Uniformed people are seen throwing items into a fire outside intelligence building on the premises of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's unit, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2022 in this screen grab taken from a video. REUTERS
Russian military vehicles have breached the Kyiv region from Belarus to the north, Ukrainian officials said, after tanks reportedly rolled earlier into Ukraine from Crimea. A senior Russian lawmaker said Russia aims to ensure a pro-Moscow government in Kyiv, pushing out U.S. influence. President Vladimir Putin has summoned tycoons to the Kremlin.
The government in Kyiv called Russia’s actions a "full-scale invasion” as it declared martial law and called for international support including harsher sanctions. Moscow said it had taken out military facilities, including airbases, Interfax reported.
Putin’s military moves upended markets, with the ruble and Russian stocks sinking while oil and gold soared. European gas prices surged as the attacks put fuel supplies in Europe -- already in the midst of an energy crunch -- at further risk.
Russia was condemned by Western leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, who said more sanctions would follow. The European Union will hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday and the U.K. said it intended further economic penalties on Moscow. China called for restraint but didn’t rebuke Moscow.
