War in Europe: Russia Attacks Ukraine

Russia launched what appeared to be a full-scale invasion of Ukraine early this morning, as world leaders condemned Putin.

• Russian troops and tanks pushed into Ukraine early this morning, and air strikes echoed across the country in what appeared to be the beginning of the biggest invasion in Europe since 1945.
• People in Kyiv and across much of the country woke up to the sound of explosions and air raid sirens. Ukrainian officials have already reported hundreds of casualties.
• In a pre-recorded announcement aired on Russian television early this morning, Putin claimed the “special military operation” was intended to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine.
• Putin ominously warned that any nation venturing to interfere with Russia’s attack would face “consequences as you have never before experienced in your history.”
• Western leaders condemned Putin’s aggression, and are set to announce a new round of punishing economic sanctions on Russia. They had hoped the threat of sanctions would deter the attack.
• Stock markets in Asia plunged and the price of gas soared amid rising fears of the economic consequences of a prolonged geo-strategic clash between the West and Russia.