Chris McGrath, Getty ImagesReservist, 28 year-old Anton Lytvyn packs his military equipment at his house after he was called up to active duty on Feb. 23, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the country's army reservists in specialist fields to active duty and introduced a state of emergency across all government controlled parts of the country, one day before an invasion by Russian forces.
Anatolii Stepanov, AFP via Getty ImagesUkrainian servicemen get ready to repel an attack in Ukraine's Lugansk region on Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, killing dozens and forcing hundreds to flee for their lives in the pro-Western neighbor. Russian air strikes hit military facilities across the country and ground forces moved in from the north, south and east, triggering condemnation from Western leaders and warnings of massive sanctions.
Evgeniy Maloletka, The Associated PressSmoke rise from an air defence base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government.
Evgeniy Maloletka, The Associated PressA damaged Ukrainian military facility in the aftermath of Russian shelling outside Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia has launched a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukraine early Thursday and Ukrainian officials said that Russian troops have rolled into the country from the north, east and south.
Aris Messinis, AFP via Getty ImagesA wounded woman stands outside a hospital after the bombing of the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022, as Russian armed forces attempt to invade Ukraine from several directions, using rocket systems and helicopters to attack Ukrainian position in the south, the border guard service said.
Evgeniy Maloletka, The Associated PressA woman holds her cat in a shelter during Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia has launched a barrage of air and missile strikes on Ukraine early Thursday and Ukrainian officials said that Russian troops have rolled into the country from the north, east and south.
Aris Messinis, AFP via Getty ImagesBlack smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on Feb. 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.
Evgeniy Maloletka, The Associated PressA woman speaks on the phone as she stands with other people in a shelter during Russian shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Aris Messinis, AFP via Getty ImagesA woman stands in a street as black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv on Feb. 24, 2022.
Aris Messinis, AFP via Getty ImagesFirefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 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. Russia's ground forces today crossed into Ukraine from several directions, Ukraine's border guard service said, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a major offensive. 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, the agency said.
Aris Messinis, AFP via Getty ImagesFirefighters work on a fire in a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 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 ImagesA man reacts at the body of a relative outside a destroyed building after Russian bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on Feb. 24, 2022.
Sergey BOBOK , AFPThe body of a rocket stuck in an apartment after recent Russian shelling on the northern outskirts of the Ukrainian city Kharkiv on Feb. 24, 2022.
Daniel Leal, AFP via Getty ImagesA local resident walks in a street as smoke rises near the town of Hostomel and the Antonov Airport, in northwest Kyiv, on Feb. 24, 2022. Russian and Ukrainian forces are battling for control of an airbase on the northern outskirts of Kyiv, a senior Ukrainian officer said on February 24, 2022, as dozens of attack helicopters swooped on the area.
Daniel Leal, AFP via Getty ImagesA religious woman holds a cross as she prays on Independence square in Kyiv in the morning of Feb. 24, 2022. Air raid sirens rang out in downtown Kyiv today as cities across Ukraine were hit with what Ukrainian officials said were Russian missile strikes and artillery.
Daniel Leal, AFP via Getty ImagesUkrainian military vehicles move past Independence square in central Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022. Air raid sirens rang out in downtown Kyiv today as cities across Ukraine were hit with what Ukrainian officials said were Russian missile strikes and artillery.
Emilio Morenatti, The Associated PressTraffic jams are seen as people leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Chris McGrath, Getty ImagesCars sit at a standstill as people try to leave the city on Feb. 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.
Chris McGrath, Getty ImagesPeople hitchhike and wait for buses as people try to leave the city on Feb. 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.
Emilio Morenatti, The Associated PressPolice officers inspect an area after an apparent Russian strike in Kyiv Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Pierre Crom, Getty ImagesA local resident prays in a Christian Orthodox church on Feb. 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.
Sergey Bobok, AFP via Getty ImagesPeople queue to cash desks at a supermarket in Kharkiv on Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway.
Chris McGrath, Getty ImagesSmoke rises from outside an intelligence building on Feb. 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Overnight, Russia began a large-scale attack on Ukraine, with explosions reported in multiple cities and far outside the restive eastern regions held by Russian-backed rebels.
Efrem Lukatsky, The Associated PressSmoke and flame rise near a military building after an apparent Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russian troops have launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an Russian invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine's democratically elected government.
Emilio Morenatti, The Associated PressA woman with her daughter waits for a train as they try to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Daniel Leal, AFP via Getty ImagesA couple speaks with each other at a metro station in Kyiv early on Feb. 24, 2022. - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Daniel Leal, AFP via Getty ImagesAlexander, right, reassures his son as the family takes refuge in a metro station in Kyiv in the morning of Feb. 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday with explosions heard soon after across the country and its foreign minister warning a "full-scale invasion" was underway.
Emilio Morenatti, The Associated PressA woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Emilio Morenatti, The Associated PressA woman holds her baby as she gets on a bus leaving Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.
Emilio Morenatti, The Associated PressPeople try to get into a bus as they leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
Vadim Ghirda, The Associated PressA woman and child peer out of the window of a bus as they leave Sievierodonetsk, the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.
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Reservist, 28 year-old Anton Lytvyn packs his military equipment at his house after he was called up to active duty on Feb. 23, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the country's army reservists in specialist fields to active duty and introduced a state of emergency across all government controlled parts of the country, one day before an invasion by Russian forces.
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By Katie Rausch | krausch@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
Russian troops launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides Thursday, an attack that brought explosions before dawn to the country’s capital, Kyiv, and other cities.
Ukraine’s leadership said at least 40 people had been killed so far in what it called a “full-scale war” targeting the country from the east, north and south. It said Russia’s intent was to destroy the state of Ukraine, a Western-looking democracy intent on moving out of Moscow’s orbit.
As civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, NATO and European leaders rushed to respond, if not directly in Ukraine, with strong financial sanctions against Russia and moves to strengthen their own borders.
Click there to read more about the conflict over Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe.
