Vladimir Putin said he has ordered the start of a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region and demanded Kyiv’s army lay down its weapons.
In an address broadcast on Russian state television shortly before 6am local time, Russia’s president claimed he was not planning to occupy the country.
“All responsibility for the possible bloodshed will be fully and completely on the conscience of the ruling regime,” he said.
Putin warned other countries against “the temptation of meddling in the ongoing events” and said Russia’s response will “lead you to consequences that you have never encountered in your history”.