(Feb. 24) Russian President Vladimir Putin started his long-anticipated invasion of Ukraine, triggering one of the worst security crises in Europe since World War II, after threats of economic sanctions from the U.S. and its allies failed to deter him.

The Russian leader, in a televised speech coinciding with the start of the operation around dawn, vowed to “demilitarize” the neighboring country of more than 40 million people, denigrated the Ukrainian leadership and said the assault was targeted at people he said have taken Ukraine “hostage.”

Around the same time, a barrage of missiles, artillery and air attacks rained down on Ukraine, and Russian forces moved toward its capital city of Kyiv from positions in Belarus. Ukraine’s border guard said it was being shelled from five regions, and Russian tank convoys were entering the country. Ukraine said dozens of its soldiers were killed in the first hours of fighting. Photos showed traffic jams as citizens rushed to exit Kyiv, and long lines outside bus stops, gas stations and cash machines.

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