Putin announces Ukraine military operation, explosions heard

MOSCOW (AP) —
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a military operation in Ukraine, warning other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences you have never seen”.

Several Jamaican students remain in Ukraine at this hour.

READ: Jamaican students in Ukraine have not accepted gov't's loan offer – Johnson Smith

Early Thursday, airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, according to a notice to airmen.

Putin has said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine — a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion.

In a televised address, 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 “demilitarise” it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

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

U.S. President Joe Biden in a written statement condemned the “unprovoked and unjustified attack” on Ukraine and promised that the U.S. and its allies “will hold Russia accountable.”

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.

A full-blown Russian invasion could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government.

And the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.

As he unleashed the military action, 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.

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

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