Putin announces formal start of Russia’s invasion in eastern Ukraine
Source: Meduza
Addressing the nation in another televised speech early on Thursday morning, Moscow time, Vladimir Putin announced the start of a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine. The Russian president said that his administration has no plans to occupy Ukraine, though he also ordered Ukrainian soldiers in the Donbas to lay down their weapons.
Putin placed all responsibility for “possible bloodshed” on the Ukrainian government in Kyiv.