Putin says he was ‘forced’ to take military action, Ukraine president appeals to end hostilities

10.57 pm: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensnkyy urges Moscow to end hostilities, adding that Russian airborne troops have been seen outside the country’s capital of Kyiv, reports Associated Press.

“It wasn’t Ukraine that chose the path of war, but Ukraine is offering to go back to the path of peace,” he said.

10.51 pm: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he was “forced” to order military action in Ukraine because of the refusal of Western countries to heed Russian security demands, reports Associated Press.

10.42 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports ANI, citing his office. Modi called for “immediate cessation of violence’ and also spoke about the safety of Indians.

10.04 pm: Around 4,000 Indians out of 20,000 who were living in Ukraine have already left the country in the past few days, says Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

9.44 pm: Foreign Secretary and other officials hold press conference on the Ukraine crisis.

9.37 pm: Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will speak to his counterparts in Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, says Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

Teams from New Delhi’s embassies in these four countries are on their way to the adjoining land borders with Ukraine in order to evacuate Indian from the war-hit country.

9.35 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla says, according to ANI.

8.50 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, reports The Hindu. The prime minister is expected to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on a phone call later tonight.

8.47 pm: Ukraine Police says it has logged 203 incidents of attacks since the Russian invasion started Thursday morning, reports Al Jazeera.

8.39 pm: A meeting of the G7 countries is underway to discuss the Ukraine crisis, CNN reports, citing a White House official.

“[US] President [Joe] Biden and leaders are discussing their joint response to President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine,” the official says.

8.02 pm: With airspace closed, several Indian students in Ukraine have no way to leave the country at the moment.

Read here:

Blasts at dawn, long lines for groceries: Indian students trapped in Ukraine focus on survival

7.45 pm: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expands its recommendations to operators warning them against flying over Moldova and Belarus and “exercise caution” over large parts of Russia, reports Associated Press.

7.42 pm: Germany says sanctions would “dramatically limit” Russia’s access to the markets of the European Union and United States, reports AFP.

7.36 pm: Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that its has has destroyed 74 Ukrainian military facilities, including 11 air bases, reports Associated Press.

The ministry also said that it lost an aircraft due to “pilor error”.

Also read: Putin’s antagonism toward Ukraine was never about NATO. He just wants to create a new Russian empire

6.28 pm: French President Emmanuel Macron says Russian attack on Ukraine is the “most serious attack on peace” in decades, reports AFP.

6.24 pm: Russia needs Ukraine to become a “neutral country” where offensive weapons are not deployed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells reporters, according to Al Jazeera.

He says it is impossible to cut off a country like Russia with an “iron curtain”.

5.54 pm: United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the Western countries were readying a “massive” package of sanctions against Russia, reports AFP.

“We cannot and will not just look away,” he tells Ukrainian citizens.

5.46 pm: Indian embassy in Doha says that the civil aviation ministry has allowed passengers from Ukraine to travel by transit under India-Qatar bilateral air bubble arrangement, reports ANI.

5.42 pm: North Atlantic Treaty Organization chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance has no plans to send troops into Ukraine, reports AFP.

5.41 pm: Russian forces break into north of Kyiv region, reports AFP, citing Ukraine border guards.

5.38 pm: Black smoke was seen rising over the the defence ministry’s intelligence headquarters in Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday but the building seemed to be intact.

5.35 pm: Czech Republic President Milos Zeman, who had been a leading pro-Russian voice among European Union leaders, says Moscow has committed a “crime against peace”, reports Associated Press.

“I admit I was wrong,” Zeman said Thursday. “An irrational decision by the leadership of the Russian Federation will cause significant damages to the Russian state.”

5.08 pm: Lithuania’s president declares state of emergency, reports Associated Press.

4.59 pm: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in a statement, calls the Russian invasion “entirely unjustified and unprovoked.”

“Democracy will always prevail over autocracy,” says NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. “Freedom will always prevail over oppression”

4.27 pm: Ukraine’s military claims about 50 Russian troops have been killed and six warplanes have been destroyed amid fighting in the country’s east, reports Al Jazeera.

4.24 pm: At least 40 Ukrainian soldiers and 10 civilians have died so far in the invasion by Russia, reports Reuters, citing an advisor to the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

4: 10 pm: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai says that at the time Russia attacked Ukraine, about 100 Indian students, who were on their way to the airport in two buses, got stranded as flights could not land.

“More than 10 are from Karnataka, we are gathering information about them,” he says, according to PTI.

4.00 pm: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia “treacherously attacked” his country like “Nazi Germany did in second World War years”.

“Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself and won’t give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks,” he says in a tweet.

3.45 pm: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes an emotional appeal to the people of Russia, urging them not to support the war on Ukraine.

3.30 pm: An adviser to the Ukrainian president says that about 40 people have been killed so far in the invasion by Russia, according to AP.

