Newsinc24 Team 
Russia's ground forces have crossed into Ukraine from several directions, Ukraine's border guard service said, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a major offensive. Ballistic missile attacks were also launched in a number of Ukrainian cities on Thursday morning. Big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other areas of Ukraine. Reports of explosions are coming in several Ukrainian cities, and gunfire near main Boryspil airport in the capital Kyiv. Russian tanks and other heavy equipment crossed the frontier in several northern regions, as well as from the Kremlin-annexed peninsula of Crimea in the south. Russia said Thursday that its military had destroyed more than 70 military targets including 11 airfields in Ukraine."As a result of strikes carried out by the Russian armed forces, 74 Ukrainian military ground facilities were destroyed," said Igor Konashenkov, a defence ministry spokesman, specifying that destroyed facilities included 11 airfields. He said a Ukrainian military helicopter and four drones had also been shot down.
Earlier, in a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Ukrainian soldiers who are facing off Russian-backed rebels to lay down weapons and return to their homes. However, Putin said Russia did not plan to occupy Ukraine but warned that Moscow's response would be instant if anyone tries to take on Russia. Putin justified the operation by claiming the government was overseeing a "genocide" in the east of the country. Russia's defence ministry said it had neutralised Ukrainian military airbases and its air defence systems.
As per reports over 40 Ukranian and 50 Russian soldiers have died. 18 civilians in Ukraine's Odessa were also killed in a missile attack. On February 24, the Ukraine Army claimed that a Russian plane was shot down over Luhansk Region. The Ukraine Army claimed that this is the seventh Russian plane that has been shot down. Ukraine also said that Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes and this is a war of aggression. Kuleba said, Ukraine will defend itself and will win. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had almost 200,000 troops and thousands of combat vehicles on Ukraine's borders.
India has called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine. India's Permanent Representative UN, TS Tirumurti cautioned that the situation is in danger of spiraling into a major crisis. He was addressing an emergency meeting of UN Security Council held in Ukraine on Thuesday morning. This was the second meeting of UNSC this week and the fourth since January 31 as tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine. Tirumurti emphasized sustained and focused diplomacy to address all issues concerning the situation.
Back home, External Affairs Ministry has set up a control room in New Delhi in view of the prevailing situation in Ukraine. The control room will provide information and assistance. The contact details of the control room are 1800118797 (Toll-free) and these three numbers to get any assistance-91 11 23012113, 91 11 23014104, 91 11 23017905. In addition, Embassy of India in Ukraine has set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed by dialing 380 997300428, 380 997300483. Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised all Indian nationals in Ukraine to maintain calm and remain safe wherever they are, be it homes, hostels, accommodations, or in transit. In an advisory, the Embassy said the present situation in Ukraine is highly uncertain.
MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR OF INDIA TO UKRAINE on 24 February 2022.@MEAIndia @PIB_India @PIBHindi @DDNewslive @DDNewsHindi @DDNational @IndiainUkraine @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/JrGJTTuBEQ
— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 24, 2022
It asked Indians traveling to Kyiv, including those from western parts of Kyiv, to return to their respective cities, especially towards safer places along with the western bordering countries. Tamil Nadu Government has also created a separate help desk for those from the State living in Ukraine.
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