When did Russian President Vladimir Putin announce a military operation in Ukraine?

A. 23rd Feb 2022
B. 24th Feb 2022
C. 25th Feb 2022
D. 26th Feb 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday 24th Feb 2022 with explosions heard soon after in the capital and other parts of the country, prompting outrage from United States President Joe Biden who warned of a “catastrophic loss of life”.

Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions failed to deter Putin, who had massed between 150,000 and 200,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine.

“I have made the decision of a military operation,” he said in a surprise statement on television shortly before 6 am (0300 GMT).

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to consequences they have never seen.

He accused the United States and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demands to stop Ukraine from joining Nato and offer Moscow security guarantees. He said he wanted a “demilitarisation” of the former Soviet state but not its occupation.

Putin said all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

“All responsibility for bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine,” Putin said.