Iran Press/ Europe: The military forces of the Russian-backed Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which declared independence in the east of the country, announced that they had captured two small cities in the east, Stanytsia and Chtchastia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation against Ukraine at 06:00 Moscow time on Thursday morning. Explosions occurred in many cities, including the capital Kyiv and port cities.
Kyiv announced that a "major invasion" had been launched.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs estimated that hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers may have died. Moreover, at least seven soldiers were killed during the Russian bombing, and 19 others were reported missing, according to an official statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered the Ukrainian army to hit Russian forces. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine urged all its citizens to hold a gun to join the military forces.
In a written statement, the Russian Ministry of Defence said that Ukrainian troops abandoned their units and laid down their weapons.
Stanytsia and Chtchastia failed; Milov and Horodychtch at the stake
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine announced that the Russian army is advancing towards the cities of Milov and Horodychtch.
It is reported that missiles hit ammunition warehouses in the western Khmelnytskyi and southern Dnipro regions.
A television tower has been destroyed in the city of Lutsk, and military barracks around Vinnytsia and Kyiv in the west were hit.
Several news agencies released video footage showing that civilians are escaping from Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, said Ukraine had shot down five Russian aircraft and two helicopters.
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Russian military operation begins in eastern Ukraine
