Putin announces “Special Operation” – multiple Ukrainian cities reported explosions
Explosions were reported across multiple cities in Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and Mariupol.
There are also unverified reports that amphibious assault on Mariupol and Odessa. Mariupol is in Donetsk oblast. But if Russian troops lands in Odessa (which is west of Crimea), it would invalidate our assessment that this would just be a limited war that does not include direct invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We are still trying to verify this information.
OSINT UKRAINE@OSINT_Ukraine·
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??⚡️The Russian Navy is conducting a large-scale landing operation on the Azov coast from Odessa to Mariupol.It is reported that the Ukrainian fleet is almost destroyed as a result of preemptive missile strikes.
DPA cannot discount the possibilities of misinformation or exaggeration of what is happening. We will report when we can have verifiable information.
Russian Defense Ministry announced that Ukrainian military facilities are attacked with “precision weapons”, including military infrastructure, air defense sites, military airfield and aircraft.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the Russian military is attacking Ukrainian military facilities as part of an ongoing operation in Ukraine. Precision weapons are used against military infrastructure, air defense sites, military airfields and aircraft, a statement cited by RIA Novosti said.
The military said that Russia was not attacking Ukrainian cities, contrary to claims that say otherwise. Ukrainian civilians are not under threat, the statement said.
Report on RT.com
What we can currently confirm is that Russia has launched the first phase of any military operation: to hit command and control of their adversary – and from the look of it, via long range rocket/missile attacks on military targets in Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa and Mariupol. We cannot confirm if there are any Russian jets participating in the first salvos of, what would now be likely known as, the Russo-Ukrainian War.
