Russia has launched a “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine with air strikes on major cities and troops arriving from the south and east.
Vladimir Putin overnight announced a Russian military operation in the east of the country.
The Russian president claimed the attack was aimed at ‘demilitarising’ Ukraine and insisted Russia did not plan to occupy the country.
In a statement, the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the goal of the Russian invasion was to “destroy the Ukrainian state, to seize by force Ukrainian territory and to establish occupational control”.
Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba called it a "full-scale attack from multiple directions".
Latest update.
No, this is not a Russian invasion only in the east of Ukraine, but a full-scale attack from multiple directions.
No, the Ukrainian defense has not collapsed. Ukrainian army took the fight. Ukraine stands with both feet on the ground & continues to defend itself.— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 24, 2022
Explosions have been reported in several areas of Ukraine amid reported Russian airstrikes, while many residents have begun to flee the capital Kyiv.
Ukrainian airspace has been closed, with Ryanair saying they won't be operating any flights to and from the country for 'at least' two weeks.
There has been immediate and widespread international condemnation of the Russian invasion.
The EU, US and other countries are expected to announce massive sanctions against Russia later today.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to attend an emergency EU summit in Brussels later today where leaders are set to sign off on the next round of sanctions.
I utterly condemn Russia’s indefensible attack on the sovereign people of Ukraine.
Our first thoughts are with them. We will work with the EU & UN to hold Putin and his regime accountable. Russia will pay a high price for this outrageous act of aggression. We stand with Ukraine.— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 24, 2022
Mr Martin said EU leaders will be adopting the most severe package of sanctions against Russia it has ever considered.
He said it would aim to hit Vladimir Putin and his henchmen where it hurts most by targeting their assets and banks.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, meanwhile, called the invasion an "act of blatant aggression on a country in Europe".
Simon Coveney said that while Ireland is not militarily aligned with anyone and is not a member of NATO, “we are not neutral on an issue like this”.
