Russian assault helicopters had been filmed within the skies above Ukraine as Russia launched its anticipated assault on its neighbor.

Explosions had been heard earlier than daybreak in Kyiv and different cities in Ukraine minutes after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the beginning of a "particular navy operation" in Ukraine on Thursday.

A number of movies on social media seem to point out Russian navy plane in Ukraine's airspace or heading in the direction of Ukraine.

A Russian assault helicopter was seen over the Luhansk area, in response to a video shared on Twitter by Thomas van Linge.

One other video on Twitter purports to point out Russian assault helicopters within the Russian metropolis of Belgorod, about 40 miles north of Ukraine's border, whereas one other captured a Kamov Ka-50 over Armyansk in Crimea.

In the meantime, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, stated Ukraine had shot down 5 Russian plane and two helicopters.

In a put up on Fb, Zaluzhnyi additionally stated two Russian tanks had been broken and several other vans had been destroyed.

"There are not any losses among the many defenders of Ukraine," he stated. "We're on our land and we won't give it up!"

It got here after Ukraine's international minister, Dmytro Kuleba, tweeted that Putin had launched "a full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

"Peaceable Ukrainian cities are underneath strikes. It is a conflict of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and can win," Kuleba wrote. "The world can and should cease Putin. The time to behave is now."

In his televised handle, Putin stated that the assault was wanted to guard civilians in jap Ukraine, a false declare that the U.S. had predicted he would use as a pretext for an invasion.

He additionally warned different nations to not intrude. "Anybody who tries to intrude with us, or much more so, to create threats for our nation and our individuals, should know that Russia's response shall be quick and can lead you to such penalties as you've gotten by no means earlier than skilled in your historical past," he stated. "We're prepared for any flip of occasions."

Russian helicopters fly into Ukraine
A helicopter fires throughout throughout joint workout routines of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as a part of a navy excercise on the Gozhsky firing vary within the Grodno area, on February 12, 2022. Movies circulating on social media present helicopters from Russia flying into Ukraine. Getty Photographs

President Joe Biden condemned the assault as "unprovoked and unjustified" throughout a telephone name with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy, in response to a press release attributed to the president from the White Home.

The president stated Zelenskyy "requested me to name on the leaders of the world to talk out clearly towards President Putin's flagrant aggression, and to face with the individuals of Ukraine."

In an earlier assertion, Biden stated "the world will maintain Russia accountable."

"President Putin has chosen a premeditated conflict that can carry a catastrophic lack of life and human struggling," he stated. "Russia alone is liable for the dying and destruction this assault will carry, and the USA and its Allies and companions will reply in a united and decisive approach. The world will maintain Russia accountable."

He stated that he would handle the American individuals on Thursday to announce "additional penalties" the U.S. and its allies would impose on Russia "for this unnecessary act of aggression towards Ukraine and international peace and safety."