Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation against Ukraine at 06:00 Moscow time on Thursday morning.

Explosions occurred in many cities, including the capital Kiev and port cities. Kiev announced that a "major invasion" had been launched.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs estimated that hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers may have died. Moreover, at least 7 soldiers died during the Russian bombing, and 19 others were reported missing, according to an official statement.

ZELENSKI ORDERS THE ARMY TO HIT RUSSIAN FORCES

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered the Ukrainian army to hit Russian forces. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine urged all its citizens who can hold a gun to join the military forces.

MOSCOW: UKRAINIAN TROOPS LEAVE THEIR POSITIONS AND SURRENDER

The Russian Ministry of Defence said in a written statement that Ukrainian troops abandoned their units and laid down their weapons. “According to intelligence reports, many units and members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are leaving their positions, laying down their weapons,” the ministry said.

The military forces of the Russian-backed Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which declared independence in the east of the country, announced that they had captured two small cities in the east, Stanytsia and Chtchastia.

KIEV: RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE ADVANCING INTO TWO CITIES

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine announced that the Russian army is advancing towards the cities of Milov and Horodychtch.

It is reported that ammunition warehouses in the western Khmelnytski and southern Dnipro regions were hit by missiles. A television tower has been destroyed in the city of Lutsk and military barracks around Vinnytsi and Kiev in the west were hit.

ESCAPE FROM KIEV

Several news agencies released video footage showing that civilians are escaping from Kiev.