3.20 pm: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that his country has severed diplomatic ties with Russia, reports AP.

3.15 pm: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi seeks Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the rescue of Indians, including residents of his state, from Ukraine. “Deeply concerned over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war,” he says in a tweet.

3.07 pm: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says there are 2,320 students from his state in Ukraine. He requests External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene and ensure their safety, according to ANI.

3.00 pm: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says that the European Union, the NATO and G7 will launch “massive sanctions” against Russia, AFP reports.

2.55 pm: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “brutal” and “unprovoked”, according to CNN.

2.50 pm: The Ukrainian envoy criticises India’s official statement that they are monitoring the situation in Ukraine. “What does it mean?” he asks. “Several people have died already.”

2.45 pm: The Ukrainian envoy says India can stop the escalation of tensions. He adds, “There are very few nations in the world that can influence Russia.”

Polikha also says that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the most powerful leaders in the world.

2.40 pm: The Ukrainian Ambassador to India, Igor Polikha, appeals to New Delhi to support Kyiv against the military operation by Russia, The Hindu reports.

“We are deeply dissatisfied with the Indian position,” Polikha tells reporters during a media briefing in New Delhi. “We are pleading for strong voice of India.”

2.35 pm: Ukrainian President Zelenskiy Volodymyr urges world leaders to provide defence assistance to the country after Russian attack, reports AP.

2.30 pm: The Indian embassy in Ukraine has issued another advisory to citizens today. In a statement, the embassy says alternative arrangements are being made after Ukraine closed its airspace for civil aircraft operations, citing a high risk to safety.

“Embassy will convey information as soon as arrangements are finalised, so that Indian nationals can relocate to the western part of the country,” says the statement. India also urges citizens to carry passports and other necessary documents at all times amid the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

2.22 pm: India is exploring alternative routes to evacuate its citizens in Ukraine, reports NDTV. Meetings are underway at the Ministry of External Affairs.

Russia President Vladimir Putin, in an unscheduled televised address earlier on Thursday, announced an operation to “demilitarise” Ukraine. Shortly after, Russia launched a multi-pronged attack on Ukraine.

2.15 pm: The European Union’s foreign policy chief promises to impose “harshest package of sanctions” on Russia for launching military operations in Ukraine, reports Al Jazeera.

“The European Union will respond in the strongest possible ways...[EU leaders] will adopt a stronger package,” Josep Borrell tells reporters in Belgian capital Brussels.

2.00 pm: French President Emmanuel Macron calls on Russia to immediately to put an end to its military operations. “France strongly condemns the decision of Russia to wage war against Ukraine,” he says.

1.45 pm: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky imposes martial law in the country in the wake of the “military operation” launched against it by Russia, AFP reports. He, however, urges citizens not to panic and expresses confidence that the country will emerge victorious.

The development comes a day after Ukraine’s parliament approved a national state of emergency.

1.23 pm: Initial reports of casualties are emerging now. At least eight people have been killed and nine injured by the Russian shelling, an advisor to the Ukrainian minister of internal affairs tells Reuters. It is not yet clear where the deaths took place.

In a separate statement, accessed by CNN, Ukraine’s defence ministry says its personnel are battling the Russian military operation “with dignity”.

1.20 pm: Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 shows empty airspace above Ukraine. Earlier on Thursday, Ukraine closed its airspace to civilian flights citing a high risk to safety.

1.05 pm: Here are some visuals from Ukraine.

1:00 pm: Russian ground forces have crossed into Ukraine, AFP reports.

12.50 pm: Ukraine says Russia is moving military equipment into the country’s southeastern region, The Guardian reports.

12.40 pm: As many as 200 Kashmiri students are stuck in Ukraine, including a dozen in Kyiv city, where a bombing campaign is underway by Russia, an Indian journalist claims. “Some of them were on social media till yesterday but not reachable at the moment,” he adds. “It seems there are Internet disruptions.”

12.30 pm: The United States Embassy in Ukraine says there are reports of attacks in major Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Mariupol. “US citizens in Ukraine are advised to shelter in place,” a tweet from the embassy reads.

12.15 pm: India says the present situation in Ukraine is “highly uncertain” and urges citizens to remain safe wherever they are. “All those who are travelling to Kyiv, including those travelling from the western part of Kyiv, are advised to return to their respective cities temporarily,” says a statement from the Indian embassy in Kyiv.

12.05 pm: Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that Russia’s military action is an “act of war”, reports CNN.

11.55 am: Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry in a statement announces that it is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and airfields with precision weapons, reports Al Jazeera.

11.47 am: Russian troops crossing into Ukraine from Belarus.

11.45 am: The Ukrainian military claims it has shot down five Russian planes and one helicopter in Luhansk region, one of the rebel-controlled territories, reports Reuters.

