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Kiev after the start of the Russian attack
Photo: UMIT BEKTAS / REUTERS
The Russian attack on Ukraine has begun.
Shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of military action in a TV speech, there were reports of fighting and explosions in several parts of the country.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks of a "large-scale war against Ukraine".
Kremlin chief Vladimir »Putin has just launched a major invasion of Ukraine.
Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under attack.
This is a war of aggression," the minister said on Twitter.
Explosions were heard in the capital Kiev.
Shots were also fired near the city's airport, the Interfax agency reported.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry confirmed that Kiev had been attacked with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
Explosions also shook the city of Donetsk in the east of the country, which is in the immediate vicinity of the area previously controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Eyewitnesses also reported explosions from the city of Kharkov near the Russian border.
There, Russian troops are said to have already advanced into Ukraine.
There were also reports of fighting from other parts of the country.
According to a report by the Reuters news agency, a landing operation by units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has begun in the port city of Odessa.
Russian units are also said to have gone ashore in the port city of Mariupol.
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