Russia-Ukraine reside updates: U.S. vows to carry Russia accountable after it assaults Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a army operation towards Ukraine in an handle carried on Russian state tv early Thursday, because the Kremlin attacked army targets throughout Ukrainian territory in what President Biden known as “premeditated struggle” towards Russia’s western neighbor.

Putin described the purpose of the army operation as ending the “genocide” towards the individuals within the jap Ukrainian area of Donbas, the place Russia-backed separatists have been at struggle with Ukrainian forces since 2014.

“Its purpose is to guard individuals who have been abused by the genocide of the Kyiv regime for eight years,” Putin mentioned. “And to this finish, we’ll attempt for the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. We may even carry to justice those that dedicated the quite a few bloody crimes towards civilians, together with residents of the Russian Federation.”

Although Putin mentioned the operation was in regards to the Donetsk and Luhansk areas of jap Ukraine, the Russian army proceeded to assault a variety of targets throughout the nation, together with within the capital, Kyiv, and the jap metropolis of Kharkiv.

Putin mentioned Russia didn’t plan to occupy Ukrainian territory however made references to the appropriate to self-determination by native peoples, suggesting that Moscow might be planning to arrange referendums in areas of Ukraine after the army marketing campaign.

The Russian chief made point out of the referendum that Russia held in Crimea in 2014, subsequently annexing the piece of Ukrainian territory positioned on the Black Sea.

Putin additionally immediately addressed members of the Ukrainian armed forces, calling on them to put down their arms and refuse to take orders from their superiors in Kyiv.

He additionally warned anybody contemplating interfering with Russia’s plans of grave penalties, showing to threaten using nuclear weapons.

“Whoever tries to intrude with our actions ought to know that the Russian response will likely be quick and can result in the form of penalties you’ve by no means skilled in your total historical past,” Putin mentioned. “We’re prepared for any state of affairs of occasions.”

He mentioned Russia might now not tolerate a Ukraine that he mentioned had been taken hostage by forces hostile to Russia.

Putin mentioned Russia “can’t really feel secure and develop and exist with the fixed menace coming from the trendy territory of Ukraine.”

Due to this fact, he mentioned, he had no alternative however to authorize a army operation. He famous, “We merely weren’t given every other choice to defend Russia and our individuals aside from that which we’ll use right this moment.”