Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would launch a military operation in eastern Ukraine to protect civilians. In the past, separatists in eastern Ukraine had asked Russia for help against a threat posed by the Ukrainian army.
1. Putin announced military action in eastern Ukraine
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin surprisingly gave a speech on Russian television about the situation in Ukraine.
In his speech, Putin announces that Russia will launch a military operation in eastern Ukraine to protect civilians.
According to Putin, Russia cannot accept the threat posed by Ukraine. He also called on the Ukrainian army to “lay down its arms.”
According to Putin, Russia’s goal is not to occupy Ukraine, but to respond to the threat posed by Ukraine.
Putin also warns that Russia’s involvement in the Ukrainian operation is expected to retaliate.
2. Russia says separatist leaders have called for help against Ukraine
Separatists in eastern Ukraine had asked Russia for help against a threat posed by the Ukrainian army, the Russian president’s office said.
As a result, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba urged the UN Security Council to attend the emergency meeting as a matter of urgency. The council began its emergency meeting early in the morning in Finnish time.
According to the United States, a request for assistance from Russia by separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine is an example of an attempt to stage an excuse that would justify Russia’s military action in Ukraine.
The United States and its allies have been warning for weeks that Russia would try to create an excuse to attack Ukraine.
4. President of Ukraine: Putin refused to discuss
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi said he had tried to ask the Russian president Vladimir Putinia talk to him on the phone without result.
Zelenskyi spoke about this in a 10-minute speech in the Telegram, where he spoke both Russian and Ukrainian.
In addition, Zelenskyi said in his speech that Russia has accepted the attack on Ukraine and Europe may soon start a major war. In his speech, Zelenskyi appealed to the Russians to oppose hostilities.
According to Zelensky, there are now almost 200,000 Russian soldiers near the Ukrainian-Russian border.
4. A state of emergency entered into force in Ukraine
On Wednesday night, the Ukrainian parliament approved a month-long nationwide state of emergency that took effect at midnight on Thursday.
The state of emergency is valid for 30 days and may be extended for another 30 days if necessary.
The state of emergency is in force in all parts of Ukraine, with the exception of the Russian-backed separatist-held areas in the east of the country, where the state of emergency has been in place since 2014.
The state of emergency allows, among other things, intensified vehicle inspections and a ban on demonstrations.
In addition, exceptional circumstances allow, if necessary, bans on moving outside and restrictions on movement to or from Ukraine. In addition, during an emergency, media operations and information distribution can be managed.