Ukraine's President has warned Europe that Russia would not stop with an invasion of his country.
Look back on how the situation unfolded as Russian forces fought battles all over Ukraine.
Key events
- Ukraine's President implores world to help amid shadow of 'new iron curtain'
- Russian forces trying to seize Chernobyl, says Ukraine President
- Ukraine President urges Russian people to protest
- Ukraine President calls for anyone with military training to come forward
- Ukraine reports shelling across the country, military equipment coming in through Crimea
- Scott Morrison condemns the 'brutal', 'unprovoked' invasion of Ukraine
- Ukraine President says he is building an 'anti-Putin coalition'
- Ukraine's military says it has shot down Russian aircraft
- Russian military have targeted Ukrainian infrastructure
- 'The time to act is now': Ukraine Foreign Minister says invasion has been launched
- Explosions reported in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine
- Joe Biden says Vladimir Putin has chosen 'premeditated war'
- Vladimir Putin is speaking now, declares 'special military operation' in Donbas
- Zelenskyy says Russia has approved an offensive against Ukraine
- Ukraine hit with mass cyber attack
Live updates
By Michael Doyle
For any Australians who need consular assistance:
Australians in need of consular assistance should call the Australian Government 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 in Australia (if you're calling on someone's behalf) or +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia.
By Paul Johnson
Blog closing but stay tuned
Good morning readers.
Thank you for joining us yesterday and through the night.
We will be continuing our live coverage momentarily through a new blog with Jessica Riga taking over.
That blog can be found here please join us throughout Friday for all the latest updates.
By Paul Johnson
UK imposing new harsher sanctions
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a package of "severe" sanctions against Russia on Thursday, targeting banks, members of President Vladimir Putin's closest circle and the extremely wealthy who enjoy high-rolling London lifestyles.
Western nations are coordinating action to impose tough sanctions against Russia in response to its all-out invasion on neighbouring Ukraine, where Moscow staged missile strikes on cities and poured its troops into the country.
Speaking to parliament, Mr Johnson said Mr Putin would be condemned by the world and by history for his invasion, never able to cleanse the "blood of Ukraine" from his hands.
"This hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure," Mr Johnson told parliament.
"For our part today the UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen."
After the West was criticised for earlier, weaker sanctions this week in response to Russia recognising two breakaway republics in Ukraine, Johnson said leaders had agreed to work together to "maximise the economic price" Putin will pay.
A government official said the coordinated sanctions by countries around the world would knock percentage points off the Russian economy in the next 12 to 18 months.
In the 10-point sanctions package, the British government said it would impose an asset freeze on some major Russian banks, including state-owned VTB, its second-biggest bank, and stop major Russian companies from raising finance in Britain.
Reuters
By Paul Johnson
Ukraine's President implores world to help amid shadow of 'new iron curtain'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine was listening to the sound of a new iron curtain falling as Russian troops advanced across his country's territory.
"What we have heard today are not just missile blasts, fighting and the rumble of aircraft. This is the sound of a new iron curtain, which has come down and is closing Russia off from the civilised world," Mr Zelenskyy said.
"Our national task is to make sure this curtain does not fall across our land."
Amid his fears of a Russian expansionist policy he called on allies to stop Russia's invasion by helping Ukraine with military hardware.
“if you don’t help us now, if you fail to offer strong assistance to Ukraine, tomorrow the war will knock on your door.”
Mr Zelenskyy said the EU would further come to the Ukraine's aid with a host of tough new sanctions.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on Friday on a US-drafted resolution that condemns Russia for invading Ukraine.
It will require Moscow to "immediately, completely, unconditionally," withdraw from Ukraine, a senior US administration official said.
Russia, as one of the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council, will likely veto the resolution, the US official said.
But Washington and others view the council as a critical venue where Moscow must be forced to explain itself, they added.
"We're not going to stand by and do nothing," the official briefing reporters in a call said.
Shortly after those comments Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had no other option but to order what he is still refusing to call an invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Putin also said he believes Russia remains part of the global economy despite a raft of sanctions levelled against his nation and has no plans to damage that system.
By Paul Johnson
Protesters being arrested in Moscow's Pushkin Square
As we reported earlier the threat was there that those protesting against this war in Russia would be arrested.
That has begun to occur with Reuters reporting 167 people had been arrested by Russian police across the country.
The Wall Street Journal's Moscow reporter Matthew Luxmoore publishing photos and video through his Twitter.
By Paul Johnson
Curfew for Kyiv, says Mayor Klitschko
Kyiv's Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has announced a city-wide curfew.
The former boxing heavyweight champion asking citizens top remain indoors after 10pm local time
"Friends! Kyiv is introducing a curfew from today. It will be in force between 22:00 and 07:00," he said.
