For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.
For the latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EST:
4:26 a.m.: VOA’s Heather Murdock from Slovyansk, Ukraine. “By 9 a.m. Thursday morning families crowded onto long lines at ATM machines, supermarkets and fuel stations, stocking up in case the bombing begins again. Between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. the crash of shells hitting the area could be heard from towns and cities as many as 50 kilometers from the border with Russia and Russian-backed separatists, as well cities far beyond, including the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.”
3:56 a.m.: VOA’s Jamie Dettmer reporting updates from Kyiv.
3:48 a.m.: European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calls Russia’s attack “amongst the darkest hours for Europe since the end of WWII.” Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Borrell said Ukraine needs “urgent assistance” and that the EU would “respond in the strongest possible terms.”
3:16 a.m.: European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned Russia’s military action calling it a “barbaric attack,” in a speech Thursday. “We will not let President Putin tear down Europe’s security architecture.”
2:59 a.m.: Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas says she plans to meet with NATO members and the European Union “to take joint decisions in support of Ukraine, and regarding the strengthening of the security of NATO, including Estonia.” Poland and Baltic countries have triggered consultations under NATO Article 4. The treaty allows member states to consult when the territorial integrity of another is compromised.
2:07 a.m.: Explosions are seen in several Ukrainian cities:
2:03 a.m.: Air raid sirens sound in Kyiv:
2 a.m.: The U.S. Embassy gives instructions to U.S. citizens in Ukraine:
1:57 a.m.: VOA’s Jamie Dettmer in Kyiv: “Hotels quickly emptied with guests checking out in droves. ‘Everything is OK,’ said a worker in a fitness spa in one five-star hotel in the city center. ‘Keep calm,’ she added. By 9 a.m. there were few pedestrians on the streets of the city — with only dog-walkers loitering. Couples could be seen pulling their luggage. One young woman struggling with a huge bag was asked where she was going: ‘Away,’ she responded.”
1:55 a.m.: Joining a chorus of condemnation from European leaders, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte urged that it is “time for strong and united action,” in a Twitter post Thursday.
1:49 a.m.: The spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oleg Nikolenko calls Russia’s military action “an act of war,” in a statement posted on Facebook. Nikolenko said the attack is “a gross violation of the UN Statute and the fundamental norms and principles of international law.”
1:45 a.m.: President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission issued a joint statement on Thursday condemning Russia’s “unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine.”
1:14 a.m.: Russia’s Federal Air Transport agency issues a statement saying that airports in southern Russia have a limited operation. After indicating that the decision was due to the current situation in Ukraine, the statement said, “flights in a number of airports in the South of Russia have been suspended.” The restriction will be in effect until March 2, CNN reported.
12:39 a.m.: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg affirming U.S. commitment to NATO’s Article 5 is ironclad. The article states that any attack on any of the alliance’s 30 members is considered an attack on all.
12:39 a.m.: VOA’s Jamie Dettmer in Kyiv: “Bigger explosion near center of Kyiv. Officials tell me Russians are targeting military infrastructure with cruise missiles. Also told Russian troops have landed near the port city of Odessa in the south. Reports also from officials of Russian soldiers appearing near Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials say they think the Russians are targeting air defense systems. The weird thing is the morning commute is underway and some people are heading to work in Kyiv.”
12:37 a.m.: VOA’s Eastern Europe Chief Myroslava Gongadze reports Ukrainians will be gathering outside the Russian Embassy in Washington at 1 a.m. EST.
12:15 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law Thursday across the country. He urged his countrymen not to panic and said he had spoken to U.S. President Joe Biden.
Biden confirmed their conversation via Twitter.
VOA’s Jamie Dettmer tweets about what he’s seeing in Kyiv this morning.
12 a.m.: After the United Nations Security Council’s meeting late Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield a draft resolution would be put on the table Thursday.
A European diplomat said security council members are discussing a resolution that will make clear that Russia is not complying with the U.N. Charter, international law, or council resolution 2202.
Russia would be expected to veto such a measure, but a strong number of members voting for it would increase Moscow’s isolation in the council. Diplomats would then likely move quickly to the General Assembly where it could be adopted without a threat of veto, but with no legal backing.
Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
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