AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it’s intended to protect civilians.
In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn’t have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian “regime.”
Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”
The Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance Wednesday to help fend off Ukrainian “aggression,” an announcement that immediately fueled fears that Moscow was offering up a pretext for war, just as the West had warned.
A short time later, the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and said a Russian invasion would cost tens of thousands of lives.
“The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. “But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.”
Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond.
In an apparent reference to Putin’s move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to “maintain peace” in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that “this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.”
“Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything,” he said.
He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that “you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.”
BREAKING: Explosions are being heard in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv.
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) February 24, 2022
RUSSIAN STRIKES:
Cities so far targeted include
– Kyiv
– Odesa
– Kharkiv
– Mykolai
– Mariupol— Conflict News (@Conflicts) February 24, 2022
Thank Gd we have a smart president in the white house
Moshiach is coming. Get ready.
During the period 2017-21, when supposedly “Putin’s puppet” was in office, Putin didn’t dare launch such an incursion. But in 2014, during the term in office of someone who dismissed the danger of Russia as “the ‘80s called and want their foreign policy back,” and in 2022, during that of someone of whom it was claimed “the adults are back in charge,” he did. Why, it’s almost as though the presidents in 2014 and 2022 were/are Putin’s puppets, and the one between them was not! Madness to think that, of course, since The Experts ™ have told us the opposite,… Read more »
We need trump back
As if he hasn’t egged Putin on in this invasion more than any other politician. He called Putin “smart” and has spread misinformation about US troops in Ukraine. We must realize that these politicians don’t truly care about civilians, here or abroad. Best case scenario, Trump would have tried to make an arms deal to earn the US government some favors. Regardless of party, American politicians don’t act out of the good of their hearts.
Then try to explain why Putin did try anything like this during Trump’s presidency. Well, the reason is simple: people with common sense understand that there’s a world of difference between empty compliments that cost nothing, and actually condoning his actions. A good part of the problems in the world today are due to people with your kind of mentality, who think that talking and tweeting are the equivalent of taking action.
The only hope is that Purim is close and this “Great politician and Russian patriot” will die like his predecessor-Stalin
Oh you meant Joe Biden. Not the leader of Russia who has treated Jews better than any Russian leader ever…. Of course that’s what you meant.
I remember how the Rebbe pinpoint the golf war will be over on Purim, and sure enough it was over on Purim. Back in 1991. I feel there will be a very special day that this war will be over…….I hope I’m rite!!!!!!!!
All yidden should be safe.
I can not help but remember hearing how absolutely evil the Ukrainian people were during the Holocaust even worse than the nazis ym”s .Maybe those elements are receiving the plague.