Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced he has made a decision to launch a special military operation in Donbas. In a televised address to the nation he stated that the People’s Republic of Donbas had requested Russia’s help.  

The attack began with missile strikes against military and communication facilities on the entire territory of Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian border service, the Russian units are advancing from 5 directions, including from Crimea and Belarus. Dozens are reported killed in battle and during the air raids. Tanks were seen fighting just outside Kharkiv. The Ukrainian side says it has brought down 6 Russian aircraft and one helicopter. The President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that the Belarusian troops are not involved in the campaign.

Addressing Russians in the Russian language, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged them not to support “a major war in Europe”, stating that the Kremlin was lying to them that they are liberating Ukraine. Zelensky said that he had tried to call Vladimir Putin. “I initiated a telephone call with the President of the Russian federation. Result: silence,” he said.

NATO is convening a special virtual summit over the Ukraine conflict.

At a seminar on NATO’s future strategic concept, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte announced that the Netherlands was sending F-35 fighters to Bulgaria to provide swift advance warning in the event of a Russian attack.

Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska has called off her visit to Kyiv, scheduled for 24 February. She was the first Bulgarian official to have categorically condemned the military aggression in the very first hours of the attack. 

Photos Reuters and EPA/BGNES