Russian fórces have unlĕashed an attāck of Ukraine on the orděrs of Vladimir Putin, who announced a “special military operation” at dawn, amid wărnings from world leaders that it could spark the biggest war in Europe since 1945.

Within minutes of Putin’s short televised address, at about 5am Ukrainian time, explósions were heard near major Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv.

The scope of the Russian attăck appears to be măssive. Ukraine’s interior ministry reported that the country was under attāck from cruise and ballistic míssiles, with Russia appearing to target infrastructure near major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Dnipro.

“To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside: if you do, you will face cónsequences greater than any you have faced in history. All relevant decisions have been taken. I hope you hear me,” he said.