Louis Bacon and Moore Capital – apology

Updated: 22:00 GMT 30 September 2010

In the article “The Godfather of the Hedge Fund” of September 4, 2010, we suggested that Mr. Bacon was complicit in unethical behavior in his business with hedge funds, Moore Capital and elsewhere, and as a result he was not such a person. and Moore Capital is not the kind of business the Conservative Party should consider accepting financial donations from. We are happy to confirm for the record that there is no basis in the assumption that Mr Bacon or Moore Capital is guilty of any unethical behavior, and we reject any suggestion that legitimate political parties should deviate from them. We apologize for the inconvenience and all the damage caused to Mr. Bacon and Moore Capital.

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It is no coincidence that this document is being circulated just before Mr. Biden’s State of the Union address on March 1 and the Democrats’ “issues” caucuses in the House of Representatives next week.

Dozens of bills listed on the agenda are written by both Democrats and Republicans, many of them under threat either due to anti-Democratic sentiment or opponents endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

One such bill, written by Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, and Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, provides for a permanent expansion of Medicare telemedicine undertaken during the pandemic. There is a diabetes prevention bill introduced by Congressmen Diana DeGette, Democrat of Colorado, and Tom Rice, Republican of South Carolina, who, like Ms. Cheney, voted to impeach Trump. The expansion of preferential tax savings accounts for education is being sponsored by Ms. Spanberger and Michigan Representative Fred Upton, another Republican who voted to impeach. Also included is a significant expansion of eligibility for child and adult nutrition programs drafted by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, an Oregon Democrat, and Jaime Herrera Boytler, a Washington Republican facing a major Trump-backed challenge for her impeachment vote.

There are even incentives for utilities to invest in cybersecurity written by Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a Democrat who caused contempt for the left by blocking a social policy and climate change bill in the Senate and refusing to join his party in changing the filibuster rule to pass voter protection law against republican opposition.

But what’s most striking is how the draft agenda touches on issues that seem to dominate the campaign, even if they haven’t sparked much debate in the House and Senate.

To curb inflation, one bill the group is pushing would “ban” foreign governments from engaging in cartel-like activities, a blow to OPEC that would have no real impact. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be given the power to order the reimbursement of natural gas bills “that are unfair, unreasonable, unreasonably discriminatory, or preferential.” And new and small-scale meat processors will be helped to fight monopoly pricing by a few dominant meat processors, which the Biden administration is already undertaking.

Rising crime rates across the country will also draw attention with an expansion of existing grants for local law enforcement, new security requirements for taxi companies, stricter reporting requirements for electronic communications service providers to help track child predators, and a new federal definition crimes. for “household pirates” who steal packages from the porch of the house.

Stock markets in Britain and around the world plunged today after Russia attacked Ukraine amid fears that a war in Europe will fuel higher inflation and derail the economic recovery following the pandemic.

The FTSE 100 in London fell by 2.73 per cent or 204 points to 7,294 in early trading this morning – while oil prices surged by 6 per cent, pushing Brent crude to $103 and past $100 a barrel for the first time since September 2014.

The Dax in Germany fell by 3.8 per cent or 555 points to 14,076 this morning, while the CAC 40 in France was down 3.4 per cent or 230 points to 6,550 as analysts declared that stock markets were ‘getting hit very hard’.

The Moscow Stock Exchange – where trading was temporarily suspended today – fell by an astonishing 45.2 per cent or 1,395 points to 1,690 on the day at one point, while the rouble dived to a record low against the US dollar. 

Russian forces fired missiles at several cities in Ukraine and landed troops on its south coast today after President Vladimir Putin authorised the ‘special military operation’ in response to what he said were threats from Ukraine.

Overnight, stocks in Asia fell with the Hang Seng in Hong Kong losing 3.1 per cent; the Kospi in Seoul falling 2.6 per cent; the Shanghai Composite Index down 0.9 per cent; and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo dropping 2.2 per cent.

On Wall Street yesterday, the S&P 500 fell 1.8 per cent to 4,226, which put it 11.9 per cent below its record last month on January 3, while the Nasdaq lost 2.6 per cent to 13,038 and the Dow Jones fell 1.4 per cent to 33,132.

Already this week, fuel prices have reached new record levels as the Ukraine crisis affects the price of oil. The RAC said the average cost of a litre of petrol or diesel at UK forecourts on Tuesday was 149.30p or 152.68p respectively.

