Ukraine Crisis: World Leaders Unite As Russia Starts Full-Scale Invasion On Ukraine

Boris Johnson has accused Vladimir Putin of choosing "a path of bloodshed and destruction" with his attack on Ukraine and says that the UK and its allies would respond "decisively".

In a statement after explosions in a number of Ukrainian cities, the prime minister added that he was "appalled by the horrific events" in Ukraine and said he had spoken to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the country's president, to discuss "next steps".

US President Joe Biden denounced Vladimir Putin's decision to begin military operations as an "unprovoked and unjustified attack", declaring "the world will hold Russia accountable".

Mr Biden said in a statement: "The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight."

Explosions near major Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv 

The Russian president appeared on state TV in Moscow to announce the operation was going ahead, just as the UN Security Council was meeting late in New York to urge Russia not to invade Ukraine.

António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said:

"This war doesn't make any sense," adding: "It will cause a level of suffering not seen in Europe since the Balkan crisis."

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary-general, said Russia's actions were a "grave breach of international law" and that allies would meet to address the "renewed aggression".

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said her thoughts were with the people of Ukraine "in these dark hours" and that Russia would be held accountable for its actions.

The Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said his country condemned the Russian attack "in the strongest possible terms" and called for the immediate cease of "all hostile and provocative actions against Ukraine". He added: "These reckless and dangerous acts will not go unpunished."

The UK's ambassador to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, said it was a "grave day for Ukraine and for the principles of the United Nations".

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said:

"Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now."

Key developments at a glance:
• Explosions heard in Kyiv and Kharkiv
• Shelling in western city of Lviv reported by Ukrainian emergency service
• Ukraine says Russia has launched a "full-scale invasion"
• Vladimir Putin ordered a "military operation" in Ukraine's Donbas region
• Joe Biden says US and its allies will respond amid global condemnation

What's happening on the ground

Explosions have been heard by Sky News near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which seem to be close to the airport.

Sky's Stuart Ramsay, who is in Kyiv, said he was woken up by loud explosions, is still hearing bangs and lights are out in certain areas.

"There are major attacks happening," he said.

Air raid sirens are going off in the city.

Ukraine's state emergency service said its ammunition depot in Kyiv is on fire and that it has disabled its website temporarily due to a cyber threat.

Sky's John Sparks has heard distant thuds on the outskirts of Kharkiv and said there is little sign of the Ukrainian military.

Shelling in the Lviv region has been reported by the Ukraine emergency service.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging people to stay home as much as possible and introduced martial law.

He said Russia carried out missile strikes on Ukraine's infrastructure and on border guards.

Ukrainska Pravda news outlet cited an interior ministry official saying that military command centres were hit by the air attacks.

The state border of Ukraine was attacked by troops from Russia and Belarus, Ukraine's border guards service said.

Border units, border patrols and checkpoints were targeted with artillery, heavy equipment and small arms, with attacks also taking place from Crimea, it said.

The governor of Luhansk is reportedly telling people to leave the region.

Ukraine's military said its Air Force is repelling a Russian air attack.

It said information about Russian troops landing in the southern port city of Odessa is false.

It is unclear if Russian state agency reports of troops landing in Mariupol - another city in the south - are true.

A Ukrainian minister said the country is facing non-stop cyber attacks.

Ukraine urges world leaders to take action

The EU said its leaders will meet today to discuss further "restrictive" measures that will impose "massive" and "severe" consequences on Russia.

US President Joe Biden said the world would "hold Russia accountable" and the US and its allies would respond in a united and decisive way.

He added that "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."

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he is "appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine" and has spoken to Mr Zelenskyy to "discuss next steps".

"President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine," he said.

"The UK and our allies will respond decisively."

Ukraine's foreign ministry called on allies to immediately activate a package of new sanctions.

A Polish government spokesperson said now is the time to reinforce NATO's eastern flank and the country expects this to be decided.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said "this war doesn't make any sense", adding that "it will cause a level of suffering not seen in Europe since the Balkan crisis".

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

"I strongly condemn the appalling, unprovoked attack President Putin has launched on the people of Ukraine.

"We stand with Ukraine and we will work with our international partners to respond to this terrible act of aggression."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the Russian attack on Ukraine is a "blatant" breach of international law.

Dame Barbara Woodward, the UK's UN envoy, said the UN Security Council must do all it can to "stop the war".

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country will take additional action to stop Russia's "unwarranted" aggression.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace echoed the comments of Ms Truss and Mr Johnson, saying Russia has "further violated Ukrainian sovereignty".

He said Russia "has chosen conflict".

"No one has been fooled by the Kremlin's false flags and fake narratives," he said.

"This is naked aggression against a democratic country which had dared to express a different aspiration than being a supine neighbour to Russia.

"No one should forget this day. Putin thinks this land grab is about securing his legacy - it will be, but not the one that he wishes."

Putin's justification

In a television address announcing the "military operation", Mr Putin said clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces were inevitable and it was just a question of time.

He said the aim was to protect people, but circumstances demanded decisive action from Russia.

He claimed the actions were in self-defence and that further NATO expansion and its use of Ukraine's territory was unacceptable.

Mr Putin said the response would be instant if anyone tries to take on Russia and in comments directed towards the Ukrainian military he said your fathers and grandfathers did not fight so you could help "neo-Nazis".