling it “a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe.” The chancellor said Thursday morning that “the Russian attack on Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law. It cannot be justified by anything”.

11:30 AM

Poland seeks 'fierce sanctions' against Russia

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called on Thursday for an immediate reaction to Russia's aggression on Ukraine, seeking the "fiercest possible" sanctions. "We must immediately respond to Russia's criminal aggression on Ukraine," Morawiecki wrote on Twitter. "Europe and the free world have to stop Putin. Today's European Council should approve fiercest possible sanctions. Our support for Ukraine must be real."

10:56 AM

Putin has chosen path of bloodshed: UK's Johnson

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and has spoken to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss next steps. "President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine," Johnson said. 

10:29 AM

Russia says it is targeting Ukraine's military infrastructure

Russia is targeting Ukraine's military infrastructure, air defence, and air forces with high-precision weapons and is not attacking Ukrainian cities, Russia's RIA news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying on Thursday. Kyiv has said Moscow has launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine, with military command centres in a number of cities hit by missiles.

10:02 AM

Ukraine confirms Russia's 'full-scale invasion'

Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has confirmed Russia’s “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine. Ukraine’s deputy interior minister, Anton Gerashchenko, has also confirmed a Russian invasion has begun. In a statement posted to his official Facebook page, the minister said: "The invasion has begun. There have just been missiles on the military headquarters, airports, military warehouses, near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnieper."

9:48 AM

Ukraine's Kyiv, Kharkiv hit by missile strikes: Report

Ukrainian military command centres in the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv have been attacked by missile strikes, the Ukrainska Pravda news website cited a Ukrainian interior ministry official as saying on Thursday. Reuters witnesses in Kyiv heard a series of explosions shortly after Russia announced a military operation in Ukraine.

9:41 AM

NATO condemns 'reckless and unprovoked attack' on Ukraine

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg strongly condemned Russia's "reckless and unprovoked attack" on Ukraine and said NATO allies would meet to tackle the consequences of Moscow's "aggressive actions". In a statement early on Thursday, Stoltenberg said, "Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country." He urged Russia to cease its military action immediately and respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.