Ukraine under fire, Moscow launches full-scale invasion

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences you have never seen.”

He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine – a claim the United States had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion.

In a televised address, Mr. Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia doesn’t intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to “demilitarize” it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

As Mr. Putin spoke before dawn, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa, and other cities across Ukraine.

President Joe Biden in a written statement condemned the attack on Ukraine and he promised that the U.S. and its allies “will hold Russia accountable.” Mr. Biden said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.

As he unleashed the military action, Mr. Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.

“I have a few words for those who could feel tempted to interfere with ongoing developments: whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history,” he said.

Mr. Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to “immediately put down arms and go home.”

Mr. Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian “aggression,” an announcement that the White House said was a “false flag” operation by Moscow to offer up a pretext for an invasion.

Mr. Putin’s announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.

“The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. “But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.”

Mr. Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Mr. Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.

In an apparent reference to Mr. Putin’s move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to “maintain peace” in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy warned that “this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.”

“Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything,” he said.

At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Mr. Putin’s announcement appealed to him to stop an attack. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Mr. Putin: “Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.”