In the early hours of the morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major military attack on Ukraine, despite months of denying planning such a move.
Explosions and missile strikes have been reported in several parts of Ukraine including cities Kyiv and Kharkiv.
In a televised speech at midday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK “cannot and will not look away” as Putin has unleashed war on the European continent.
READ MORE: Ukrainians in Bristol react to Russia's 'full-scale invasion' - 'I have not slept at all'
The Prime Minister has declared that Russia has chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction in a statement on Twitter.
Western leaders have ruled out direct involvement but Johnson told the people of the Ukraine that the UK would stand with them in a crisis that could go on for many months.
Bristol Live will provide you with regular updates and news as the story unfolds.
Take part in our survey and use the comments below to let us know what you think. Should the UK send British troops to help Ukraine?
Why is Russia invading Ukraine?
Over the last 7 years, Ukraine has moved towards European institutions, namely the EU and defence alliance North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), after Russia seized part of Ukraine’s territory when its pro-Russian president was overthrown in early 2014.
Putin aims to demilitarise Ukraine and prevent any further integration with European institutions. It is Putin’s claim that a NATO alliance in Ukraine would pose a threat to Russia.
Ukraine has deep social and cultural ties with Russia, as a former Soviet republic and Russian is a common language there, but Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to fight for the country's freedom saying: "We're strong. We're ready for anything."
The president of Ukraine has since imposed martial law after Russia launched an invasion of the country. It came into force as of 5.30am on Thursday and will be in place for a period of 30 days initially.
Will British troops be sent to support Ukraine?
Boris Johnson has announced that extra military support including ‘lethal aid’ will be sent to Ukraine “in light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia” after Putin sent troops into the Donbas region earlier this week.
Ukraine is not part of the NATO so the British government has been clear in its response that they will not involve British combat forces.
There are other ways of aiding the European ally and they have been training Ukrainian forces for years.
Putin’s decision to launch military operations in Ukraine has applied pressure on the PM to push further in taking action. In his speech today, Johnson has declared a “massive package of economic sanctions” on Russia for its action in Ukraine.
What have world leaders said about Ukraine so far?
Boris Johnson has recently stated that “diplomatically, politically, economically – and eventually, militarily – this hideous and barbaric venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure.”
“The world will hold Russia accountable … for its unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine,” says America’s leader, President Joe Biden who is said to be monitoring the situation from Washington, DC, and continues to get regular updates from his national security team.
Switching from Ukraine to Russia, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional appeal to Russians to reject an attack, saying they were being lied to about Ukraine and “if they [Russia] attack, if they try to take our county - our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children - we will be defending ourselves."
How will the UK be affected by Russia’s military action on Ukraine?
Russia’s invasion on Ukraine is set to heighten the current cost of living crisis in the UK, with British citizens being warned of soaring fuel prices, up to a grim milestone of £1.50 a litre and rising food bills.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said the increase in the cost of oil will “inevitably lead to wholesale fuel prices going up, which will in turn push record pump prices even higher”.
He continued: “If the oil price were to increase to 110 US dollars per barrel there’s a very real danger the average price of petrol would hit £1.55 a litre.
Russia's aggression towards Ukraine has caused the price of oil close to $100 per barrel, but the UK is not as dependent as other European countries on Russian gas.
The PM wants to diminish this dependence entirely and “collectively cease dependence on Russian oil and gas” he said in this speech today.
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