Putin announces military operation in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia looks on during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Beijing National Stadium on February 04, 2022, in Beijing, China. Photo credit Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation Thursday in eastern Ukraine, claiming it’s intended to protect civilians.

In a televised address early Thursday, Putin says the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine.

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He adds that Russia doesn’t have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin says the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian “regime.”

Putin also is warning other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action will lead to “consequences they have never seen.”

Simultaneously, the U.N. Security Council met Wednesday night (local time) at Ukraine's request to discuss Russian aggression.

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