More than 150 senior Russian officials have signed an open letter of condemnation Vladimir Putinthe invasion of Ukraine as an “unprecedented atrocity” and a warning of “catastrophic consequences”.
Deputies said they were “convinced” that Russian citizens did not support the war and accused Putin “personally” of ordering troops in Ukraine in an attack “for which there is no and cannot be justified.”
In the early hours of today, Putin issued an order to attack, issuing an extraordinary address to the Russian nation, declaring a “special military operation” to “demilitarize” and “denationalize” Ukraine in a manner tantamount to a clear declaration of war.
Rockets and bombs rained down from the sky, tanks rolled across the border, troops parachuted into the eastern regions, and explosions were observed across the country in the early hours of the morning.
The letter called on Russians “not to take part in the aggression” and called on citizens to speak out against the invasion, because “only mass popular condemnation can stop the war.”
Among the signatories of the letter were Moscow MPs Elena Rusakova, Maxim Gongalski, Andrei Morev, Elena Kotenochkina and Elena Filina, as well as St. Petersburg officials David Kuvaev and Polina Sizova and Veliky Novgorod MP Anna Cherepanova.
It was a surprising move for Russian officials to speak out against Putin, who usually holds the iron grip of dissidents, and last week televised a meeting with Moscow’s top security chiefs in which they appeared to have been forced to support his plans to invade. in Ukraine.
More than 145 Russian municipal officials have signed an open letter condemning Vladimir Putin’s “personal” invasion of Ukraine, describing it as “an unprecedented atrocity for which there is no and cannot be justified.”
Surveillance cameras at the Belarusian-Ukrainian checkpoint Senkovka-Veselovka capture at least four Russian T-72B tanks, at least eight MT-LB tractors and a Ural truck crossing the border
A huge explosion is observed at the Vinnytsia military base in central Ukraine as the country comes under widespread attack from Russia.
An explosion in Sumy, eastern Ukraine, struck what looks like an arms depot that exploded, illuminating the night sky
The letter, which described the signatories as “elected by the people”, said they “unreservedly condemn the Russian army’s attack on Ukraine”.
“This is an unprecedented atrocity for which there is no and cannot be justified. The decision to attack was made personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin. We are convinced that the citizens of Russia have not given him such a mandate. “
The letter warns of “catastrophic consequences” – “Thousands of people will die, wounded and maimed, cities dear to many Russians will be destroyed.”
It says Russia will face “condemnation of the world community”, which will lead to “isolation, rising prices and poverty”.
“Hopes for a good life in Russia are dashing before our eyes,” the letter added.
“We urge you not to take part in the aggression and not to approve it. Please do not be silent: only mass popular condemnation can stop the war.
This comes after heartbreaking photos emerged from Ukraine showing bloodied civilians staggering through the streets of cities in the east of the country after Russian shelling in the early hours of today.
Other civilians were also injured, and some others are believed to have died, although the number of wounded has not yet been confirmed.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities but using precision weapons, and said “there is no threat to the civilian population.”
However, Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in eastern Ukraine say they have been attacked, with explosions reported in the west, in Zhytomyr and Lviv, near the Polish border.
Meanwhile, pro-Russian rebel forces driven out of the occupied Donbass region have seized two villages and a horrifying video from Uman, Cherkasy Oblast, central Ukraine, shows the moment a shell hit passing cyclists.
An injured woman is seen on the streets of Kharkiv in Ukraine after air strikes on a residential complex
An injured man stands next to an ambulance after the attack in the city of Chuguev in eastern Ukraine on February 24
Ukrainian security forces help injured man after air strike hits residential complex in Kharkiv
Emergency department treats injured man after attacks in the city of Chuguev in eastern Ukraine on February 24
Ukrainian security forces escort wounded man after air strike hits residential complex in Chukhuyev, Kharkiv, this morning
Addressing the nation on Thursday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s history had changed forever and that Russia had “taken the path of evil” – comparing the Russian attack to Hitler’s forces during World War II. But he promised to retaliate, saying the military had already inflicted “serious losses” on Russia.
He called on all Ukrainian citizens wishing to defend their homeland to move forward, saying the weapons would be distributed to anyone who wanted them. He also asked civilians to donate blood to help the wounded troops. And he asked world leaders to impose “the toughest possible sanctions” on Putin.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the moment, the adviser of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs Anton Herashchenko said: “As of today, the world has a new geopolitical reality. Either Ukraine and the world will stop the new Hitler now, or there will be a third world war.
Western leaders have lined up to condemn Russia’s actions in the early hours, with security councils convened around the world to respond. Severe sanctions are expected to follow, along with more shipments of military equipment to Ukraine – provided they manage to find their way there.
But NATO and the United States have made it clear that no troops will be sent, leaving the Ukrainian army – far lower than Russia – to sustain the attack alone. Few expect him to emerge victorious from what is almost certain to be a protracted, bloody and brutal war.