Attack on Ukraine 24th February 2022

                   BBC         

Ukraine. After weeks of increasing tensions and conflicting information, around 5 am on February 24, Kiev time, Vladimir Putin in a new address announced a "special military operation" in Ukraine. At the same time, the Russian Federation began shelling Ukrainian cities. Today, Russian troops based in Russia, Belarus and on the Crimea carried out more than 30 missile and bomb attacks on airfields, military depots and facilities in many regions along the state border (a section of the border with the Russian Federation and Belarus) and including in the western regions of Ukraine. Attempts were made by military equipment to cross the border. Russian troops skirted round most of the big towns, including Ukraine's biggest Russian-speaking city (and at the same time the country's largest city) Kharkiv. Russian troops are also attacking from the Crimea heading towards the Kherson region. It is reported that military operations and shelling affected 17 regions of Ukraine, including the vicinity of Kiev (Boryspil, Gostomel airports). The invaders have met still opposition from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In te first day, despite claims from the aggressor that only military targets were targeted, It is reported that already in the first day dozens of Ukrainians have died, including military and civilians, hundreds of people have been injured, and many civilian objects have been damaged. Russian losses in the first day were reported as more than 350 people killed. Martial law has been introduced in Ukraine and general mobilization announced.

Reportedly Russian president Putin said that the future plans of the right-wing government of Moscow "do not include the occupation of Ukraine", but the Russian Federation will strive for its "demilitarization" and what it called the country's "denazification". What is meant by the latter is wholly unclear, while nationalism and patriotism have been strong in Ukraine since the beginning of this conflict in 2014, they are no less so than in the Russian Federation itself. While an attacked Ukraine may turn out to be a formidable foe, whether or not the country's military in its January 2022 was in any way a threat to its peaceful neighbours (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova) is regarded as a highly dubious argument also.