Russia launches multi-pronged attack on Ukraine

{O/C} The President of Ukraine has declared nationwide martial law and a state of emergency for 30 days as he pleads for assistance.

This follows multiple explosions heard across several Ukrainian cities, with potentially massive civilian casualties expected.

{SOT}

Russia's military unleashed a multi-pronged attack on Ukraine by the Russian military on Thursday morning at the drop of a hat.

Several explosions could be heard in the Ukrainian capital and multiple nearby cities.

Sources say there were also blasts at the country's largest airport in Kiev.

Air raid sirens all went off in the capital.

As Ukrainians frantically fled, the Russian military claimed to have incapacitated Ukraine's air defences and bases within hours.

In light of such an untoward event, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared a nationwide martial law, accusing Russia of targeting Ukraine's military. Ukrainian officials say the military is at full combat readiness as the war is in full swing, with claims that Ukraine had repelled a Russian airstrike.

But the claims have yet to be verified amid the uncertainty of armed conflict.

In a televised address, Putin put his head over a parapet, asserting that shielding civilians in eastern Ukraine from persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime -- a pretext for war and an erroneous accusation, said Western powers -- entails such an assault.

Additionally, he said it is the U.S. and NATO that all but waved aside Russia's demands and instigated the crisis.

He made clear the war will kill two birds with one stone - end eight years of war in the country's east and cast aside Nazism and Ukraine's military.

Putin portrayed his action as a long-overdue and make-or-break task.

Even though Putin said the invasion had begun, the U.N. Security Council still held an emergency meeting imploring him not to invade.

And Russia evacuated its embassy in Kiev prior to the attack and urged its citizens to leave.

What's more, Ukraine's defence, foreign and interior ministries' websites were either unreachable or painfully slow to load after a punishing parade of denial-of-service attacks by Russia. events appalling the Ukrainian leader.

Amid such a torrid time, Kiev's mayor recommended residents stay home despite the war outside, in addition to suggesting them prepare go-bags should the need to evacuate arise.