Moscow – Russia President, Vladimir Putin announced a “MILITARY OPERATION” in Ukraine on Thursday and called on soldiers there to lay down their arms, defying Western outrage and global appeals not to launch a war.
Putin made a surprise statement on television to declare his intentions.
” I have made the decision of military operation,” he said shortly before 6:00am (0300 GMT) in Moscow, as he vowed retaliation against anyone who interferes.
He also called on the Ukraine military to lay down it’s arms.
His statement came after the Kremlin said rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine has asked Moscow for military help against Kyiv.
In response, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional late-night appeal to Russians not to support a ” major war in Europe.”
Speaking Russian, Zelensky said that the people of Russia are being lied to about Ukraine and that the possibility of war “depends on you.”
” wHO CAN STOP (THE WAR)? PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE ARE AMONG YOU, I AM SURE,” HE SAID
Russia’s defence minister said the strides were targeting Ukranian military infrastructure.
