Shocking footage is emerging from Ukraine as the Russian invasion begins
News reporters in Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine have been interrupted by explosions as Russian forces make their way through the country.
On Thursday morning, Vladimir Putin announced a “military operation” in the country, warning that the West will “face consequences never encountered in your history” should they attempt to intervene.
Journalists on the ground in Ukraine have been reporting back from the country, with explosions heard in the background and military jets and rockets flying overhead.
CNN senior international correspondent Matthew Chance was reporting from a hotel rooftop in the Ukrainian capital and said he could hear loud booms in the distance.
He said: “The United States has warned the Ukrainian authorities that it is possible that there could be strikes, airstrikes, missile attacks, ground attacks as well, on various places around the country, including on the capital.
“Now I don’t know whether that’s what we’re witnessing now, but it’s a remarkable coincidence that I’m hearing these explosions in Kyiv right now in the minutes after Vladimir Putin gave that speech.”
Just minutes later, Chance then put on his flak jacket and helmet live on air.
CNN's Matthew Chance in Kyiv: "I just heard a big bang right here behind me." Here's the video of the moment pic.twitter.com/prYeVlDvkn
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 24, 2022
This is the moment when senior international correspondent Matthew Chance, a 21-year veteran of CNN, donned his flak jacket and helmet live on the air pic.twitter.com/sbj5Fao5uJ
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 24, 2022
ABC News aired footage from during the night of explosions echoing across Kyiv.
Explosions heard in the distance before sunrise in Kyiv, Ukraine.
LATEST: https://t.co/Hq3CVT4l2t pic.twitter.com/87ZNAV2uf5
— ABC News (@ABC) February 24, 2022
Other footage shows a reporter react with shock as a missile flies overhead.
WATCH: Missile flies overhead while reporter records video in Kramatorsk, Ukraine pic.twitter.com/YT56jaYdwb
— BNO News (@BNONews) February 24, 2022
The Spectator and the New York Times have also shared footage on social media of troops entering Ukraine and missiles being fired towards the country from Moldova.
https://twitter.com/spectatorindex/status/1496772726387666950
These are some of the first images of Russian troops entering Ukraine, verified by The New York Times.
Footage captured by security cameras at a border crossing on Thursday morning shows Russian military vehicles entering from Crimea. https://t.co/iAaop3QWru pic.twitter.com/U9gt81z6GR
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 24, 2022
The international community has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, promising tough sanctions against the country.
Just hours before the invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had pleaded with Putin to keep the peace in a speech aired live on television.
“The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” he said.
Related links:
- Ukraine’s Twitter compares Putin to Hitler after Russia launch full-scale invasion
- Andriy Shevchenko joins Zinchenko with defiant statement on Russia-Ukraine conflict
- Putin says West will face ‘consequences never encountered in your history’ in chilling warning
