The Russian president appeared on television screens at 5:30 a.m. Moscow time on Thursday, February 24, for a fifty-six-minute speech, the essence of which is in a few words: “I decided to launch a special military operation. » Shortly following that sentence was uttered, explosions and sirens began to sound in the cities of Ukraine, far beyond the Donbass front line. Airstrikes were reported throughout the country, followed by the entry of armored vehicles at several points on the border which separates the two countries.
During his twenty-two years of reign at the head of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who came to power thanks to the conflict in Chechnya, led several wars. None has been announced with as much clarity as the vast operation launched at dawn once morest Ukraine, a war of aggression once morest a “brother country”, conducted by air and land. None is likely to leave such a deep mark on the European continent.
“The purpose of this operation is to protect people who for eight years have been victims of intimidation and genocide by the Kiev regime, Mr. Putin said. And, for this, we will strive to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, as well as to bring to justice those who have committed numerous bloody crimes once morest civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation. Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything by force on anyone. »
In this speech, the Russian President invoked “Article 51 of Part 7 of the Charter of the United Nations”, which evokes the right to self-defence, but also “call for help” sent to him by the separatist entities of the Donbass. He also addressed the Ukrainian military, asking them to ” Throw down the weapons “ and warning: “All the responsibility for a possible bloodbath will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling the Ukrainian territory. »
“High Precision Weapons”
To Westerners and “those who would like to be tempted to interfere in these events”, he also launched: “Anyone who intends to stand in our way or threaten our country and our people must know that the Russian response will be immediate and will have consequences never seen in its history. » The Russian president made an unclear connection between this warning and the Soviet victory “sacred” on Nazism.
The first targets identified on Ukrainian soil were airports, in at least twelve cities, including those located in the west of the country. Many videos, in Kyiv and elsewhere, showed this infrastructure on fire or hit by missiles. Military airfields were also targeted.
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