It warned drivers to expect petrol prices to hit the ‘grim milestone’ of 150p per litre in the coming days as retailers pass on rising wholesale costs amid concerns over the reliability of supplies after Russian troops entered Ukraine. 

And gas and food prices are now in danger of rising much higher than expected, with chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat saying that the cost-of-living crisis will become ‘driven by war’. 

A currency trader talks on the phone at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul today

FTSE 100 – PAST WEEK: The FTSE index in London has plunged this morning on the news that Russia has attacked Ukraine

FTSE 100 – PAST TWO YEARS: The FTSE 100 plunged at the start of the pandemic but had recovered most of its losses since

A currency trader talks on the phone at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul today

RUSSIAN MOEX INDEX — The Moscow Stock Exchange fell an astonishing 45.2 per cent or 1,395 points to 1,690 today

The Conservative MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The Russian people are still flying using planes with Rolls Royce and General Electric engines. The money still needs to be transferred and the cost of transferring that money still has an effect on the Russian Exchequer.

‘The decisions made around Europe are absolutely going to shape the way Vladimir Putin sees this because the reality is that if we leave this to stand, if we let this pass, you can forget about petrol at £1.70 a litre, which is where it’s heading now. It will be significantly higher.’

Russian central bank to intervene as ruble and Moscow exchange dive 

Russia’s central bank said today it would intervene as the ruble tumbled to a record low and the Moscow Stock Exchange reopened down 14 per cent after Moscow launched a military attack on Ukraine.

‘To stabilise the situation on the financial market, the Bank of Russia has decided to start interventions in the foreign exchange market,’ the bank said in a statement.

The measures are intended to provide ‘additional liquidity to the banking sector’ in Russia, with Western sanctions looming after the military operation announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

‘The Bank of Russia will ensure the maintenance of financial stability and continuity of the operation of financial institutions, using all necessary tools,’ it said. The central bank added that it and other financial institutions ‘have clear action plans for any scenario.’

The announcement came as the ruble-dominated Moex index opened down 13.97 per cent, according to the exchange’s website, while the dollar-dominated RTS was down 20.16 per cent. The exchange had announced a temporary suspension of trading earlier today.

The ruble fell by 9 per cent to 90 against the US dollar at 5.42am UK time, hitting an all-time low minutes after Mr Putin announced the military operation. It then bounced back slightly, but remained down 5.4 per cent from the previous day’s close as of 7.07am.

He added: ’10 per cent of the world’s wheat is grown in Ukraine and the idea that this year’s going to be a good crop, I’m afraid, is for the birds. This is absolutely one of those moments where we’re going to see the cost-of-living crisis driven by war.’

As Australian shares shed more than 3 per cent today, market analyst Chris Weston of Pepperstone in Melbourne said: ‘We now have a long night ahead of us trying to understand how bad this gets, and what sanctions get put up, because there has to be a fresh round of sanctions now against Putin and the Russian government.

‘That’s where the worst case, or the bear case scenario is for markets, and that’s what we’re seeing. There are no buyers here for risk, and there are a lot of sellers out there, so this market is getting hit very hard.’

Markets have been hammered this week after the Kremlin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and said it would provide ‘peacekeepers’ to the regions, leading to warnings of a conflagration.

Rob Carnell, head of Asia Pacific research at ING in Singapore, added: ‘Markets are now more adequately pricing in the risk of something horrific happening. That combined with the uncertainty is a horrible environment to be in.’

And market analyst Jeffrey Halley of Oanda in Indonesia said: ‘It is hard to find any reasons for the selloff to reverse now that it appears the tanks are rolling. Stronger sanctions are to come on Russia and energy prices will inevitably head higher in the short term.’  

In Russia, trading was suspended on the Moscow Stock Exchange, and the rouble plummeted to a record low against the dollar. The US dollar gained more than 10 per cent against the Russian currency at one point.

Starting from around 3am UK time this morning, attacks were reported across Ukraine. 

The price of Brent crude oil had jumped by 5.6 per cent by a little after 7am UK time to $102.30 per barrel, hitting its highest point since 2014. 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said this morning that he had spoken to the leaders of the US, Germany, the EU, Poland and the UK. He said he had ‘urged to stop Putin, war against (Ukraine) and the world immediately’.

