Our greatest fears may very well have just arrived, as Americas tuning into the late night news were shocked to hear explosions and see anti-missisile defense systems lighting up the sky over much or Ukraine.
The invasion of Ukraine came just before dawn in Kyiv, after Russian President Vladimir Putin released video of a speech, (possibly recorded days earlier), in which he says that a “special military operation” has been launched by the Kremlin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a military operation in eastern Ukraine on Thursday in what appeared to be the start of war in Europe over Russia’s demands for an end to NATO’s eastward expansion.
Then, wasting no time:
Shortly after Putin spoke in a special televised address on Russian state TV, explosions could be heard in the pre-dawn quiet of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Gunfire rattled near the capital’s main airport, the Interfax news agency said.
Explosions also rocked the breakaway eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk and civilian aircraft were warned away as the United States said a major attack by Russia on its neighbour was imminent.
The news had “World War III” trending on social media, as the world began to fear that Putin would not be deterred.
US President Joe Biden released a scathing statement.
U.S. President Joe Biden said his prayers were with the people of Ukraine “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. The world will hold Russia accountable.”
The attack is sure to bring widespread condemnation to the Kremlin, but Vladimir Putin has already suggested that any nation looking to stop him will be met with the sort of weaponry that the world has not yet seen before.
