KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Thursday announced martial law across the country as Russian troops entered the border and hit targets around Kyiv.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy, in a video posted on his Telegram channel, said Russia launched strikes against Ukrainian military facilities and border guard units.
"Explosions were heard in many cities of Ukraine. We are declaring martial law across the country," he said.
Separately, Anadolu Agency also reported that US President Joe Biden had held a phone call discussion with Zelenskyy on Thursday.
Biden said Zelenskyy "reached out to him tonight", added that he condemned "this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces."
"I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the United Nations Security Council," he said in his tweet.
"He (Zelenskyy) asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine," Biden added.
Reminding that he will meet the leaders of the G7 tomorrow, Biden stressed that the US and its allies "will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia."
“We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” the US president said.
Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is targeting key areas in cities with weapons and missiles, according to reports.
On early Thursday, explosions were reported in several Ukrainian provinces, including the capital Kyiv, and several tanks reportedly crossed the border with Belarus into Ukraine.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry announced it is using “high-precision weapons” to disable air defense systems, military airports, and air forces in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military attacks on Ukraine drew widespread condemnation from global leaders.
US President Joe Biden had slammed Russia over its "unprovoked and unjustified attack" on Ukraine late Wednesday, saying "the world will hold Russia accountable".
In a statement shortly after a televised address by Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he announced a special military operation in eastern Ukraine, Biden said: "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.”
"President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way," he said.
Biden said he will monitor the situation from the White House and will continue to get regular updates from his national security team.
According to Anadolu Agency, the European Union condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine as 'unjustified'.
“We strongly condemn Russia´s unjustified attack on Ukraine,” President of the European Council Charles Michel, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a joint statement.
“In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives. We will hold the Kremlin accountable,” they added.
The European Union adopted sanctions on Wednesday against Russia for violating Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The measures target among others defense minister Sergei Shoigu, two deputy prime ministers, high-ranking military officials, and 351 members of the Duma, as well as the Russian financial sector, Anadolu Agency reported.
In Berlin, Sputnik news reported German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday that Russia’s military operation in Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law.