Currency traders watch monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul today

OIL PRICE – PAST WEEK: The oil price surged to more than $100 a barrel today after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began

OIL PRICE – PAST TWO YEARS: The oil price has surged since the start of the pandemic in early 2020 to $100 a barrel

OIL PRICE – PAST 14 YEARS: Brent crude was pushed past $100 (£74) a barrel today for the first time since September 2014

People walk past screens broadcasting headlines and share prices today at the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai, India

Early in the morning the Moscow Stock Exchange said it had ‘suspended trading on all of its markets until further notice’. But it later restarted at 10am local time, 7am in the UK. 

In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Mr Putin has ‘chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction’ with his attack on Ukraine and that the UK and its allies would respond ‘decisively’. 

It came as Ukraine’s president declared martial law, while Russia’s military said it had targeted Ukrainian air bases and other military assets and had not targeted populated areas.

A Downing Street spokesman said the Prime Minister will chair a Cobra committee meeting to discuss the response to the ‘horrific attacks’.

The attack has come to Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers dropping on Kharkiv

An explosion lights up the night sky over Kiev in the early hours of today, as Russia launched an all-out attack on Ukraine

Smoke rises over Chuhuiv military airfield in eastern Ukraine after a Russian airstrike aimed at taking out the air force

A huge explosion is seen at Vinnytsia military base in Ukraine today as the country comes under all-out attack by Russia

Vladimir Putin is pictured this morning declaring war on Ukraine, in what he termed a ‘special military operation’

Mr Johnson said he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss ‘next steps’. 

Now UK flights are told to avoid Ukraine airspace

Aircraft flying to or from UK airports are being ordered to avoid Ukraine airspace after the crisis in the country intensified.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he made the decision ‘following the horrific events overnight’ as Russia launched a major military assault.

The Cabinet minister tweeted: ‘I’ve instructed @UK-CAA (the Civil Aviation Authority) to ensure airlines avoid Ukraine airspace to keep passengers and crew safe. We continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and work with our international partners to respond to this act of aggression.’

Wizz Air cancelled its flights from the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Lviv to Luton today.

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urged British nationals in Ukraine to ‘leave now via commercial routes while they are still available’.

He added: ‘President Putin has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction by launching this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The UK and our allies will respond decisively.’

The Downing Street spokesman said Mr Johnson had assured Mr Zelensky the West ‘would not stand by as President Putin waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people’.

‘The Prime Minister said he hoped Ukraine could resist and that Ukraine and its people were in the thoughts of everyone in the United Kingdom people during this dark time,’ the spokesman said.

Mr Putin announced the action during a televised address early this morning, saying the move was a response to threats from Ukraine.

He said Russia does not have a goal to occupy Ukraine, but the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian ‘regime’.

He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to ‘consequences they have never seen’.

Mr Putin accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demand to prevent Ukraine from joining Nato and offer Moscow security guarantees.

He said the Russian military operation aims to ensure a ‘demilitarisation’ of Ukraine, adding that all Ukrainian servicemen who lay down arms will be able to safely leave the zone of combat.

Explosions could be heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv shortly after Mr Putin’s address, while explosions were also reported in the cities of Odesa and Kharkiv.

Ukraine’s border guard agency said the Russian military attacked the country from neighbouring Belarus.

Last month, he defended the Republican National Committee after it passed a resolution condemning Ms. Cheney and another Republican committee member on Jan. 6, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; the resolution stated that they were involved in the “persecution of ordinary citizens participating in legitimate political discussions.” In contrast, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, has criticized the party.

In private conversations with donors, Mr. McCarthy often doesn’t mention Mr. Trump as he makes an aggressive speech about the coming “red wave” and what the Republicans will do if they regain their majority.

But he is often asked if Mr. Trump is going to run for president.

Mr. McCarthy told donors that Mr. Trump has not yet made a decision and that he advised the former president to see if President Biden is running for re-election. Mr. McCarthy also frequently cites former members of the House of Representatives who he says could be serious presidential candidates, including Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida.

Capitol Riot Aftermath: Key Events

Card 1 of 3

Ivanka Trump. Former President Donald Trump’s eldest daughter, who was one of his senior advisers, is reportedly in talks with the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack about the possibility of sits on an interview with a panel.

Civil lawsuits. federal judge in Washington rules this three civil suits against Mr. Trump in connection with the attack on the Capitol on January 6 can move forward. The ruling means plaintiffs can ask the former president for information about his role in the events.

classified information. The National Archives stated that disclosed classified information among the documents that Mr. Trump took with him from the White House when he left office. The discovery raises new doubts about how the former president handled government documents.