"It is necessary for the safety of the capital's residents amid military aggression and with martial law in force," Klitschko added.
Public transport will not be running during those hours but Metro stations will remain open as shelters if they are needed.
By Paul Johnson
More devastation outside Kyiv
Some houses have been destroyed on the outskirts of Kyiv.
One can only hope the inhabitants had already fled.
By Paul Johnson
Russian forces trying to seize Chernobyl, says Ukraine President
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
The plant was the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident when a nuclear reactor exploded in April 1986, spewing radioactive waste across Europe.
The plant lies 130 kilometres north of the capital of Kyiv.
The exploded reactor has been covered by a protective shelter to prevent radiation leak and the entire plant has been decommissioned.
Zelenskyy said on Twitter that “our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated.”
He added that “this is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”
AP
By Paul Johnson
Russians warned against protesting as Navalny makes corruption claim from trial
Russian authorities have warned anti-war sympathisers from gathering for protests after President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.
The Investigative Committee, a government body that investigates major crimes, warned Russians of legal repercussions for joining unsanctioned protests related to "the tense foreign political situation".
It said it was responding to social media calls to protest against Putin's decision to attack Ukraine.
"One should be aware of the negative legal consequences of these actions in the form of prosecution up to criminal liability," it said.
The Russian interior ministry said it will take "all necessary measures to ensure public order."
Russia has strict protest laws and demonstrations often end in mass arrests.
Independent rights monitor, OVD-info, said at least 27 people had been arrested throughout Russia for holding anti-war protests.
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said earlier on Thursday that he was against the invasion in a speech during his trial, held behind bars.
"I am against this war," Navalny was heard saying in a video published by independent news outlet Dozhd.
"This war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from problems that exist inside the country."
By Jacqueline Howard
Lithuania's top grocery chain to remove Russian, Belarus goods
Lithuania's largest grocery retailer Maxima said on Thursday it would remove goods of Russian and Belarus origin from its shelves, and would stop buying goods from these countries, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"We took this decision after Russian troops invaded Ukraine, including from Belarus territory," Maxima spokesperson Ernesta Dapkiene told Reuters.
Goods from Russia and Belarus, mostly alcoholic drinks, accounted for just 1.3 per cent of Maxima's sales.
By Jacqueline Howard
WHO expresses concern over potential humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine
The World Health Organization expressed its concern over an expected health emergency in Ukraine after Russian forces invaded the country.
"Amid the conflict rapidly unfolding in Ukraine, the WHO Regional Office for Europe reiterates its deepest concern for the safety, health and wellbeing of all civilians impacted by the crisis in the country and possibly beyond," its regional office for Europe said in a statement, adding any further escalation could result in a humanitarian catastrophe.
"WHO/Europe is working closely with all UN partners in rapidly scaling up readiness to respond to the expected health emergency triggered by the conflict, protecting our staff, and minimising disruptions to the delivery of critical health care services," it said.
By Jacqueline Howard
Anti-war protests held around the world
Protests against the invasion of Ukraine have been held in the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Turkey, The Netherlands, Montenegro, Cyprus, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Italy and others.
Take a look at some of the crowds below.
By Jacqueline Howard
Mayor of Kyiv says four metro stations do not have trains running so they can be used as air raid shelters
This was planned back in January. Here's what mayor Vitaly Klitschko said at the time:
"A clear plan has been worked out in Kyiv, information has been provided on bomb shelters located near certain facilities. The key bomb shelter in Kyiv has also been identified as the Kyiv metro, which, God forbid, will be ready to receive people who can hide during a possible attack in the event of an emergency," Mr Klitschko said.
By Jacqueline Howard
Ukraine's foreign minister calls on allies to sever diplomatic ties with Russia
By Jacqueline Howard
Zelenskiy says he is waiting for concrete sanctions and assistance from allies
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he is waiting for his allies to impose concrete sanctions on Russia, as the military reports four ballistic rockets had been fired at Ukrainian territory from the territory of Belarus.
In the eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the city council said shelling had hit a residential area and the number of casualties was being ascertained.
Mr Zelenskiy said Ukraine was waiting for concrete assistance from its allies.
By Jacqueline Howard
By Jacqueline Howard
Russia's defence ministry says 74 pieces of Ukrainian military infrastructure have been damaged
The Russian news agency, RIA reports that, as a result of Russian strikes , 74 ground objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine have disabled.
It says this includes 11 airfields of the Air Force, three command posts, a naval base and 18 radar stations of the S-300 and Buk-M1 air defense systems.
By Jacqueline Howard
203 attacks so far today, says Ukrainian police
Reuters reports Ukraine police as saying, since the beginning of the day, Russia has carried out 203 attacks and fighting is going on almost throughout the entire territory.
