[SEE MAJOR UPDATE BELOW]
Senator Marco Rubio, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, just reported on Twitter that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is now underway. And he does mean a full-on military invasion as opposed to their so-called ‘peacekeeping’ troops that entered two days ago.
The #Russian invasion of #Ukraine is now underway
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2022
In the hours to come #Russia will
-conduct strikes on air defense systems
-move to cut off #Kyiv from eastern #Ukraine
-move to cut off Ukraine’s military forces on the line of contact in the east to prevent them from falling back to defend Kyiv— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 24, 2022
It was just being reported a couple hours ago that Secy. Blinkin declared that he believed Russia would invade before the night was over:
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE BLINKEN BELIEVES RUSSIA WILL INVADE UKRAINE BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER – NBC NEWS
— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) February 24, 2022
And it’s also being reported that civilian aircraft have been diverted away from Kyiv and that airspace is completely closed:
UKRAINE: Multiple civilian aircraft have diverted away from Kyiv in the last few minutes, with Ukrainian airspace now almost completely empty. pic.twitter.com/oLjGJGDQlp
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) February 24, 2022
UPDATE: Now confirmed that Ukrainian airspace is completely closed to civilian aviation. https://t.co/u61DQx7kSI
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) February 24, 2022
Flights by civil aircraft are now restricted inside Ukraine. Oh god
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) February 24, 2022
The feeling on the ground in Kyiv is chilling, according to a war reporter whose been there since 2014. This was from roughly an hour ago:
Something bad is in the air tonight. We're under a national emergency, airports are shutting down, military reserves have been called up. I lack the talent to express what it feels like to be in this European capital, home to millions…
— Nolan Peterson (@nolanwpeterson) February 24, 2022
and to feel a chill that has nothing to do with the cold as we brace for a distant madman's wrath. It's just unreal, and unbelievably tragic. I'm sitting here, waiting to hear the booms of the missiles and bombs.
— Nolan Peterson (@nolanwpeterson) February 24, 2022
I'm sitting here, waiting for the lights to go off and my links to the outside world to go dead. I'm sitting here, thinking about all my friends across this country, and on the front lines. I'm sitting here, wondering what a parent tells a child on a night like this.
— Nolan Peterson (@nolanwpeterson) February 24, 2022
I'm sitting here, wondering what our world is going to look like when the sun comes up a few hours from now. There's been a lot of false alarms, and I hope, hope beyond hope, that tonight is one too…
— Nolan Peterson (@nolanwpeterson) February 24, 2022
and we wake up tomorrow and laugh off our unnecessary anxieties and go on living like any other day.
Until the sun goes down, and the unthinkable looms possible once again.
— Nolan Peterson (@nolanwpeterson) February 24, 2022
It sounds like tonight is the night that Putin goes all in on his Ukrainian invasion. Let’s hope all the reporting is wrong, but I’ll be back to update you with more confirmations as soon as I get them.
🚨🚨MAJOR UPDATE: It’s being reported that Putin just declared war on Ukraine:
Putin just declared war on Ukraine.
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) February 24, 2022
Didn't use this *specific* language, but that's what it is de-facto.
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) February 24, 2022
Putin has officially declared war on Ukraine
— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) February 24, 2022
New: Putin announces “special military operation… aimed at demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/XNymE9ECEp
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) February 24, 2022
Perfect symbolism that Putin announces this _during_ the United Nations Security Council emergency meeting. https://t.co/okIQchaIzj
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) February 24, 2022
Heavy attacks east of #Mariupolpic.twitter.com/hsnjHUUGOw
— marqs (@MarQs__) February 24, 2022
UPDATE: Putin is warning the US and NATO not to get involved or there will be “consequences that you have never had before in your history”:
In apparent warning to the United States and NATO, Putin says in televised speech announcing war: “A couple of words for those who would be tempted to intervene. Russia will respond immediately and you will have consequences that you never have had before in your history.”
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) February 24, 2022
UPDATE: Explosions being reported…
BREAKING: Explosions reported in both Kyiv and Kharkiv.
— Conflict News (@Conflicts) February 24, 2022
UPDATE: Here’s reporting from on the ground in Ukraine where a CNN reporter hastily puts on his flack jacket and helmet. Also Clarissa Ward is reporting explosions:
Here's Chance hastily putting the body armor pic.twitter.com/XRfndvyExr
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) February 24, 2022
Clarissa Ward confirms explosions in Kharkiv and says a colleague on the Russian side of the border hears helicopters. pic.twitter.com/JRY6oRVxxL
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) February 24, 2022
And a video of an explosion in Kharkiv:
From Kharkiv pic.twitter.com/7p154JM6td
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) February 24, 2022
Conflict News is reporting that these cities have been targeted:
RUSSIAN STRIKES:
Cities so far targeted include
– Kyiv
– Odesa
– Kharkiv
– Mykolai
– Mariupol— Conflict News (@Conflicts) February 24, 2022
UPDATE: More video…
MLRS systems active against Ukrainian positions. pic.twitter.com/LqaWV7rm08
— Global: MilitaryInfo (@Global_Mil_Info) February 24, 2022