On Capitol Hill, Mr. McCarthy’s main problem comes down to math. Leadership positions in the Chamber can be secured by a majority vote of the members of each party. But the speaker is a constitutional officer elected by the entire house, and therefore must receive a majority of at least 218 votes.

In 2015, after Speaker John A. Boehner was fired by the most conservative members of the House of Representatives, Mr. McCarthy, then Republican No. 2, became the heir apparent — and he ruined everything. His the biggest public crime was appearing on television in which he blurted out that the House of Representatives had set up a special committee to investigate the attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, specifically to lower Hillary Clinton’s approval rating.

“I said repeatedly at the time that we needed a speaker who could speak,” recalled former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who challenged Mr. McCarthy for speaker after a gaffe.

Eventually, the Republicans hired Paul D. Ryan, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and former running mate for the job.

Ukrainians have recorded footage of war unfolding before their eyes with cruise missiles flying overhead, Russian troops parachuting in and devastating explosions around them.

Russia today launched all-out war on Ukraine with a multi-pronged assault on the country from the north, south and east after Vladimir Putin personally gave the order for his forces to attack. 

Extraordinary video showed what appeared to be a cruise missile slamming into Ivano-Frankivsk airport, also in the west. Russian troops were filmed parachuting into Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city which sits on the eastern border with Russia.

While video filmed in Odessa, in the country’s southwestern corner, showed the sky light up bright white by an explosion. Similar footage from Kharkiv showed a massive explosion within the city, though it was not clear what the target was.   

Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv in the east of Ukraine all reported coming under attack, but blasts were also reported in the west – in Zhytomyr and Lviv, close to the border with Poland. 

Missing shell hits passerby cyclist 

This is the moment a passerby cyclist was hit by a shell as it missed its target in Uman in the Cherkassy region of Ukraine

This is the moment a passerby cyclist was hit by a shell as it missed its target in Uman in the Cherkassy region of Ukraine. 

Reports stated that at least one civilian was killed and five others wounded in the missile attack, which sparked an evacuation of the population within a 19 mile radius of the nearby military unit.   

Missile strike on airport in Ukraine’s east 

Footage from Western Ukraine showed a missile soaring in and landing on an already smoking building at an airport in the region. The building bursts into flames before a large cloud of dark smoke rises over the area

Footage from Western Ukraine showed a missile soaring in and landing on an already smoking building at Ivano-Frankivsk airport. The building appears to burst into flames before a large cloud of dark smoke rises over the area.  

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets also took out targets from east to west – aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts. 

Russian President Putin has targeted airports across Ukraine, among them Chuguyev airport near Kharkiv, in the country’s east in what appears to be a strategic bid to cripple the country and take control of the skies as soldiers squeeze from the north, east and south. 

Moscow has boasted of taking full control of the skies – though Ukraine reported that six Russian jets were shot out of the sky over the eastern Donbass region with 50 Russian troops killed. 

Massive explosion in Kharkiv 

Footage from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s largest city which sits on the eastern border with Russia, showed an explosion rocking the region

Footage from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city which sits on the eastern border with Russia, showed an explosion rocking the region. 

US intelligence chiefs had already said the city was at particular risk of being targeted in a Russian invasion as it is close to the Ukrainian-Russian border. 

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro. 

And on Wednesday night, a huge military convoy of more than 100 trucks with soldiers were heading in the direction of the city.  

Explosions in the port city Mariupol 

Footage showed massive explosions hitting the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, near the border with Russia. Video shows the sky lighting up red with the incoming missile before going pitch black besides a few lights in a nearby apartment block as the blast hits

Footage showed massive explosions hitting the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, near the border with Russia.  

Video shows the sky lighting up red with the incoming missile before going pitch black besides a few lights in a nearby apartment block as the blast hits. 

An Associated Press photographer in Mariupol reported hearing explosions and seeing dozens of people with suitcases heading for their cars to leave the city. 

Russian paratroopers parachute into Ukraine 

Video filmed in Kharkiv, close to Ukraine’s border with Russia, purported to show Russian troops parachuting into the country

Video filmed in Kharkiv, close to Ukraine’s border with Russia, purported to show Russian troops parachuting into the country. 

The footage, taken in the daylight, shows on of several attacks on Ukraine from all fronts, with bombs and missiles striking targets across the country, ground forces rolling in from Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk.

An apartment block in Kharkiv was struck, causing civilian casualties, during the early hours before troops were seen arriving in the east of Ukraine. 

