Putin Announces 'Special Military Operation' In Ukraine, Reports Say Blasts Being Heard In Several Ukrainian Cities

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced late Wednesday night that the country’s armed forces would carry out a “special military operation” in Ukraine. 

Putin addressed the Russian people, at a time coinciding with a United Nations security council meeting, according to a report from the United Kingdom’s The Guardian newspaper. 

Putin said clashes between Ukraine and Russia are “inevitable” and only a “question of time.”

The Russian leader said that further expansion of NATO and its use of Ukraine’s territory is unacceptable. 

Putin said the military operation is being conducted to “protect people” and circumstances demand “demand decisive action from Russia.”

Explosions have been heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the country's second-largest city Kharkiv, among others, as per reports from the Associated Press.

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin BTC/USD, Ethereum ETH/USD and Dogecoin DOGE/USD are also facing the heat. 

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