KYIV, Ukraine (WCBS 880) — Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine from three sides in a pre-dawn assault that targeted the capital of Kyiv, other cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling as civilians fled by train, bus and car.
Ukraine's government described it as a "full-scale war" that has so far claimed dozens of lives and Russian President Vladimir Putin warned any interference would "lead to consequences you have never seen in history."
Photos coming out of Ukraine showed widespread damage, smoke rising form cities and civilians fleeing:
A woman is seen outside a house badly damaged by shellfire in Gorlovka.Alexander Ryumin/TASS/Sipa USA
DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: A house badly damaged by shellfire in Gorlovka.Alexander Ryumin/TASS/Sipa USA
KHARKIV, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 24, 2022 - A rocket is embedded in a road after shelling by Russian troops of a residential area in Piatykhatky, Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine.ddp images/Sipa USA
DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: A room in a house badly damaged by shellfire in Gorlovka.Alexander Ryumin/TASS/Sipa USA
DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: A house stands damaged by shellfire in Gorlovka.Alexander Ryumin/TASS/Sipa USA
DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: A local mining equipment repair plant stands damaged by shellfire in Gorlovka.Alexander Ryumin/TASS/Sipa USA
DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: A blanket covers the body of a woman killed by shellfire in Gorlovka.Alexander Ryumin/TASS/Sipa USA
People stand around a damaged structure caused by a rocket on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Smoke rises from outside an intelligence building on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.Chris McGrath/Getty Images
People take photos of a rocket as it is removed on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022, shows black smoke shooting up into the air in Ukraine's capital Kyiv. Russia launched a military attack on Ukraine the same day.Kyodo News/Sipa USA
People stand around a damaged structure caused by a rocket on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.Chris McGrath/Getty Images
People board a bus as they attempt to evacuate the city on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.Pierre Crom/Getty Images
People hitchhike and wait for buses as people try to leave the city on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian armed forces and Belarus on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.Pierre Crom/Getty Images
People carry suitcases as they exit a train arriving from Kiev at Przemysl main train station on February 23, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions in the east as independent republics, sending Russian forces to perform a "peacekeeping function." The move provoked a wave of sanctions from the U.S., European Union and allied governments.Omar Marques/Getty Images
