Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine

The sun seldom began to rise when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a “special military operation” on the Ukrainian Moors. Minutes later, bombs exploded in several cities across the country, including the capital, Kiev.

From Wednesday to Thursday night, the Kremlin first announced calls for help from Russian-backed separatists to “push back” the Ukrainian military. Minutes later, at 3 a.m., President Putin addressed the world in a surprise speech broadcast on Russian television. I decided to launch a special military operation to ‘militarize’ and ‘denationalize’ Ukraine, he says, branding the Kiev government’s false accusations of ‘genocide’ to justify the invasion.

He promised that he did not want Ukraine’s “occupation” but rather its “militarization”.

A few days after appearing on television at the Nuclear Weapons Command Center, the Russian leader also mentioned this deadly weapon in his nightly speech. ” [La Russie] Is one of the largest nuclear powers today. […] In this regard, no one should be unaware that a direct attack on Russia would have devastating and catastrophic consequences for potential occupiers. ⁇

He then called on the Ukrainian soldiers to “lay down their arms” and promised to “leave the battlefield unhindered.”

This speech continued for a few hours following the speech of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zhelensky. In a personal and emotional speech in Russian, he called on civil society in Russia to put pressure on its leaders to prevent a “major war in Europe” that could begin “any day”. “Do the Russians like war? I want to know the answer to this question. This answer depends on you, the citizens of the Russian Federation,” he said.

Minutes after the announcement of Vladimir Putin’s wedding announcement, an explosion was heard in the territory of Ukraine.

The first attacks targeted the strategic ports of Mariupol and Odessa in the south of the country, the town of Gramadorsk in the east, the city of Kharkiv in the north and the capital Kiev.

According to the Kremlin, the shelling targeted Ukrainian military bases. The Russian Defense Ministry quoted the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that “military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airports and air traffic of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are not compromised by high-precision weapons.” TASS News Agency.

A few hours ago, several cyber attacks began to take offline the websites of key Ukrainian ministries.

The Allies will retaliate

The international outcry was fast. “President Putin, in the name of humanity, bring your troops back to Russia!” He further added that this was a very sad moment during my tenure as UN Secretary General.

“Russia has chosen war. France vehemently condemns France for initiating these actions,” said Nicolas de Rivier, France’s ambassador to the United Nations.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholes has condemned the Russian military operation as a “blatant violation of international law.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday condemned Russia’s “irresponsible and unprovoked attack” on Ukraine and warned that “countless” lives were in danger.

“I strongly condemn Russia’s reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which endangers the lives of countless civilians. Again, despite our repeated warnings and relentless diplomatic efforts, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent nation,” Stoltenberg said in a statement. “NATO allies will work together to deal with the consequences of Russia’s aggression. We stand with the Ukrainian people in this terrible time. NATO will do everything necessary to protect and defend all allies, ”he added.

U.S. President Joe Biden also responded in a statement that night had begun in this part of the Atlantic Ocean. “President Putin has chosen a planned war that will bring catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction caused by this attack, and the United States and its allies and allies will respond in a united and decisive manner,” he said.

The United States is due to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on Thursday condemning Russia’s “war” in Ukraine.

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, Added his voice to the protest concert. “Canada strongly condemns Russia’s unjustified attack on Ukraine. […] These unacceptable and dangerous acts will not go unpunished. ⁇

Canada urges Russia to immediately suspend all hostile and provocative activities against Ukraine and to withdraw all military and proximate forces from the country. Sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected.

– Justin Trudeau (JustinTrudeau) February 24, 2022

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday evening announced sanctions against 23 “top” Russian figures, including the defense minister, military leaders and the boss of the television channel Russia Today, as well as three banks and 351 members of the Duma. Involvement in the recognition of separatist areas of Ukraine.

These restrictions are ineffective. “We strongly condemn Russia’s unjustified attack on Ukraine. At this dark time, our thoughts are on Ukraine and its innocent women, men and children who are facing this unprovoked attack and are risking their lives, “said Ursula van der Leyen, chair of the European Commission.

“It’s hard to predict when it will stop”

“Putin is doing what he announced,” said Michael Roche, an expert on post – Soviet Russia and a professor at UQAC.

The Russian president has been demanding for weeks a resolution from the West that Ukraine should never be part of NATO. “I hope the key leaders of NATO member states will eventually understand that Russia has legitimate security claims,” ​​he said, adding that he was surprised by the instability of democracies. “We played with fire, and there we were burned.”

Russia’s interest in carrying out this military operation is partly explained by the failure of the Russian power in internal political affairs. “The standard of living of Russians has declined by 10% since 2014,” notes the author of several books on the subject. This popular discontent, along with the “terrible” administration of the epidemic, undoubtedly forced Putin’s hand in “using nationalism to strengthen his popularity.”

However, the long-term occupation of much of Ukraine would be difficult for the Russian strongman. Roche observes, giving a deep cultural and demographic relationship between the two Slavic peoples. For millions of mixed couples and innumerable Russian-Ukrainian allies, this aggression is “hard to believe they will be in favor”.

Finally, Russian troops will have to deal with the Ukrainian people, who are often linked to their sovereignty. “There are about forty million people in Ukraine, half of whom will be hostile. She will return the blows of aggression. She may even play against Russia, which lives in Ukraine.”

Michael Roche does not see a clear end to the fate of Ukraine as a new war breaks out in Europe. “From the moment filming starts, it is difficult to predict when it will stop. ⁇

With Agencies France-Press

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