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Vladimir Putin has ordered an invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a 'special military operation' and saying he wants to 'demilitarize', not occupy, the country.
The Russian president told Ukrainian service members to 'lay down their arms and go home' as he declared war on Ukraine in an early morning address to the nation.
Unconfirmed reports said that Russian forces had destroyed or rendered unusable the Ukrainian navy, and taken control of Boryspol Airport in Kyiv.
Access to the Black Sea and Azov Sea was cut off.
An amphibious landing from a tanker and helicopter aircraft took place near Odessa.
President Joe Biden condemned Russia's 'unprovoked and unjustified attack.'