Explosions hit near Ukrainian army warehouse 

Footage shows explosions hitting Svatove, a city in the east of Ukraine. Reports said the missiles had hit ‘near’ a warehouse storing Ukrainian army equipment

Footage shows explosions hitting Svatove, a city in the east of Ukraine. Reports said the missiles had hit ‘near’ a warehouse storing Ukrainian army equipment. 

Russian troops have launched targeted missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in what appears to be a strategic bid to cripple the country.

The invasion marks the most concerted attempt to up-end world order since the end of the Cold War, and risks sparking the bloodiest conflict in Europe since the end of the Second World War. 

Explosion in Odessa 

Video from Krasnopillia, near Odessa in the southwestern corner of Ukraine purported to show part of a ground invasion with blinding bright light and a smoke cloud hanging over the area

Video from Krasnopillia, near Odessa in the southwestern corner of Ukraine, showed the night sky lit up bright white following an explosion. 

It came after Vladimir Putin gave an extraordinary early-morning address to the Russian nation – delivered during a UN meeting aimed at avoiding war – in which he declared a ‘special military operation’ to ‘de-militarise’ and ‘de-Nazify’ Ukraine in what amounted to a outright declaration of war.

The Russian strongman also issued a chilling warning to any country thinking of coming to Ukraine’s aid, vowing ‘consequences greater than any you have faced in history’. 

 Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the assault as a ‘full-scale invasion’ and said Ukraine will ‘defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.’

Air raid warning sirens blare in Kiev 

Video filmed in the capital Kiev showed air sirens wailing as residents woke up to a Russian invasion after weeks of warnings that Putin was preparing a land, air and sea assault

Video filmed in the capital Kiev showed air sirens wailing as residents woke up to a Russian invasion after weeks of warnings that Putin was preparing a land, air and sea assault. 

Terrified citizens rushed to bomb shelters through the night despite no air raid warnings sounded in the capital until early morning – only the frequent muffled crump of missile or air strikes breaking through the pre-dawn stillness.

Others reported sheltering in subways and basements as the sounds of distant explosions became a constant backdrop. 

Images from Kiev showed highways out of the city gridlocked as people tried to flee after Russian bombs started to fall – but with the whole country under simultaneous attack, there was little safety to be found. 

Tanks roll in from Belarus 

Footage showed tanks rolling into Ukraine from Belarus after dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight

Footage showed tanks rolling into Ukraine from Belarus after dictator Alexander Lukashenko threw his forces into the fight. 

The CCTV footage at Belarusian-Ukrainian checkpoint Senkovka-Veselovka captured at least four T-72B tanks, at least eight MT-LB tractors, and a Ural truck crossing the border.

Russia had been massing troops along its border with Ukraine since October but added to its arsenal by deploying soldiers to Belarus in January, ostensibly for war games.  

Fighters jets spotted over Ukrainian cities 

Video this morning showed what was thought to be Russian jets flying over major cities in Ukraine – among them helicopters as well as fighter jets

Video this morning showed what was thought to be Russian jets flying over major cities in Ukraine – among them helicopters as well as fighter jets. 

Terrified citizens sheltered indoors, in subways and basements as air raid siren warnings wailed into the morning after Putin ordered his troops into the country overnight. 

Russian fighter jet flies over Dnipro 

Video posted online showed a fighter jet flying over Dnipro, in the centre-east of Ukraine, in the early hours of the morning

Video posted online showed a fighter jet flying over Dnipro, in the centre-east of Ukraine, in the early hours of the morning. 

The moon was still visible as the jet soared over the city hours after Putin ordered an all-out invasion of Ukraine by his forces who have been massed on the border in recent months. 

Russian forces roll into Kharkiv 

Russian forces were seen arriving in Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine this morning. Armoured vehicles were spotted driving on the outskirts of the city as tanks and troops were seen stopping civilians as they tried to leave the area in their cars

Russian forces were seen arriving in Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine this morning hours after Putin ordered troops to launch an invasion of the country – as terrified residents tried to flee. 

Armoured vehicles were spotted driving on the outskirts of the city as tanks and troops were seen stopping civilians as they tried to leave the area in their cars. 

Missiles rained down in the city, which US intelligence chiefs had warned was at particular risk of being targeted in a Russian invasion as it is close to the Ukrainian-Russian border, in the early hours.

