Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced to begin a military operation in Ukraine. As soon as Putin spoke, huge explosions were heard in Kiev, Kharkiv and other regions of Ukraine. He is warning other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and the country's border guards, and that explosions had been heard in many cities. He also said that martial law had been declared across the country and that he had spoken by phone to US President Joe Biden, reported Reuters.
The last few days have seen a large deployment of Russian military columns along the Russia-Ukraine borders. The shelling in Ukraine's east intensified on Wednesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the two separatist regions as independent and ordered the deployment of peacekeepers, a move the West calls the start of an offensive. India called for immediate de-escalation, avoiding further action that could worsen the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
As per news agency, AFP, Russia is striking Ukrainian military facilities with 'precision' weapons. On Thursday, a interior minister from Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko told NBC news that the strikes could also be caused by ballistic missiles.
Several Indians stuck in Ukraine
The situation in Ukraine is getting worse now though several Indians have returned to their home land but many students and families are still stuck there. A 25-year-old student, Sooraj Kumar, from Ayodhya, studying at Uzhhorod National University said, "My father is a farmer and I cannot spend so much again and again. During COVID, we took a flight back to India which cost Rs 50,000. I have friends who have spent Rs 70,000 on flights. But I cannot go back. I will wait for the situation to get better here."