Dozens killed as Russian forces invade Ukraine

GBNEWS24DESK//

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II, report agencies.

Missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders from Russia and Belarus, and landing on the coast from the Black and Azov seas.

Russian troops also landed by sea at the port cities of Odessa and Mariupol in the south.

Explosions were heard before dawn in the capital Kyiv, a city of 3 million people.

Gunfire rattled, sirens blared, and the highway out of the city choked with traffic as residents fled.

Black smoke rose over the headquarters of Ukraine’s military intelligence after an explosion in Kyiv near midday.

The assault followed weeks of fruitless diplomatic efforts by Western leaders to avert war and realised their worst fears about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions.

“Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in the WW2 years,” tweeted Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

“As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won’t give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.”

Calling on Ukrainians to defend their country, he said arms would be given to anyone prepared to fight. He also urged Russians to take to the streets to protest against their government’s actions.

US President Joe Biden said he was praying for Ukrainian victims of an “unprovoked and unjustified attack”.

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said: “These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War.”