Russia says destroyed Ukraine airbases, air defences. Where conflict stands?
Premium- Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military claimed to have downed five Russian planes and a helicopter in the east of the country near a rebel-held enclave.
Russia's defence ministry said Thursday it had neutralised Ukrainian military airbases and its air defence systems, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military offensive against his country's neighbour.
"Military infrastructure at Ukrainian army air bases has been rendered out of action," the defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies, which added that Kyiv's air defence systems were "eliminated".
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military claimed to have downed five Russian planes and a helicopter in the east of the country near a rebel-held enclave.
"According to the Joint Forces Command, today, February 24, in the area of the Joint Forces operation, five planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down," the army general staff said.
United States President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President after Russia launched what they called a full-scale invasion.
The conversation came soon after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine overnight, with explosions heard in multiple parts of the country.
Russian forces fired missiles at several Ukrainian cities and landed troops on its south coast on Thursday, officials and media said, after President Vladimir Putin authorised what he called a special military operation in the east.
Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.
Biden, who had for weeks sought to lead a Western alliance to deter Putin from invading Ukraine, spoke with Zelensky after the Russian operation began to vow US "support" and "assistance".
Biden condemned the "unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces," and urged world leaders to speak out against Putin's "flagrant aggression".
He also vowed Russia would be held accountable.
"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering," he said in a statement.
The United Nations Security Council had met late Wednesday for its second emergency session in three days over the crisis, with a personal plea there by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres coinciding with Putin's announcement.
"President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia," Guterres said.
"In the name of humanity, do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century."
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!