War: Putin announces military operation in Ukraine; bombings reported in Kiev (videos)
Bombings were also reported in the city of Mariupol.
247 - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a military operation in the Donbass region in an official statement. Donbass, in Ukraine, is home to the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which have an ethnic Russian majority and were recognized as independent regions by the Russian president this week.
Putin stated that Russian forces have no plans to occupy Ukraine. However, Russia will defend itself if necessary. In recent days, Ukrainian government troops have advanced in the region, breaking the 2015 Minsk Agreement. On Wednesday, the 23rd, the separatist republics of Donbass requested military support from Russia.
"Circumstances compel us to take decisive and immediate measures. The People's Republics of Donbass have requested assistance from Russia. In this regard, in accordance with Article 51, Part Seven of the UN Charter, with the approval of the Federation Council and in fulfillment of treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with the DPR and the LPR, ratified by the Federal Assembly, I have decided to conduct a special military operation," Putin said in a speech.
Putin also pointed out that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) supports neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine and is encroaching on Russia's borders.
Bombings
According to CNN According to videos circulating on social media, the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was the target of bombings in the early hours of Thursday, the 24th. CNN journalist Matthew Chance, reporting live from Kyiv, stated that he heard what sounded like "large explosions" in the capital. Some cell phones were reportedly without signal in the Ukrainian capital.
Explosions were also heard in Kharkiv, about 400 km east of Kiev. Bombardments were also reported in the city of Mariupol, in the east of the country.
Russia: military installations are the target.
The Russian military released a statement on Thursday claiming that it is not targeting Ukrainian cities.
"The Russian Armed Forces are not launching missiles or artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities. High-precision weapons are destroying military infrastructure: military airfields, aviation, and air defense installations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the statement said. "The civilian population is not at risk."