[imagesource: Instagram / KOH]

We have a war.

Russia has invaded Ukraine, with a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that Russian troops had carried out strikes on “peaceful” Ukrainian cities, in an offensive that aimed to “destroy the state of Ukraine, seize Ukrainian territory by force, and establish occupation control”.

At present, traffic is backed up in Kyiv as residents flee the city.

The Ukrainian armed forces posted a statement earlier saying that the Russian military had begun “intensive shelling” of its units in the east of the country, as well as launching missile strikes on Boryspil airport near Kyiv and several other airports.

For live updates, you can follow on BBC and CNN.

Earlier this morning, the first attacks started as multiple news outlets reported live on the scene.

Charlie D’Agata, a senior foreign correspondent for CBS, said he heard multiple explosions and then what he believes was a fighter jet overhead:

BREAKING: The war in Ukraine has begun.

As we were on the air with @charliecbs, he heard what sounded like a fighter jet overhead after hearing five explosions. pic.twitter.com/Bi7CUhxJ3u

— Norah O’Donnell 🇺🇸 (@NorahODonnell) February 24, 2022

ABC News’ reporting also covered large explosions across Kyiv:

Explosions heard in the distance before sunrise in Kyiv, Ukraine.

LATEST: https://t.co/Hq3CVT4l2t pic.twitter.com/87ZNAV2uf5

— ABC News (@ABC) February 24, 2022

HuffPost reports that CNN senior international correspondent Matthew Chance, reporting from a hotel rooftop in central Kyiv, could hear loud bangs ringing out:

CNN’s Matthew Chance in Kyiv: “I just heard a big bang right here behind me.” Here’s the video of the moment pic.twitter.com/prYeVlDvkn

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 24, 2022

He later donned a flak jacket and helmet:

This is the moment when senior international correspondent Matthew Chance, a 21-year veteran of CNN, donned his flak jacket and helmet live on the air pic.twitter.com/sbj5Fao5uJ

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 24, 2022

There are hundreds of unverified videos doing the rounds, some of which feature old footage of Russian air shows, so it’s best to stick with trustworthy sources and reporters.

TIME shared this footage from earlier:

Explosions rang out before dawn Thursday in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and several cities near the frontline and along the country’s coast.

Here’s what we know so far about Russia’s military operation in Ukraine: https://t.co/6r4Fo9mXjX pic.twitter.com/7o3fmnXpAg

— TIME (@TIME) February 24, 2022

Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has declared martial law. He added that Russia was targeting military infrastructure across the country.

Multiple journalists have reported that airfields have come under attack. This footage appears to show Ivano-Frankivsk, near the border of Poland, being hit by a missile:

Wow. Video of a missile hitting an airport, reportedly in Ivano-Frankivsk in Western Ukraine. The geographic scale of this thing is crazy pic.twitter.com/odhvqin77Y

— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) February 24, 2022

There are reports of Russian attacks on targets in a number of major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Mariupol. U.S. citizens in Ukraine are advised to shelter in place and take the following actions:

— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) February 24, 2022

It appears that the number of casualties is already extensive:

CNN: Ukraine’s Interior Ministry says there have already been hundreds of casualties pic.twitter.com/CNAPySQ4y2

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 24, 2022

There are reports and counter reports from both countries.

Ukrainian armed forces say they have shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter, imploring residents to “Keep calm and believe in Ukraine defenders.”

In response, Russia’s defence ministry has denied that any aircraft were shot down.

Despite Russia saying its military is only targeting military infrastructure, video footage such as this below shows that rockets have hit major cities:

Kharkiv was shelled with ‘Smerch’ this morning. pic.twitter.com/RJF5DVrPog

— melonyellow (@melonyellowU) February 24, 2022

President Zelensky sent this tweet earlier:

Talked to @POTUS, @OlafScholz, @eucopresident, @AndrzejDuda, @BorisJohnson. Urge to stop Putin, war against 🇺🇦 & the world immediately! Building an anti-Putin coalition. Immediate sanctions, defense & financial support to 🇺🇦! Close the airspace! The world must force 🇷🇺 into peace

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2022

Even though we all knew a war was coming, it is still tragic to see it unfold in real-time on our screens.

Again, for live updates, you can follow on BBC and CNN.

[source:huffpost]