{"id":1335128,"date":"2022-02-24T01:23:01","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T06:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1335128"},"modified":"2022-02-24T01:24:57","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T06:24:57","slug":"explosions-heard-in-ukraine-as-putin-announces-military-operation-threatens-consequences-you-have-never-seen-to-countries-who-interfere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/explosions-heard-in-ukraine-as-putin-announces-military-operation-threatens-consequences-you-have-never-seen-to-countries-who-interfere\/","title":{"rendered":"Explosions Heard in Ukraine as Putin Announces Military Operation, Threatens \u2018Consequences You Have Never Seen\u2019 to Countries Who Interfere"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">38<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fexplosions-heard-in-ukraine-as-putin-announces-military-operation-threatens-consequences-you-have-never-seen-to-countries-who-interfere%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1335128&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">MOSCOW (AP) \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to \u201cconsequences you have never seen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine \u2014 a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to justify an invasion.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>In a televised address, Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of ignoring Russia\u2019s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said Russia doesn\u2019t intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to \u201cdemilitarize\u201d it and bring those who committed crimes to justice.<\/p>\n<p>As Putin spoke before dawn, big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities across Ukraine.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19991010\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19991010\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AP22054462949633.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, near the Kremlin Wall during the national celebrations of the \u2018Defender of the Fatherland Day\u2019 in Moscow, Russia, on February 23, 2022.\u00a0 (Alexei Nikolsky, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>U.S. President Joe Biden in a written statement condemned the \u201cunprovoked and unjustified attack\u201d on Ukraine and he promised that the U.S. and its allies \u201cwill hold Russia accountable.\u201d Biden said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>A full-blown Russian invasion could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine\u2019s democratically elected government. And the consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions levied on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, affecting energy supplies in Europe, jolting global financial markets and threatening the post-Cold War balance on the continent.<\/p>\n<p>As he unleashed the military action, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a few words for those who could feel tempted to interfere with ongoing developments: whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to \u201cimmediately put down arms and go home.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian \u201caggression,\u201d an announcement that the White House said was a \u201cfalse flag\u201d operation by Moscow to offer up a pretext for an invasion.<\/p>\n<p>Putin\u2019s announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow\u2019s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,\u201d President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. \u201cBut if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.<\/p>\n<p>In an apparent reference to Putin\u2019s move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to \u201cmaintain peace\u201d in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that \u201cthis step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<div id=\"attachment_19990994\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19990994\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AP22054524049320.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gestures while speaking during a joint news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuania\u2019s President Gitanas Nauseda following their talks at The Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 23, 2022. (AP Photo\/Efrem Lukatsky)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAny provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that \u201cyou are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Putin\u2019s announcement appealed to him to stop an attack. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Putin: \u201cStop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Anxiety about an imminent Russian offensive soared after Putin recognized the separatist regions\u2019 independence on Monday, endorsed the deployment of troops to the rebel territories and received parliamentary approval to use military force outside the country. The West responded with sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>Late Wednesday, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a decree that imposes a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days starting Thursday. The measure allows authorities to declare curfews and other restrictions on movement, block rallies and ban political parties and organizations \u201cin the interests of national security and public order.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The action reflected increasing concern among Ukrainian authorities after weeks of trying to project calm. The Foreign Ministry advised against travel to Russia and recommended that any Ukrainians who are there leave immediately.<\/p>\n<p>Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Wednesday the Russian force of more than 150,000 troops arrayed along Ukraine\u2019s borders is in an advanced state of readiness. \u201cThey are ready to go right now,\u201d Kirby said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19991130\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19991130\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AP22054773060918.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pentagon spokesman John Kirby listens to a question from a reporter during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, February 23, 2022. (AP Photo\/Andrew Harnik)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Early Thursday, airspace over all of Ukraine was shut down to civilian air traffic, according to a notice to airmen. A commercial flight tracking website showed that an Israeli El Al Boeing 787 flying from Tel Aviv to Toronto turned abruptly out of Ukrainian airspace before detouring over Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. The only other aircraft tracked over Ukraine was a U.S. RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned surveillance plane, which began flying westward early Thursday after Russia put in place flight restrictions over Ukrainian territory.<\/p>\n<p>Another wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks hit Ukraine\u2019s parliament and other government and banking websites on Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_19991026\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19991026\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AP22050823571331.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Ukrainian serviceman points to the direction of the incoming shelling next to a building which was hit by a large caliber mortar shell in the frontline village of Krymske, Luhansk region, in eastern Ukraine, on February 19, 2022. (AP Photo\/Vadim Ghirda)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19991034\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19991034\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AP22053446355554.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smoke billows from a power and heating plant after it was shelled in Shchastya, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, on February 22, 2022. (AP Photo\/Vadim Ghirda)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19991042\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19991042\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AP22054669658839.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Ukrainian soldier talks with her comrades sitting in a shelter at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, on February 23, 2022. (AP Photo\/Evgeniy Maloletka)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_19991050\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19991050\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/AP22054671443053.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Ukrainian serviceman stands at his position at the line of separation between Ukraine-held territory and rebel-held territory near Svitlodarsk, eastern Ukraine, on February 23, 2022. (AP Photo\/Evgeniy Maloletka)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Officials have long said they expect cyberattacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the incidents hew to a nearly two-decade-old Russian playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression.<\/p>\n<p>Even before Putin\u2019s announcement, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, further squeezing Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets.<\/p>\n<p>Biden allowed sanctions to move forward against the company that built the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and against the company\u2019s CEO.<\/p>\n<p>Germany said Tuesday that it was indefinitely suspending the project, after Biden charged that Putin had launched \u201cthe beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine\u201d by sending troops into the separatist regions. The pipeline is complete but has not yet begun operating.<\/p>\n<p>Even before the Russian military attack on Ukraine began, the threat of war had <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/russia-ukraine-entertainment-business-economy-kyiv-6c93f4964cd9d26438dfd4e9c38fe76c\">shredded Ukraine\u2019s economy<\/a> and raised the specter of massive casualties, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/russia-ukraine-climate-business-russia-europe-a4e956253d3640084f8bdfaa2c901be8\">energy shortages across Europe <\/a> and global economic chaos.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/bad785095c4dcd5aeeb34f5db494b471\">European Union sanctions <\/a> against Russia took effect, targeting several companies along with 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for a motion urging Putin to recognize the rebel regions and 27 senior government officials, business executives and top military officers.<\/p>\n<p>The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that \u201cRussia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Associated Press contributed to this story.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MOSCOW (AP) \u2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1335128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1335128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1335128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1335128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1335128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1335128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1335128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}