Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the authorities of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics asked for help in repelling Kiev's aggression.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced this in an emergency address on Thursday.
He said that Moscow would seek to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, called on the Ukrainian military to lay down their weapons, and warned of an immediate response if there were attempts to intervene from outside.
Immediately thereafter, there were reports of the sound of explosions in a number of Ukrainian cities, including Kiev and Kharkiv.
Military operation
Putin decided to conduct a "special military operation" after an appeal from the people's republics of Donbass: "Its purpose is to protect people who have been subjected to abuse, genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years, and for this we will seek to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine and bring to justice those who have committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including Russian citizens."
Moscow does not plan to occupy Ukrainian territories; it advocates the right of the people of Ukraine to self-determination. The president also reiterated that Russia could not allow Kiev to have nuclear weapons and reminded that NATO's expansion to the East was unacceptable for Russia.
Appeal to Ukrainians
Putin called on the Ukrainian military to "immediately lay down arms and go home": "All Ukrainian army soldiers who comply with this demand will be able to leave the war zone unhindered and return to their families. All responsibility for the possible bloodshed "will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling the territory of Ukraine".
Addressing the citizens of Ukraine, he linked Russia's actions to self-defense against the threats posed to it and "an even greater disaster than the one that is happening today": "No matter how hard it is, I ask you to understand this and call for cooperation in order to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together <...>".
Caution against attempts to interfere
Putin warned against attempts to interfere with what is happening from outside, especially militarily: "No one should have any doubt that a direct attack on Russia would lead to defeat and terrible consequences for the potential aggressor."
"Whoever tries to hinder us, and moreover to create threats for our country, for our people, must know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to consequences such as you have never faced before in your history. We are prepared for any development of events, all the decisions necessary in this regard have been taken. I hope that I will be heard," the president said.
First reaction of the West
Immediately afterwards, a written statement by US President Joe Biden was published, in which he held Russia responsible for "a deliberate war that will bring catastrophic loss of life and suffering" and warned that "the United States, its allies and partners will respond in a unified and decisive manner." Biden said he would make an address later Thursday to announce further measures by Washington and its allies against Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced a meeting of alliance representatives to consider the consequences of Russian actions against Ukraine.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS