Russia begins full-scale invasion in Ukraine, authorities ask people to hide to avoid missiles

Moscow: No amount of intentional pressure could stop Putin from the unthinkable. He declared action against Ukraine in a televised speech. In no time, troops stationed along the border barged into Ukraine. Air raids began, with the skies over Kyiv tenting with deafening sirens.

One witness heard a massive explosion near Ukraine capital Kyiv's main airport. Reports on casualties are yet to emerge from the area.

There are reports of missiles streaking across the Ukrainian sky before hitting multiple cities. And there are blasts being reported from the cities.

Keeping a stiff upper lip in the face of attacks, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said "we are strong".

"We are ready for anything, we will win," he was quoted as blurting out. Close on the heels of the military move by Russia, Ukraine President spoke to US President Joe Biden.

With pattering explosions and booming sirens going on in multiple cities, Ukraine says of a "full-scale invasion".

Authorities ask citizens to hide in shelters to ward off missile attacks in Kyiv.

One report says of explosions in Kharkiv and Odesa alongside those in Kyiv.

World leaders decried the Russian invasion, which fell on the deaf Moscow ears.

International voices say that Russian invasion could lead to massive casualties, alongside undermining Ukraine's democratically elected government.

Even as US President Joe Biden clamped sanctions, Putin went ahead with his worn plans and asserted that the attack was to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine.

The US had reportedly predicted he would make this false claim as a pretext to attack Ukraine.

He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia's demand to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, according to a report.