Soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine on Thursday, 24 February, explosions, missile attacks, and air strikes were reported from across the latter nation.
The Russian troops have seized control of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, after fighting between the Ukrainian military and the invading forces, as per reports.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to President Vladimir Putin on the phone, appealing for an immediate cessation of violence, asking for all sides to return to the path of diplomatic dialogue.
As many as 40 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed so far, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Eighteen more were reported dead from a military base in Odessa in Ukraine, after the statement was made.
Russian forces have reportedly broken into the country from the north of Kyiv region, AFP quoted Ukraine border guards as saying. They have also launched an invasion into Ukraine through Crimea in the south
Martial Law was declared in Ukraine on Thursday morning
The Indian Ambassador in Kyiv has issued a statement saying that the embassy is working to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine
Putin has blamed NATO for "pumping modern weapons and ammunition" into Ukraine and warned against Ukraine joining NATO, a move it feels brings Western Europe closer to the Russian borders
Both NATO and Ukraine have rejected this demand, which has motivated Russia to declare military action
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US State Dept Calls Responsibility of Pakistan PM to Object Russian Action
Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow, amid rising tensions, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that it’s the responsibility of every “responsible” country to voice objection to Russia's actions in Ukraine, ANI reported.
UNSC To Convene Again To Discuss Ukraine
United Nations (UN) Security Council will convene for a second time this week to discuss Ukraine, news agency ANI reported.
‘Do Russians Want War?’: Ukraine President Appeals to Russians
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an address to the citizens of Russia amid the Ukraine-Russia crisis, said on Thursday, "Today, I initiated a phone call with the Russian Federation President, which resulted in silence... this step could become the beginning of a big war," news agency ANI reported.
He added,
"You're told it'll liberate Ukrainians, but Ukrainians are free. You're told we're Nazis, but how can people who sacrificed over eight million lives for victory over Nazism, support Nazis? You're told Ukraine is a threat to Russia, it wasn't in past, it's not now, and it won't be later."
Appealing to Russian citizens, Zelenskyy further said, "If Russian leadership doesn't want to sit down for peace, with us, then maybe it will sit down at a table with you. Do Russians want war? I would very much like to answer this question. But the answer depends only on you, the citizens of the Russian Federation."
Flight With 182 Indian Citizens Lands at Delhi Airport
A special flight of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) landed at Delhi Airport from Kyiv, at 7:45 am on Thursday, with 182 Indian citizens, including students, an official of UIA in India told ANI.