Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on February 24, 2022. - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine today with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway.
The wide-scale invasion of Ukraine has dramatically changed the mood in Kyiv, as a nation woke up today with the new reality that it is at war. Ukraine's military says Russia is taking casualties in fierce fighting, but Russia's military is telling a different story.
"Many residents of Kyiv are trying to evacuate toward the West," NPR's Tim Mak said on Morning Edition from Ukraine. "There are long lines that we've observed all day at ATMs, gas stations and supermarkets. In fact, right now as I speak to you, we're in line to get gas. Traffic is at a standstill leaving town, making it really difficult for people."
A man sits outside his destroyed building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24, 2022, as Russian armed forces are trying to invade Ukraine from several directions, using rocket systems and helicopters to attack Ukrainian position in the south, the border guard service said.
Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images
Ukraine's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it has begun the procedure to cut diplomatic ties at the request of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and "in accordance with the norms established by international law."
U.S. officials have said for weeks that a Russian invasion of Ukraine was imminent, a warning that Russia, in turn, dismissed as scaremongering. President Biden warned of a "catastrophic loss of life and human suffering." He announced a new round of sanctions targeting Russia.
Emergency unit staff treat an injured man after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24, 2022.
Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images
The body of a rocket stuck in a flat after recent shelling on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, forcing residents to flee for their lives and leaving at least 40 Ukrainian soldiers and 10 civilians dead.
Sergey Bobok/AFP via Getty Images
A woman with her daughter waits for a train as they try to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of a Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
Local residents wait to buy water at a store during a water outage in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
People stand around a damaged structure caused by a rocket on February 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
People queue to a petrol station in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on February 24, 2022.
Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images
Damaged radar, a vehicle and equipment are seen at a Ukrainian military facility outside Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Sergei Grits/AP
A couple speaks with each other at a metro station in Kyiv early on February 24, 2022.
Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