Debris from Russian missile found in Kiev 

Footage showed the debris of an X-32 missile which landed in Kiev this morning, hours after Putin ordered an all-out invasion of Ukraine

Footage showed the debris of an X-32 missile which landed in Kiev this morning, hours after Putin ordered an all-out invasion of Ukraine. 

Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD rockets took out targets from east to west – aimed at airfields, military bases, ammo dumps, and command posts including in the capital.

Shelling hear in Mariupol 

Residents of Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, captured the sound of shelling in the city early this morning after Putin ordered an all-out invasion of the country

Residents of Mariupol, eastern Ukraine, captured the sound of shelling in the city early this morning after Putin ordered an all-out invasion of the country. 

Footage filmed through a window in an apartment complex showed that people were taking shelter in their homes as shelling sounded out nearby. 

Ukrainians woke up to the sound of rockets and air strikes when their worst fears were realized, with explosions in Kiev causing the ground to tremble and windows to tremble.

People all over the country ran to the bomb basements Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade.

Shortly after 5 a.m., the folds of the explosions shook the windows of my hotel room as MailOnline photographer Simon Ashton and I donned bulletproof vests and helmets that had been unused in their bags for the past month.

For an hour the night sky lit up in the distance north and east of the city when military targets were hit by bombs and we fled to the basement for safety.

The braver ones – or perhaps the stupidest ones – headed in the other direction to the rooftop bar on the 11th floor of the Intercontinental Hotel, where many international media outlets were based.

Pictured: Remains of a Russian rocket in Kiev. These are reported to be the remains of an X-31 series air-to-surface missile. Most likely the anti-radiation variant X-31P or PD

A man stands by the aftermath of the Russian shelling in Kiev, Ukraine, on Thursday

Pictured: An explosion can be seen in the distance when Russian air strikes hit Kiev

Nick Craven in front of the Russian embassy, ​​where crosses by Ukrainians “Russian occupiers” are placed, one of which has a note in English: “Welcome to hell”

At 6.36 am there was the strongest explosion from our point of view, which is believed to be an air strike on a military airport near Kiev, which made the ground beneath our feet tremble.

There was an ominous lull until dawn when a cloudy rainy day began, interrupted only by the merry bells of the bells of St. Michael’s Monastery on the other side of the hotel square at 7 am.

At 7.05 in the morning, the first air raid sirens sounded throughout the city, although at least in the central part there was no blitz.

Undoubtedly, even as the terrible sound of sirens tore through the air, there was a steady stream of headlights driving through the city as travelers came to start the day.

But calm did not last long as the full scale of the Russian invasion began to unfold, with troops attacking the border on three sides and air strikes across the country, even west of Lviv, near the Polish border.

By 8 a.m. local time, queues of people were spotted in front of ATMs in the city, perhaps the first sign of panic since a state of emergency was declared across the country since midnight last night.

Police and soldiers stood in many corners of the streets to keep order.

The traffic jams are visible when people leave the city of Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, February 24, 2022.

Black smoke rises from the military airport in Chuguev near Kharkov on February 24, 2022.

In the photo: A checkpoint of the State Border Service of Ukraine in the Kiev region was shelled

Ukrainian soldiers ride in a military vehicle in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, February 24, 2022.

Long queues formed at gas stations around the city, too, but with so many places pounding in the air, it was not clear where the safest place to escape would be.

With this in mind, although the streets were noticeably quieter than usual at the start of the workday, people were mostly calm about their work, perhaps still coming to terms with what might be next.

When I first arrived in this country a month ago, few Ukrainians took the sound of Putin’s sword seriously.

Most acknowledged that it was possible for him to move to Donbass to annex the pro-Russian breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, but very few believed that Russia would launch a full-scale invasion of their neighbor.

Last night, while sitting in a local restaurant with colleagues, the mood was gloomy and the streets of Kiev quiet after Russia’s invasion of Donbass two days earlier.

There have been two earlier cases in the last few days where invasions or air strikes were widely expected, but this time it seemed definitely more real.

With many indicators cascading minute by minute, such as massive cyberattacks, a state of emergency, a Russian NOTAM warning and the closure of airspace in eastern Ukraine, the dreaded moment seemed much closer.

Cars drive to city exit after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorizes military operation in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, February 24

Earlier in the day, we had visited the Russian embassy, ​​now deserted, where someone had planted wooden crosses resembling tombstones bearing the words “Russian Occupiers.”

A scribbled note from one read simply “Welcome to Hell,” no doubt to mean that Ukrainian defenders will fight to the death for every inch of their damaged homeland.

