The Russian rouble has fallen 5.4% to a record low on Thursday, after financial markets were shaken by Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.
The Moscow Exchange said on Thursday morning it had suspended trading on all markets.
Brent crude oil prices crossed $100/barrel for first time since 2014.
Safe haven currencies such as the yen and US dollar rose, along with gold and other valuable commodities such as nickel and wheat.
Stock markets saw heavy losses with the the Hang Seng in Hong Kong off 3.1%, the Nikkei down 2%, Seoul losing 2.7% and the ASX in Sydney closing down 3%.
US president Joe Biden recently spoke with Ukraine’s president Zelenskiy Volodymyr.
A White House statement reads:
President Zelenskiy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. 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.
He asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine. 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. We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
Reports of explosions are filtering in from Kyiv, as well as air raid sirens and rocket attacks on Ukrainian fighter jets at an airport outside the city.
Russian forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast on Thursday, officials and local media report, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a “special military operation” in the east.
Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine’s Donetsk have launched large-scale strikes against Ukrainian forces along the line of contact, Russia’s Interfax news agency cited a separatist spokesman as saying on Thursday.
Guardian reporter Luke Harding who is based in Kyiv said explosions have been reported across the country, including in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Dnipro, Odessa, Slavayansk and Kramatorsk.
Two big blasts were reported being heard from the city of Mariupol one after another in an easterly direction, according to a Reuters witness.
Ukraine’s defence minister said Russia began intense shelling of Ukrainian military units in the east, as well as military control centres and airfields.
A photo provided by the Ukrainian President’s office appeared to show an explosion in the country’s capital, Kyiv, early Thursday morning.
President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. 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 UN Security Council.
Ukraine’s foreign minister has called for more sanctions on Russia and requested military and financial assistance as well as humanitarian aid.
The world must act immediately. Future of Europe & 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
The European Union says it will “hold Moscow accountable” for what commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said was an “unjustified” attack on Ukraine.
“In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,” she said on Twitter.
“We will hold the Kremlin accountable,” von der Leyen added.
We strongly condemn Russia´s unjustified attack on Ukraine.
In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives.
The Guardian’s Luke Harding is in Ukraine where president Volodymyr Zelenskiy just addressed the nation following reports from Ukrainian officials that Russian troops have landed in Odessa while others are crossing the border into Kharkiv.
Our basement in Kyiv now filling up with families with small children. The kids are holding colouring books. Heartbreaking
Explosions reported across the country: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Dnipro, (according to Major Boris Filatov, who heard them, operational command says), Odesa, Slavayansk, Kramatorsk (reporters on the ground)
Zelenskiy calls for martial law in national address
Ukraine’s president Zelenskiy made an urgent national address this morning, introducing martial law while urging people to remain calm.
In a brief video address which has since been published by the ministry of defence on Thursday morning, Zelenskiy said Russia has carried out missile strikes on Ukraine infrastructure and on Ukrainian border guards with explosions being heard in many cities across the country.
He added that he spoken with US president Joe Biden, and told Ukrainians to stay home and to stay calm: “The army works. I will be with you all the time. Stay strong. We will win because we are Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine”
Zelenskiy also said Ukraine will introduce martial law on all territories of the state, Reuters reports.
Russian troops land in Odessa and Mariupol, Ukraine officials say
Peter Beaumont
Ukrainian officials say Russian troops have landed in Odessa while others are crossing the border into Kharkiv.
The Ukrainian interior ministry made the announcement on Telegram, adding that rocket attacks are targeting Ukrainian fighter jets at an airport outside Kyiv.
Ukraine’s state emergency service says attacks have been launched against 10 Ukrainian regions, primarily in the east and south of the country.
At least seven “powerful” airstrikes on Vasilkovsky airport outside Kyiv, where Ukraine’s military fighter bombers are kept, Kyiv command says
Guardian senior reporter Peter Beaumont tells us if the reports coming in from around Ukraine are accurate, this is far from a being a limited operation by Russia.
Instead it looks like military operations of different kinds are being launched in a broad crescent from Odessa in the south-west along the coast eastwards towards Mariupol, through to Kharkiv further north and finally Kyiv at the top of the crescent.
While a lot of reported attacks so far appear to have involved missile strikes, there are unconfirmed reports now via Ifax and elsewhere of troops landing in the south and crossing the border near Kharkiv too.
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has made a direct plea to Russian present Putin, saying: “In the name of humanity bring your troops back to Russia.”
Guterres, who has served as secretary-general since 2017, added that today’s actions are the “saddest moment in my tenure”.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has confirmed Russia’s “full-scale invasion” of Ukraine.
Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes.
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.”
Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. 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.
