Russia-Ukraine crisis live updates: Biden announces new sanctions; calls Putin "aggressor"

In a shocking development to the long-feared Russia-Ukraine crisis, the Russian military invaded Ukraine. Within minutes of Putin's public address, explosions could be heard in the capital city of Kiev as well as the city of Kramatorsk in central Ukraine, and Odessa in the south.

Across Ukraine, cruise and ballistic missiles were destroying military infrastructure and strategically important facilities, according to unofficial Russian sources, the report said. Mariupol, on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, appeared to be under fierce attack. Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces have destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian Navy, and taken control of Boryspil Airport in Kiev, the Daily Mail reported.

A government spokesman also said that the country was attacked from Crimea, which Russia had annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off, while more unconfirmed reports on Twitter appeared to show a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters shortly before 6 a.m. on Thursday morning, the report said.

Russia-Ukraine conflict live updates:

US President Joe Biden addressed a press conference on the ongoing Ukraine crisis. He announced new sanctions, which he believes will have significant implications on Russia. Biden revealed he has no intentions on talking to his Russian counterpart and that it is on the table to sanction Putin.

While Biden said cutting Russia from SWIFT banking system is an option, he did not respond to why it hadn't been taken as part of new sanctions. Biden assured the new sanctions won't disrupt the global oil and natural gas markets.

"US, allies are blocking assets of four large Russian banks, imposing export controls, sanctioning oligarchs," Biden said.

"We call on Russia to immediately cease its military action and withdraw all its forces from in and around Ukraine, to fully respect international humanitarian law, and to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need."

"Today, we have held consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. We have decided, in line with our defensive planning to protect all Allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defence across the Alliance."

"Our measures are and remain preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory."

India is focusing on security of Indians particularly students in Ukraine and is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. The control room set up in the MEA is being expanded and made operational on 24x7 basis.

The Embassy has issued helpline numbers:

+38 0997300483

+38 0997300428

+38 0933980327

+38 0635917881

+38 0935046170

The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Thursday asked Indians residing there to maintain calm and to remain safe wherever they are and also issued a fresh advisory. Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Partha Satpathy, in an advisory to all Indian Nationals in Ukraine, requested everyone to stay calm and face the situation with fortitude.

World leaders have collectively condemned Russia's invasion in Ukraine, which has resulted in civilian deaths and a global economy impact. 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison strongly condemned Putin's actions and announced new sanctions on 25 more individuals and four financial institutions.

"We denounce what are unilateral hostile actions in Ukraine. Russia is flagrantly breaching international law and the UN Charter. Russia has chosen war," Morrison said. 

"This is a chilling reminder of the world that we live in, and where the threats and aggression of bullies and those who seek to intimidate others to seek their own advantage ... is a reality," he added.

European Union's foreign policy chief called Russia's attack on Ukraine as the "darkest hours for Europe" in nearly 80 years. 

"These are among the darkest hours for Europe since the end of World War II," EU High Representative Josep Borrell said.

French President Emmanuel Macron asked Russia to immediately stop its military operation in Ukraine and extended solidarity with Ukraine. 

"France strongly condemns Russia's decision to wage war on Ukraine. Russia must end its military operations immediately," he said in a tweet on Thursday. "France stands in solidarity with Ukraine. It stands with Ukrainians and is working with its partners and allies to end the war."

Ukraine has severed its diplomatic ties with Russia, president Zelenskyy said in a tweet. "For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine," the Ukrainian President wrote on Twitter.

Zelenskyy has also said that any Ukrainian citizens who want to defend the country will be provided with weapons.

While Ukraine claims to have downed five Russian planes and a chopper in the east of the country, Russia's defence ministry said that it neutralised Ukrainian military airbases and air defence systems.

"Military infrastructure at Ukrainian army air bases has been rendered out of action," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement carried by news agencies.

Russian military has crossed into Ukraine from several directions, claims Ukraine's border guard services. Ukraine has urged Turkey to close Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships.

"We are calling for the air space, Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to be closed. We have conveyed our relevant demand to the Turkish side," Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told a news conference in Ankara.

Ukraine President is seeking help from world leaders to defend and protect its airspace from Russian aggression. Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia has "has unleased a war with Ukraine and the entire democratic world".

According to AFP, Ukraine has said that it killed around 50 Russian occupiers in the Shchastya area. The Ukraine army claims the Shchastya region has been brought under its control.

Sixth Russian plane is believed to have been destroyed in the Kramatorsk region.

Ukraine Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov asks anyone able to hold a weapon to join the ranks of Territorial Defence Forces.

On the business side of things, Moscow's stock exchange continues to plummet. The market has tanked more than 45 percent.

Meanwhile, after declaring war on Ukraine, Russian President Putin gave a chilling warning to its allies in the West, Daily Mail reported.

"To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history," he said on a television broadcast.

Paying no heed to international appeals asking for a peaceful resolution, Putin described the invasion as a "special military occupation' and said he wants to "demilitarize" and "de-Nazify", not occupy, the country, the report said.

South Korea President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that South Korea will join international sanctions against Russia as he expressed regret over Russia's attack on Ukraine, saying any use of armed force causing human casualties cannot be justified.

Moon also instructed the government to do everything possible to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in Ukraine after he was briefed on the crisis in the wake of Russia's attack, said Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, Yonhap news agency reported.

Ukraine's defence announced that two tanks and several trucks belonging to the Russian Federation were destroyed in the Donbas. Visuals from Ukraine show heavy shelling, missile attacks in various areas of Ukraine. A large explosion was reported at an arms site in Kalynivka.

The Interior Ministry in Kiev announced that seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed in airstrikes in the first few hours of Russia's invasion. Roads heading west of Kyiv are reporting massive traffic jams.

Residents in Kiev appeared to be filling up on gas and trying to exit the city via car and rail on Thursday just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin moved in with tanks over the Belarusian border, the Daily Mail reported. The reality of war has finally dawned on many Ukrainian residents who were in denial that Putin would actually invade. Many are now rushing for the western border to escape the incoming tanks as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law, the report said.

Indian embassy in Ukraine has issued a second advisory on Thursday, regarding alternative arrangements for the evacuation of Indian nationals as the Ukrainian airspaces closes. The Indian nationals are asked to carry their passport and essential documents at all times.

The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, on Thursday approved the imposition of martial law in the country for a period of 30 days in the wake Russia's "military invasion" of the country. As per the law, the constitutional rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens, provided in Articles 30-34, 38, 39, 41-44, 53 of the Constitution of Ukraine, may be temporarily restricted.

The decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on the imposition of martial law says: "Martial law is imposed from 5.30 a.m on February 24, 2022 for a period of 30 days. This decision was made in connection with the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and on the basis of the proposal of the National Security and Defense Council and in accordance with Ukrainian law."

"India has a special relationship with Russia and New Delhi can play a more active role in controlling the situation (Russia-Ukraine crisis). We urge PM Narendra Modi to immediately contact Russian President Vladimir Putin and our President Volodymyr Zelensky," Ukrainian Ambassador to India Igor Polikha has said.