But no matter how bravely these soldiers and reservists fight Putin’s invaders, no one expects them to be able to withstand the enormous power of the Russian army, which is believed to now number about 190,000 and apparently intends to change. of the regime in Kiev.

Ukraine will not be an obstacle, as Kremlin planners have tacitly acknowledged with the construction of a field hospital full of blood supply – and most notably, the provision of at least 45,000 corpse sacks for their troops.

The Ukrainians have already shown their determination to hold the line against the rebel fighters of the Russian-backed breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk for eight years, but the forces now moving against them are of a different order.

Massively superior and superior, the best that Ukrainians can hope for now may be to launch a guerrilla offensive against Putin’s invaders and pray for the number of soldiers returning home in these sacks of corpses, after all. account to convince the Russian public of the complete madness of the massacre. conducted on their behalf.

The Russians started a total war Ukraine today, with rockets falling from the sky, tanks rolling across the border from Belarusand masses of paratroopers descending into the eastern regions thereafter Vladimir Putin personally gave the order to attack.

“Hundreds” of Ukrainian soldiers have already been killed in early clashes, Kiev said, because the battle came to them on all fronts at one time. Cruise missiles, guided bombs and GRAD missiles are destroying targets from east to west – aimed at airports, military bases, ammunition depots and command posts, including in the capital.

The first sign that an invasion was imminent came shortly before 12 noon Ukrainian time (10 pm in Britain), when Russian-backed rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine demanded military assistance from Moscow in what is widely seen as a “fake” flag “operation to justify Putin’s decision to attack.

A moment later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed a provocative message to the nation, promising that his compatriots would “retaliate” in the event of an invasion, telling Moscow: “When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.”

A fierce series of diplomatic maneuvers, including an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, were not enough to dissuade Putin from announcing a “special military operation” around 3 a.m. Ukrainian time.

Around 6 a.m., Zelensky declared martial law in a video message recorded on his phone, urging his people “not to panic” and promising, “We will all win because we are Ukraine.”

As Europe faces its worst military crisis in decades, this is how dramatic events unfolded this morning, minute by minute. All times are displayed first in Ukrainian time, with the GMT equivalent in parentheses.

12:00 (22h)

“We will retaliate”: Ukrainian president delivers emotional televised address

Vladimir Zelensky has promised that the Ukrainian people will “strike back” if Putin launches a full-scale invasion.

His comments follow a request from Moscow-backed rebel leaders in the east for military aid to repel Ukrainian “aggression” – considered by the West a “false flag” – to justify the invasion.

Solemn President Zelensky says: “The people of Ukraine and the Government of Ukraine want peace.

“But if we are attacked, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and the lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.

The Ukrainian president said he had tried to call Putin earlier in the evening, but there was no answer, only silence, adding that Moscow had about 200,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders.

At the request of Ukraine, the UN Security Council quickly scheduled an extraordinary meeting – the second in three days.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the separatists’ demand a “further escalation of the security situation”.

Ukraine is preparing for conflict and enters a one-month state of emergency, which takes effect at midnight.

3:30 in the morning (1:30 GMT)

Explosions were heard in the strategically important port city of Mariupol

Residents of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol were awakened at 3.30 am by the sounds of explosions.

The videos appear to show clouds of smoke rising in the nearby night sky, but it has not been confirmed whether this was the result of shelling.

Mariupol, located on the Black Sea 50 miles from the Russian border, handles 50 percent of Ukraine’s steel and mineral exports.

Occupying the strategic location will give the people’s republics of Donbass access to the sea and will stifle a vital economic artery for the legitimate government of Ukraine.

4:30 AM (02:30 GMT)

UN summit at which the Ukrainian ambassador tells his Russian counterpart: “war criminals go straight to hell”

The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in New York to try to dissuade Russia from sending troops to Ukraine.

During the accused session, Ukrainian Ambassador Serhiy Kislitsya begged the council, chaired by Russia, to “do everything possible to stop the war.”

He is urging the Russian ambassador to step down as chairman.

“There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go to hell, Ambassador, “says the emotional Kislica.

At a meeting of the UN Security Council, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergei Kislitsa accused his Russian counterpart: “There is no purgatory for war criminals. They’re going to hell, Ambassador

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Putin to stop his tanks.

“If surgery is really being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

“President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.

Mr Guterres says he is witnessing “the saddest moment of my term as UN Secretary-General” and that Europe is at risk, “the worst war of the century”.