11.35 am: The mayor of Kharkiv city in Ukraine, Igor Terekho, urges citizens to be at their homes as a multi-pronged attack on several places in the country began earlier in the day, CNN reports. Kharkiv is the second-largest city in Ukraine.

“Due to the complicated situation, schools, kindergartens and other institutions do not work today –until the situation becomes clearer,” he says in a Facebook post.

11.26 am: United States President Joe Biden has spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskiy Volodymyr. He assures that the country will provide support to Ukraine amid mounting tensions with Russia.

A statement from the White House says:

“I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the United Nations Security Council. Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia.”

11.25 am: The Moscow Exchange suspends trading across all markets, reports Bloomberg.

11.10 am: Ukraine was attacked via multiple borders, says the country’s state border service, reports CNN. This includes Russian, Belarus and Crimea borders.

11.05 am: Many residents of Ukraine are fleeing from the country amid the intensifying conflict with Russia.

11 am: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is “appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine”. He adds that he has spoken to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss how to respond to the attack.

10.56 am: European Commission President Ursula von der Leye condemns Russia’s “unjustified attack” on Ukraine. “We will hold the Kremlin accountable,” she tweets.

10.55 am: Visuals from Ukraine being shared on social media.

10.42 am: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urges the world to “act immediately” after Russian president announced military operation in Kyiv and warned other nations of consequences if they interfere.

In a tweet, the Ukraine’s foreign minister has written:

“The world must act immediately. Future of Europe and the world is at stake. To do list:

1. Devastating sanctions on Russia NOW, including SWIFT

2. Fully isolate Russia by all means, in all formats

3. Weapons, equipment for Ukraine

4. Financial assistance

5. Humanitarian assistance.”

10.40 am: Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty have crashed over 2.5% in early morning trade due to massive selloff in global share markets as Russian forces have unleashed an attack on Ukraine.

Also read: Sensex falls 1,700 points during intra-day trading as Russia invades Ukraine

10.28 am: An Air India special flight is returning to New Delhi as the Ukrainian authorities have closed the country’s airspace for civil aircraft operations, reports ANI.

The Air India flight AI 1947 left from the Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 7.30 am for Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, according to PTI.

Earlier on Thursday, a Ukraine International Airlines flight from Kyiv landed at the Delhi airport. Those on board were mostly students who returned after the Indian embassy in Kyiv issued multiple advisories asking them to leave Ukraine temporarily.

10.20 am: The crisis between Russia and Ukraine, if not handled carefully, would spiral into a major crisis that can severely destabilise the region, says TS Tirumurti, India’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

“We call for immediate de-escalation and refraining from any further action that could contribute to a worsening of the situation,” the official tells the Security Council. “We call on all parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests.”

On Tuesday, India had called for restraint on all sides and stressed that the immediate priority should be de-escalation of the tensions.

10.10 am: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also says that Russia has launched a “full-scale invasion” of the country. “Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes,” he tweets. “This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”

10 am: Oil breaches $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 amid soaring tensions between Ukraine and Russia, reports AFP.

9.40 am: Russian invasion has begun, says Anton Gerashchenko, Ukraine’s deputy interior minister, reports CNN. Military headquarters and airfields are being hit by the shelling in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

9.15 am: The United Nations Security Council second emergency session in three days over the Ukraine-Russia crisis is underway.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges Putin to not attack Ukraine. “Give peace a chance, too many people have already died,” he says.

The United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also makes a similar appeal to Putin. “Send your troops and your tanks and your planes back to their barracks and hangars and send your diplomats to the negotiating table,” she says.

9 am: At least seven explosions were heard in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, reports Al Jazeera. “It sounds like shell fire, but it could be air strikes,” Al Jazeera correspondent Andrew Simmons says. “Boryspil international airport came under attack...we’re not sure whether it was shelled or whether it’s an explosion.”

8.45 am: United States President Joe Biden says the “world will hold Russia accountable” over its “unjustified attack” on Ukraine. The president, in a statement, says he would address the public on Thursday to outline the “consequences” for Russia.

The statement from the White House adds:

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way...Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.”

8.42 am: Soon after the Russian president authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine, an explosion was heard in Kyiv, reports AFP.

8.40 am: Expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to include Ukraine is unacceptable, Putin says, according to Reuters.

8.35 am: Putin in his address says he wants “demilitarisation” of the former Soviet state, and has no plans to occupy it. Those who attempt to interfere with the Russian action will witness “consequences they have never seen”, he warns.

8.30 am: Clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces are “inevitable”, says the Russian president.

8.29 am: In a televised address to citizens, Russian President President Vladimir Putin announces military operation in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. He urges Ukrainian soldiers to lay down weapons and return to their homes.

8 am: The Ukrainian government is closing airports in eastern part of the country amid tensions with Russia, reports AP. This comes hours after a conflict zone monitor, Safe Airspace, warned that airlines should stop flying over any part of Ukraine because of the risk of an unintended shootdown or cyber attack.