The world awoke to the dreadful news that Russia had launched missiles, artillery bombardments and air strikes against targets across Ukraine this morning.
Slim hopes that a war in Eastern Europe could be avoided evaporated as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops over the border into Ukrainian territory - with a devastating death toll expected to follow.
The military offensive, widely regarded as a full scale invasion, is expected to cause turmoil across global markets, with energy prices likely to soar.
READ MORE: Updates on invasion as explosions heard in Kyiv
This morning Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, told BBC Radio 4: "The decisions made around Europe are absolutely going to shape the way Vladimir Putin sees this because the reality is that if we leave this to stand, if we let this pass, you can forget about petrol at £1.70 a litre, which is where it’s heading now. It will be significantly higher...
"10% of the world’s wheat is grown in Ukraine and the idea that this year’s going to be a good crop, I’m afraid, is for the birds.
“This is absolutely one of those moments where we’re going to see the cost-of-living crisis driven by war."
The price of Brent crude oil hit its highest level in eight years after increasing by 6.3% to 102.90 US dollars per barrel shortly after 8am.
Average fuel prices at UK forecourts are already at record highs, and the situation is expected to worsen as retailers pass on further rises in wholesale costs.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: "Russia's actions will now push petrol pump prices up to £1.50 very soon.
"The question then becomes where will this stop and how much can drivers take, just as many are using their cars more and returning to workplaces.
"If the oil price was to increase to 110 US dollars, there's a very real danger the average price of petrol would hit £1.55 a litre.
"This would cause untold financial difficulties for many people who depend on their cars for getting to work and running their lives as it would skyrocket the cost of a full tank to £85.
"At 120 US dollars a barrel - without any change to the exchange rate which is currently at 1.35 US dollars - we would be looking £1.60 a litre and £88 for a full tank."
Figures from data firm Experian Catalist show the average cost of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Wednesday increased to 149.43p, while diesel rose to 152.83p.
This compares with petrol at 145.91p and diesel at 149.22p a month ago, and petrol at 122.50p and diesel at 125.99p a year ago.
AA president Edmund King said: "Russia's attack on Ukraine and resulting geopolitical uncertainty has pushed Brent crude above 100 US dollars per barrel for the first time since 2014.
"This will result in hikes in prices at the pumps.
"New record fuel prices are likely any time soon."
Mr King advised drivers wanting to conserve fuel to consider car-sharing, cutting out short journeys, reducing speeds and driving more smoothly.
