Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
The plant was the site of the world香蕉视频直播檚 worst nuclear accident when a nuclear reactor exploded in April 1986, spewing radioactive waste across Europe. The plant lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of the capital of Kyiv.
The exploded reactor has been covered by a protective shelter to prevent radiation leak and the entire plant has been decommissioned.
Zelenskyy said on Twitter that 香蕉视频直播渙ur defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated.香蕉视频直播� He added that 香蕉视频直播渢his is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.香蕉视频直播�
THIS WAS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP香蕉视频直播檚 earlier story follows below.
Russia launched a on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border in a 香蕉视频直播渇ull-scale war香蕉视频直播� that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around the world.
In unleashing Moscow香蕉视频直播檚 most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, President Vladimir Putin deflected 香蕉视频直播� and chillingly referred to his country香蕉视频直播檚 nuclear arsenal. He threatened any foreign country attempting to interfere with 香蕉视频直播渃onsequences you have never seen.香蕉视频直播�
Sirens wailed in Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 capital, , and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as the government said the former Soviet republic was seeing from the east, north and south. Within hours of the first word of the attack, Ukraine said it was fighting Russian troops just miles from the capital for control of a strategic airport.
The chief of the NATO alliance said the 香蕉视频直播渂rutal act of war香蕉视频直播� shattered peace in Europe, joining a chorus of world leaders who decried the attack, which could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 democratically elected government and upend the post-Cold War security order. The conflict was already shaking global financial markets: Stocks plunged and oil prices soared amid concerns that heating bills and food prices would skyrocket.
Condemnation rained down not only from the U.S. and Europe, but from South Korea, Australia and beyond 香蕉视频直播� and many governments readied new sanctions. Even friendly leaders like Hungary香蕉视频直播檚 Viktor Orban sought to distance themselves from Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cut diplomatic ties with Moscow and declared martial law.
香蕉视频直播淎s of today, our countries are on different sides of world history,香蕉视频直播� Zelenskyy tweeted. 香蕉视频直播淩ussia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won香蕉视频直播檛 give up its freedom.香蕉视频直播�
His adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said: 香蕉视频直播淎 full-scale war in Europe has begun. 香蕉视频直播� Russia is not only attacking Ukraine, but the rules of normal life in the modern world.香蕉视频直播�
While some nervous Europeans speculated about a possible new world war, the U.S. and its NATO partners have so far . They instead mobilized troops and equipment around Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 western flank 香蕉视频直播� as Ukraine pleaded for defense assistance and help protecting its airspace.
In Washington, President Joe Biden convened a meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday to discuss Ukraine as the U.S. prepares new sanctions. Biden administration officials have signaled that two of the measures they were considering most strongly include hitting Russia香蕉视频直播檚 biggest banks and slapping on new export controls meant to starve Russia香蕉视频直播檚 industries and military of U.S. semiconductors and other high-tech components.
The attacks came first from the air. Later Ukrainian authorities described ground invasions in multiple regions, and border guards released footage showing a line of Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 government-held territory. European authorities declared the country香蕉视频直播檚 airspace an active conflict zone.
After weeks of denying plans to invade, Putin launched the operation on a country the size of Texas that has increasingly tilted toward the democratic West and away from Moscow香蕉视频直播檚 sway. The autocratic leader made clear earlier this week that he sees no reason for Ukraine to exist, raising fears of possible broader conflict in the vast space that the Soviet Union once ruled. Putin denied plans to occupy Ukraine, but his ultimate goals remain hazy.
Ukrainians who had long braced for the prospect of an assault were urged to shelter in place and not to panic despite the dire warnings.
香蕉视频直播淲e are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?香蕉视频直播� 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kyiv. She planned to flee the city and try to eventually get to Poland to join her daughter. Putin 香蕉视频直播渨ill be damned by history, and Ukrainians are damning him.香蕉视频直播�
With social media amplifying a torrent of military claims and counter-claims, it was difficult to determine exactly what was happening on the ground.
Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said his troops were fighting Russian forces just 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the capital 香蕉视频直播� in Hostomel, which is home to the Antonov aircraft maker and has a runway that is long enough to handle even the biggest cargo planes. Russian officials said separatist forces backed by Russia in the east have taken a new strip of territory from Ukrainian forces, but have not acknowledged ground troops elsewhere in the country.
Associated Press reporters saw or confirmed explosions in the capital, in Mariupol on the Azov Sea, Kharkiv in the east and beyond. AP confirmed video showing Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukrainian-held territory in the north from Belarus and from Russian-annexed Crimea in the south.
Russian and Ukrainian authorities made competing claims about damage they had inflicted. Russia香蕉视频直播檚 Defense Ministry said it had destroyed scores of Ukrainian air bases, military facilities and drones, and confirmed the loss of a Su-25 attack jet, blaming it on 香蕉视频直播減ilot error.香蕉视频直播� It said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that 香蕉视频直播渢here is no threat to civilian population.香蕉视频直播�
Ukraine香蕉视频直播檚 armed forces said they shot down multiple Russian aircraft. They reported at least 40 soldiers dead, and said a military plane carrying 14 people crashed south of Kyiv.
Poland香蕉视频直播檚 military increased its readiness level, and and Moldova moved toward doing the same. Border crossings increased from Ukraine to Poland, which has prepared centers for refugees.
Putin , asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine 香蕉视频直播� a false claim the U.S. had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. He accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia香蕉视频直播檚 demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and for security guarantees.
The and resulting sanctions on Russia reverberated throughout the world.
World stock markets plunged and oil prices on both sides of the Atlantic surged toward or above $100 per barrel, on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies. The ruble sank.
Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.
In a reminder of Russia香蕉视频直播檚 nuclear power, he warned that 香蕉视频直播渘o one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.香蕉视频直播�
Among Putin香蕉视频直播檚 pledges was to 香蕉视频直播渄enazify香蕉视频直播� Ukraine. World War II looms large in Russia, after the Soviet Union suffered more deaths than any country while fighting Adolf Hitler香蕉视频直播檚 forces.
Kremlin propaganda paints members of Ukrainian right-wing groups as neo-Nazis, exploiting their admiration for WWII-era Ukrainian nationalist leaders who sided with the Nazis. Ukraine is now led by a Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust and angrily dismissed the Russian claims.
Putin香蕉视频直播檚 announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow香蕉视频直播檚 claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.
香蕉视频直播淭he people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,香蕉视频直播� Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens.
Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.
The attack began even as the U.N. Security Council was meeting to hold off an invasion. Members still unaware of Putin香蕉视频直播檚 announcement of the operation . U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the emergency meeting, telling Putin: 香蕉视频直播淕ive peace a chance.香蕉视频直播�
But hours later, NATO香蕉视频直播檚 Jens Stoltenberg indicated it was too late: 香蕉视频直播淧eace on our continent has been shattered.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播擸uras Karmanau, Jim Heintz, Vladimir Isachenkov And Dasha Litvinova, The Associated Press
