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Russian President Vladimir Putin said that members of the Ukrainian military who refuse to perform the unlawful orders of their government and will disarm will be allowed to freely leave the zone of military activities. 

This comes just after the Russian President announced the launching of a special military operation in Donbass and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement of a nationwide martial law.

Putin particularly addressed the Ukrainian military, stressing that their allegiance is to the people, and not to the "anti-national junta plundering Ukraine and victimizing the said people."

"Do not perform their unlawful orders! I urge you to immediately disarm and go home. To make it clear: all servicemen of the Ukrainian army that will fulfill this demand will be able to freely leave the zone of combat action and return to their families," Putin said.

"All the responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling in the territory of Ukraine," he added.

Russia targets Ukraine's military infrastructure with precision weapons

Russia's Defense Ministry declared on Thursday that Moscow's Armed Forces are not attacking Ukrainian cities, but are instead targeting Ukraine's military infrastructure using precision weapons.

"Precision weapons are degrading military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military aerodromes and aviation of the Ukrainian armed forces," the ministry said, further adding that there is no threat to civilians.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also had a televised speech this Thursday morning, in which he said that he made a decision to carry out a special military operation in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics.

"Leading NATO countries pursue their own goal by fully supporting Ukraine's extreme Nazis and neo-Nazis, who, in turn, will never forgive the people of Crimea and Sevastopol for their free choice to reunify with Russia", said the Russian president.