Putin says West faces 'great consequences' if it tries to stop Ukraine invasion

Vladmir Putin has told world leaders that they ‘will face consequences greater than any in history’ if they interfere with his invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian President gave a chilling waring to the West after declaring war on his neighbour.

Explosions were heard in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, as the country came under attack following weeks of military build up at the border.

In an early Thursday morning address in Moscow Putin said: ‘To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside – if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history.’

The United Nations Security Council had just convened an emergency meeting when Putin took to Russian airwaves to announce the invasion at 5:50am Moscow time.

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN, had urged Putin to stop his tanks. 

‘If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart,’ said Guterres. 

‘President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.’

Putin ignored the plea, going on TV to describe the invasion as a ‘special military occupation’ and said he wants to ‘demilitarize’ and ‘de-Nazify’, not occupy, the country.

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He told Ukrainian service members to ‘lay down their arms and go home,’ saying Russia could not exist with a ‘constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine’ and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was ‘inevitable.’

Shortly afterwards, targets across Ukraine were hit by rocket strikes, including in the capital Kyiv.

There are reports some cities have already fallen to Russian forces.

Hundreds are feared to have been killed already after a comprehensive attack on military targets and critical infrastructure. 

There has reportedly been heavy bombing in Odessa, the seat of Ukraine’s navy, which is feared to have been crippled already.

Troops are flooding into eastern cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol, witnesses have said.

Air raid sirens have sounded across the country and communication systems have been hit by cyberattacks.

Ukraine’s border guards said it was under attack ‘with the use of artillery, heavy equipment and firearms’ in the regions of Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Zhytomyr.

Videos posted on social media showed smoke rising above several Ukrainian cities and there are unconfirmed reports Russian paratroopers have moved to take control of Kyiv.

The attack comes after a number of countries imposed sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs, including the UK. Many vowed to go further if the country stepped up its aggression.

President Joe Biden responded on Wednesday night, saying: ‘The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.

‘President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

‘Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.’

Biden added that he would be monitoring the situation from the White House the remainder of the night and will be getting regular updates from his security team. 

Tomorrow morning, the president plans to meet with his G7 counterparts and will speak to the American people to announce the ‘further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security.’

This is a developing story, keep checking back for updates

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