He then warned that Russia’s actions would be “not only” devastating for Ukraine “and” tragic “for Russia,” but also with an impact we cannot even foresee in terms of their consequences for the global economy. “

“At a time when we are leaving Covid and so many developing countries, there must be room for recovery, which would be very, very difficult with high oil prices, wheat exports from Ukraine and rising interest rates caused by instability. international markets, “he added.

5 am (3 am GMT)

Putin declares a “special military operation” and threatens the West

Putin has declared a “special military operation” in eastern Ukraine, claiming it aims to protect civilians.

In a televised address, Putin said the action came in response to threats coming from Ukraine.

He claims that Russia wants to “denazify, not occupy” Ukraine. Putin says the Ukrainian regime is responsible for the bloodshed.

Putin warns the countries that any attempt to interfere in Russia’s actions will lead to “consequences they have never seen.”

The strong man could be seen wearing the same suit and red tie he wore on Monday to expose his de facto inaccurate version of Ukraine’s history, essentially saying it had always been part of Russia.

Looking back, Putin’s attempts to rewrite history when it suits him can be interpreted as proof that he has already decided to invade Ukraine and that he has deceived Western leaders who are asking him for diplomacy.

5:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. GMT)

Explosions were heard in Kiev just minutes after Putin’s speech ended

After Putin’s speech, explosions were reported in Kiev, Odessa, Ukraine’s third-largest city, and the city of Kramatorsk in the eastern Donetsk region.

A CNN reporter in Kiev said: “I just heard a big bang right here behind me. I’ve never heard anything like it.

Matthew Chance, a senior international correspondent for the network, said he heard between seven and eight explosions.

Chance quickly put on his bulletproof vest and hat as he continued to report from a balcony in the Ukrainian capital.

A CNN reporter in the Ukrainian capital Kiev wears a bulletproof vest when he hears explosions shortly after 5.30 am

“There are big explosions. I can’t see them or explain what they are. but I will tell you that the United States has warned the Ukrainian authorities that there may be air and ground attacks throughout the country, including in the capital.

“I don’t know if this is happening now, but it is a remarkable coincidence that the explosions came just minutes after Putin delivered his speech,” Chance said.

“It simply came to our notice then. It was absolutely quiet. This is the first time. It must be more than a coincidence.

“I think it’s safe where I am. I have a bulletproof vest, ”Chance said before bending down to put on his protective gear.

He suggested that the explosions he heard were still some distance from the center.

6 a.m. (4 a.m. GMT)

The Ukrainian president declared martial law

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is imposing martial law and urging his people to stay at home and not panic as Russian troops enter the country.

In a video message released shortly after the Kremlin launched its attacks in Ukraine, Zelensky said Russia had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and border guards and that explosions had been heard in many cities.

The Ukrainian president also said that he had talked on the phone with US President Joe Biden.

He pleaded: “Dear Ukrainian citizens, this morning President Putin announced a special military operation in Donbass. Russia has struck at our military infrastructure and our border guards. Explosions were heard in many cities of Ukraine. We are imposing martial law on the entire territory of our country.

“I had a conversation with President Biden a minute ago. The United States has already begun to unite international support. Today, each of you must remain calm. Stay home if you can. We work. The army is working.

“The whole defense and security sector is working. No panic. We are strong. We are ready for anything. We will all win because we are Ukraine.

Paratroopers are descending on Ukraine’s second-largest city as Russians carry out multiple attacks

From about 6 in the morning onwards

The footage appears to show masses of paratroopers landing in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s largest city.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, wrote on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command posts, air bases and military depots in Kiev, Kharkiv and the Dnieper.

Later in the morning, five Russian planes were reportedly shot down from the skies over Donbass before Moscow boasted that it was removing all air defenses, giving them control of the skies.

Ukrainian border guards say they have been attacked by heavy artillery, tanks and troops from Russia and Belarus – while Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko throws his forces into battle.

Luhansk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv were reportedly under attack in eastern Ukraine, but explosions were also reported in the west, in Zhytomyr and Lviv, near the Polish border.

Extraordinary videos show what appears to be a cruise missile crashing into Ivano-Frankivsk airport, also in the west.

Meanwhile, pro-Russian rebel forces have been pushed out of the occupied Donbass region, capturing two villages and claiming to have shot down two Ukrainian planes from the sky. The port city of Odessa, home to Ukraine’s main naval base, is also under attack.

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