LIVEExplosions heard in Kyiv and other cities as Russian ‘military operation’ begins

The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, said that Russia has launched a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine”.

A Ukrainian soldier stands next to a military vehicle on a road in Kramatosrk, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Picture:AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other major cities following Vladimir Putin’s announcement that a military operation had begun.

The Russian president announced the action during a televised address early on Thursday morning, saying the move was a response to threats from Ukraine.