Ukraine Says More Than 40 Soldiers Killed, Breaks Diplomatic Ties With Russia

Justifying the military operation, Putin said it was needed to “protect civilians” in eastern Ukraine. 

Ukraine Says More Than 40 Soldiers Killed, Breaks Diplomatic Ties With Russia (File Image)

New Delhi: Ukraine breaks diplomatic ties with Russia, news agency AFP quoted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as saying amid Russia’s full-fledged air and ground military attack on Ukriane.

"We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities," Zelenskyy said, as quoted by AFP.

"We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities," says President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy#RussiaUkraineCrisis pic.twitter.com/KKeINY8eGn

— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced the start of a “special military operation” in Ukraine, and warned other countries against any attempt to interfere with the action and said that it would lead to “consequences they have never seen”.

Russia’s commencement of a military attack on Ukraine has led to a chaos in the latter country. According to a report by news agency Reuters, more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and several dozen wounded in the ongoing attack, Adviser to Ukraine President Office said.

Adviser to Ukraine President Office says more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers dead and several dozen wounded: Reuters #RussiaUkraineCrisis

— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2022

Earlier in the day, five Russian planes and one helicopter were shot down by Ukraine in Luhansk and moments later, Russia confirmed taking out military infrastructure at Ukraine's air bases and ‘suppressed’ its air defences.

Justifying the military operation, Putin said it was needed to “protect civilians” in eastern Ukraine. 

READ | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: What We Know So Far As Vladimir Putin Announces Military Op | 10 Points