In an overnight speech (around 4 am in Poland), Vladimir Putin said that the operation was aimed at "protecting the population". As he stated, Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but wants to "demilitarize" and "de-Nazify" it. At the same time, Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms immediately.
- Those who try to interrupt us will face a military response that will lead to consequences that you have not encountered. We are ready for anything, - he said.
The media reports about explosions in many Ukrainian cities - Mariupol, Kharkov, Kyiv, and Odesa.
