Summary: What is happening in Ukraine?
Ukrainian citizens live moments of great concern.
Two days after Russia decided to send its peacekeepers to eastern Donetsk, eastern Ukraine and Lugansk, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a wide-ranging military attack on Ukrainian territory.
Putin assured that Russia is only seeking to demilitarize Ukraine. These early attacks targeted military infrastructure.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, has described the assault as a full-scale invasion and assured that Ukraine "will defend itself and win." Ukraine is outmatched by the Russian Armed Forces, by many factors, except the most important one, the active personnel.
Ukrainian tanks advanced towards Mariupol, in Donetsk Oblast, located in southeastern Ukraine. In Kiev, Odessa and Kharkiv, were the main places where the loud missile explosions were heard.
Sergei Shoigu, Russian defense minister, assured that they were not targeting cities and that there is no threat to the civilian population. Likewise, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency reported that the air zone over Ukraine was an active conflict zone.
In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, the metro is being used as a refuge for the city's civilians. Families, young people, adults and even animals are protected in the facilities.
Fallen missiles were seen in Kiev and therefore, Russian troops decided to attack by land from Belarus and Crimea, an area affected by Russia in 2014.
Measures of the President of Ukraine
Volodimir Zelensky called for peace for the Ukrainian society and assured that if they continue to attack and try to take away their country, their lives and their freedom, they will do everything possible to defend themselves.
The president also decided to declare martial law and urged Ukrainian citizens to stay sheltered in their homes and not to panic.
However, large numbers of people are trying to flee, which has created a blockade on the main road leading west of the capital. Another part of the population seeks to escape through the east of Ukraine to the West, since they consider this route to be much safer.
situation of the ukrainian people
In the city, queues at stores were seen collapsing, looking for food and water supplies. Also, long lines were generated at ATMs, to have enough cash to solve any type of emergency.
Cars formed queues at gas stations as they filled their tanks, so they could start their escape journey.
The Ukrainian people are experiencing a lot of concern, uncertainty and fear in the face of this attack. Despite the fact that several warnings have been made for some time, many people did not believe that Russia was capable of invading their country.
Central Europe is preparing to receive many Ukrainians who will seek refuge, for this reason, it is feared that a humanitarian crisis will be generated. The people are facing very difficult times and decisions right now.