Ukraine declares nationwide martial law

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In a video posted on Telegram Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian authorities are declaring martial law across the country, a state of submission to military authority in times of tension and conflict.

"We are declaring martial law across the country," he said.

He said that the Russian troops have delivered strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure, right after Russian president Vladimir Putin announced the launching of a special military operation in Donbass. 

"Russia delivered strikes against our military infrastructure and our border guards, border guard units. Explosions were heard in many cities of Ukraine," Zelensky said in the video. 

The Ukrainian president also called on Germany, Poland, the UK, the US and the European Council in a tweet to aid him, close airspace, impose sanctions on Russia and "stop Putin" by forming an "anti-Putin coalition."

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

Furthermore, he said, "A minute ago I had a conversation with President Biden. The US have already started uniting international support. Today each of you should keep calm. Stay at home if you can. We are working. The army is working. The whole sector of defense and security is working."

A White House spokesman said Joe Biden "just spoke with Zelensky" and that details of the conversation will be announced later.

A special military op 

The Russian president authorized a special military operation on Donbass this Thursday morning.

"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 Putin.

"They will, of course, go to Crimea, like to Donbass, the way they do it, to kill, like executioners from the bands of Ukrainian Nazi supporters of Hitler were killing innocent people during World War II".

"The circumstances make us take decisive and immediate actions. The people's republics of Donbass asked Russia for assistance", he added.

"In this regard, in accordance with Article 51, Part 7 of the UN Charter, with the sanction of the Federation Council and in pursuance of the friendship and mutual assistance treaties with the DPR and LPR, ratified by the Federal Assembly, I have decided to conduct a special military operation".

He says that though war is a dirty business, NATO has not been acting out of morality, saying Russia cannot develop, feel safe, or exist with constant threats from Ukraine.