Putin’s speech, the attack, the invasion
With a speech broadcast by Russian TV on Thursday at 4 am Italian time, probably recorded last Monday, the Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the military attack on Ukraine. The Russian president said he “authorized a special military operation” in the Donbass and Ukraine to “demilitarize and denazify the country.” “Circumstances call for decisive and immediate action. The Donbass People’s Republics have turned to Russia with a request for help. In this regard, pursuant to Article 51, Part 7 of the Charter of the United Nations, with the approval of the Federation Council and by virtue of the treaties of friendship ratified by the Federal Assembly and of mutual assistance with DPR and LPR, I have decided to conduct a special military operation. “Putin said that” a further expansion of NATO and its use of the territory of Ukraine are unacceptable. “Addressing the Ukrainians he said:” Your grandparents do not have fought to help the neo-Nazis ”.
The Russians are advancing on all fronts
by Gianluca Di Feo
Putin also threatened: “I will not make the same mistake twice in pleasing the West, anyone who tries to create obstacles and interfere should know that Russia will respond with consequences never seen before. We are prepared for anything. I hope to be heard ”.
The Ukrainians had already closed the airspace
Already at 3 in the morning, after consulting US intelligence, the Ukrainian authorities had closed the airspace to civilian flights. “Due to possible threats to civil aviation”. Kiev issued a NOTAM, according to the international alert system for air personnel. “The flights of civilian aircraft within the borders of the regions of Kiev, Dnipro, Lvov, Odessa, Simferopol are limited due to a potential threat to civil aviation”
The last appeal of the UN secretary Antonio Guterres
Already at 3.15 am Italian time (9.15 pm in New York) the UN secretary general Anthony Guterres had launched a last desperate appeal: “President Putin, stop your soldiers from attacking Ukraine”. Shortly before the American ambassador to the United Nations had declared that “together with the Ukrainian authorities we believe that Russia is about to launch a total invasion of Ukraine “.
Putin and the pre-recorded declaration of war: this is how the decision to attack came about
by Roberto Brunelli
Biden’s conviction
The American president Joe Biden followed live the moments in which Vladimir Putin announced his attack orders. He was in session with the National Security Council: “Russia’s is an unjustified attack, it will cause loss of life and catastrophic suffering. The prayers of the world are with the Ukrainian people tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unwarranted attack by the Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will lead to a catastrophic loss of human life and human suffering ”.
Oil flies, Brent to $ 100, for the first time since 2014
Already at 4.37am the press agencies reported the price of Brent oil on international markets for the first time since 2014 soars to more than 100 dollars a barrel. By mid-morning the price of gas on the Amsterdam market, the methane benchmark for continental Europe, rises. After the Russian attack, futures rose to a maximum of 41%, to 125 euros per megawatt hour.
War in Ukraine, In Donetsk all the men mobilized to fight. “Russian instructors to coordinate operations”
by Luca Steinmann
First news on the attacked cities
According to the Pentagon, over one hundred missiles were fired in the first hours of the attack on Ukraine. The attack began with the launch of missiles and went ahead with “three axes of assault”. An assault from the Crimea towards the city of Kherson (south-north axis), another from Belarus towards Kiev (center-north towards south) and a third route “just north-west and north-east of Kiev starting from Belarus. “Short-range ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and missiles launched from the Black Sea” were used. 75 planes took part in the early stages of the attack and at the same time land raids started.
Trump, “it would never have happened with me”
Dramatic statement to the Fox of the former American president Donald Trump at 5 am in Europe: the attack is “a very sad thing for the world, well but this is something that would never have happened. This would not have happened during my administration. There would be no space. ”The comment came the day after Trump’s praise of the Russian president Vladimir Putindefined a “genius”.
Martial law: Ukrainian president Zelensky speaks to the nation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to the country on TV. He revealed that Russia has carried out missile attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and Ukrainian border guards. He announced martial law and said he spoke to President Biden. “The army is operational. I will be with you constantly. Be strong. We will win because we are Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine “.
War on Ukraine, the maps: by land, by air and by sea, this is where Putin’s Russia is attacking
by our correspondent Antonello Guerrera
Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, the European Union condemn
The first to issue a statement condemning the Russian attack was the German Chancellor Olof Scholz: his text was taken up by the news agencies at 6.06. The attack is a blatant violation of international law ”. “It is a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe.” The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson he spoke on the phone with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and said he was “horrified” by what he calls “an unprovoked attack: President Putin has chosen the path of bloodbath and destruction”.
The Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi he said that “the Italian government condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine. It is unjustified and unjustifiable. Italy is close to the Ukrainian people and institutions in this dramatic moment. We are working with our European and NATO allies to respond immediately, with unity and determination ”.
The president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, he said he “strongly condemned Russia’s unwarranted attack on Ukraine. In these dark hours, our thoughts turn to innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives. We will hold the Kremlin responsible ”.
By mid-morning how many cities hit or under attack
There are eight, seven in Ukraine and one in Russia, the first cities involved in the war between the two countries. According to Cnn mid-morning in Kiev: the first explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, during the live broadcast, to the point that the journalist, Matthew Chance, had to interrupt the connection for a few minutes, to put on the bulletproof vest and helmet. Kharkiv: In Ukraine’s second largest city, explosions were heard. Kramatorsk: Two people reported explosions in this city which is 120 kilometers north of Donbass, invaded by Russian military. Dnipro: a resident reported some explosions. Mariupol: explosions in the east of the port city, which is located in the southeast, beyond the Crimea on the Sea of Azov. Odessa: explosions and possible landings of Russian marines from the sea. In the Russian city of Belgorod, 80 kilometers north of Kharkiv, artillery shells were heard, probably on their way to Ukraine.
The EU is ready for new sanctions against Russia: hard intervention on finance and technology, but there is no stop to the purchase of gas
by our correspondent Claudio Tito
It also condemns Japan
The Russian invasion of Ukraine “shakes the foundations of the international order, which does not allow unilateral attempts to change the status quo”. The Japanese premier Fumio Kishida, at the end of the National Security Council, he said that Tokyo “strongly condemns Russia. We will coordinate efforts with the international community, including the United States, and we will address this issue quickly ”.
Also from the G7 a unanimous condemnation
In a joint statement following an online summit, G7 leaders said Russian President Vladimir Putin has “reintroduced war on the European continent. He put himself on the wrong side of history ”. The leaders of the United States, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada condemn “Putin for his refusal to engage in a diplomatic process to address European security issues, despite our repeated offers. We are shocked by this groundless and completely unwarranted attack on the democratic state of Ukraine, preceded by fabricated claims and baseless accusations.