Russia attacked Ukraine. When it was almost 6 am in Moscow (4 am in Italy) and the meeting of the UN Security Council was in progress, Vladimir Putin announced on TV the start of military action.

The Russian president has asked the Kiev army to "hand over their weapons and go home", stating that the military operation is "to protect the Donbass". "Our plans - Putin said - do not include the occupation of the country but its demilitarization, a further expansion of NATO and its use on Ukrainian territory are unacceptable".

In short, "not a war but a special military operation", and the West is warned. “Anyone who tries to hinder us and interfere in Ukraine know that we will respond with consequences never seen before. We are prepared for everything, I hope to be heard ”.

A declaration of war probably recorded last Monday. The Guardian reports that the metadata shows that the video file was uploaded to the Kremlin website on February 21.

Immediately after the first strong explosions in Ukrainian cities. Not only those on the border, the capital Kiev also hit, where the sirens began to sound and a Russian operation is underway to take control of the airport. Explosions also in Odessa, Kharvik, Mariupol. And sirens also sound in Lviv, in western Ukraine, where many diplomats have moved following the worsening of the crisis.

During the CNN live broadcast from Kiev, explosions were heard and the envoy wore a bulletproof vest. The attack, according to the American broadcaster itself, has already made hundreds of victims: hit several buildings and commercial structures. The BBC, on the other hand, speaks of seven confirmed deaths, nine injured and dozens of missing persons. In Piazza dell'Indipendenza, in the center of the capital, some police cars, with megaphones, invited passers-by "to take refuge in the underpasses" and then immediately return to their homes.

“Ukraine will defend itself and win. The world can and must stop Putin: the time to act is now ”, is the first reaction of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba, according to whom“ Putin has launched a large-scale invasion. Our peaceful cities are under attack, this is a war of aggression ”. President Zelensky says that Ukrainian military infrastructures are in the sights, invites citizens to calm down and stay at home. "This step could be the beginning of a great war on the European continent", is the alarm raised by Zelensky, who calls on the Ukrainian army to inflict "the maximum losses" on the Russian one.

A concentric attack by Putin: in addition to bombings that the Kremlin defines as "strategic", Moscow's forces enter Ukrainian territory not only from the Russian border, but also from Belarus and Crimea. The troops landed in Odessa and crossed the border to Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine. Belarusian President Lukashenko also summoned the heads of the armed forces. Moscow has also closed navigation in the Sea of Azov, between Ukraine and Russia, in connection with what it calls "anti-terrorist activities".

Meanwhile, Kiev announces that it has shot down five Russian military fighters and a helicopter, but Moscow denies it and the Russian Defense Ministry makes it known that "the air defenses of Ukraine have been suppressed".

ESCAPE FROM KIEV - The great escape from Kiev or, at least, the first signs of what could be such. This is the story of the British media, supported by some images and by the testimony of some of their journalists sent to the scene, in the first hours of the Russian attack in Ukraine. The images, also taken by social media, show columns of civilian vehicles exiting Kiev. Big queues from gas stations and traffic in the streets of the city.

THE REACTIONS - "Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will lead to a catastrophic loss of life," says US President Biden. "The United States and allies will impose tough sanctions on Russia, and we will continue to provide support and assistance to the Ukrainian population."

NATO "strongly condemns the unjustified attack and asks Moscow to immediately stop its military action", reiterating that "it will do everything to protect and defend its allies", reads a statement by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Military action, Stoltenberg reiterates, is "a serious violation of international law and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security".

Europe is also on the side of Kiev. “In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children facing this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives. We will hold the Kremlin responsible, ”said the president of the EU Commission von der Leyen in a tweet.

"Putin has chosen the path of bloodbath and destruction", attacks British Prime Minister Johnson, who says he is "horrified" by what he calls "an unprovoked attack".

Mario Draghi also spoke in the morning, "condemning an unjustifiable attack" and ensuring Italy's proximity to the Ukrainian people and institutions. “We are working with our European and NATO allies to respond immediately, with unity and determination”, adds the prime minister.

“The Russian military operation is a very serious and unjustified, unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, which Italy strongly condemns. A violation of international law. Italy is alongside the Ukrainian people, together with EU and Atlantic partners ", tweeted Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.

Even French President Emmanuel Macron "strongly condemns Russia's decision to declare war on Ukraine" and calls for "an immediate end" to military operations.

"The world community will not forget this day of shame", said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, stating that "with the attack on Ukraine Putin has violated the most elementary rules of the international order".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks of a "glaring violation" of international law. An operation “that cannot be justified by anything, Germany condemns this unscrupulous act of President Putin in the harshest way. Russia must immediately put an end to this military action. It is a frightening day for Ukraine and a black day for Europe ”.

"The Spanish government condemns Russia's aggression in Ukraine and expresses its solidarity with the Ukrainian government and people," tweeted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. “I remain in close contact with our NATO members and allies to coordinate our response,” he adds.

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The live coverage of the crisis, all updates in real time.

9.20 am - China: "Invasion? A preconceived word"

On the umpteenth question about the "invasion" of Ukraine by Russia posed by the Western media, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hua Chunying, rejected "the preconceived use of words". During the daily briefing, Hua added that he considers the story a "typical style of asking questions of the Western media".

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9.10 - EU: "Heavy sanctions, we will weaken the Russian economy"

"Putin has brought the war to Europe, his goal is stability in the EU. Today we will present a package of extensive sanctions, we will weaken the Russian economy". The president of the EU Commission Urusula von der Leyen says so. "We will adopt the toughest package of measures ever adopted," adds EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Borrell.

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9.10 - Warsaw asks for the activation of NATO article 4

Warsaw asks for the activation of article 4 of the NATO treaty, which provides for "emergency consultations if a member is threatened". The Polish ambassador to Brussels, where NATO is based, "has submitted a request to the NATO secretary general, along with a group of allies," said Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller. Ukraine is not a NATO member, but the alliance has repeatedly condemned Russia's aggression against its neighbor.

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9.05 am - Kiev denies the Russian landing in Odessa

The Ukrainian armed forces have denied that there has been a landing of Russian troops in Odessa, on the Black Sea. This is what is stated in a statement from the General Staff published by the UNIAN agency. "The information on the landing of Russian troops in Odessa is not true", reads the text.

But Russian ground forces entered Ukrainian territory from multiple points of the border, Ukrainian border guards point out, posting a video showing vehicles marked with the Z mark.

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9 am - The testimonies: "Bombs are falling, we ask for help"

"They are bombing us, we hear loud explosions everywhere, there are many planes passing over our heads and bombs falling. It is difficult to get in touch with the outside, even with technological means. We ask everyone for help". This is the testimony of Lyubomyr, a boy who lives in Kolomyia, a city in western Ukraine.

"The war has broken out, we need all the help we can get". This is instead the testimony of Anastasiya Menzhega, 25, architect and designer in Kiev. "There are explosions everywhere. We ask for help as soon as possible"

(Unioneonline / L)

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