mission for this former warlord, liberia has become the frontline of a drug war. it cannot afford to lose. he says it's a battle he will fight out of responsibility and killed for his past crimes. and for his country. the ukraine under attack from land and sea as russia targets military bases and major cities across the country. cash points and fuel palms run dry as people flee towns and cities across the ukraine. ah, hello i, mariam to mozy and london. you're watching al jazeera and our continuing coverage. all this story. russia's president has said, he had no choice,

but to order what he's calling a special operation against ukraine. ah, police arrests more than 1400 people, an anti war protests, and 50 cities around russia. also, poon is the aggression to chose this war. and now he, english, coachman, bird, the consequent western nations and outs. what they say is the biggest package of sanctions that russia has ever seen. ah, russia has invaded ukraine by air, land, and sea, launching an attack. the west has been wanting about for months and shattering diplomatic efforts to stop a war unfolding on the eastern edge of europe. ukraine's government is saying that 57 people have been killed, and the u. s. refugee agency says around

a $100000.00 ukrainians of fled their homes, ukraine's president laudermill zalinski called the attacker declaration of war on all of europe, which harolds the fall of a new iron curtain. marshes presently dim of fusion and since the assault was needed to protect civilians in the east of the country where ukrainian forces have been battling rushing back separately for years. meanwhile, more sanctions have been announced. the u. s. is stopping russia from importing high tech products. and along with the u. k is targeting russian banks and oligarchs marsh's national airline airflow has also been banned from british air space. and they've been protests against the invasion around the world, including in russia itself, where police have detained more than $1400.00 protest, as in dozens of cities. but we want to begin 1st with this report from algae, there is andrew simmons. he is in the ukranian capital kev. ah, the russian invasion was lost with terrifying speed and against

a wide range of targets. right across the country. a long military build up around it. cranes borders finally unleashed fivefold roof . the kremlin alone helicopter gunship fighter jets miss isles tanks, convoys of armored vehicles are all involved in what russia calls a military operation. for the moment the targets appeared to be specific and strategic. they include ukraine's airfields and military bases. this video from really to poll in southern ukraine, appears to show the destruction of the cities airfield, with shrapnel and shells are also reported to have landed in civilian areas including the capital key. if they needed a little hold up until the very last moment, i didn't believe it would happen. i thought it might just involved in it in the hunt, but i didn't ever think it would involve kiev who's got

a through. most likely war has now begun. every one is leaving everywhere, shut nobody to care you, your car. i hate the country that started this war. i speak as a mother and as a ukrainian, and i call on the whole, well to help us. and scott, this aggressively ukraine's government declared martial law or children. when i had a conversation with you as president joe biden, the u. s. is starting to gather international support. today, we need you. each of you to be calm. if possible, stay at home please. we are working. the army is working. the tie, security in defense sector of ukraine is working in the russian military offensive follows a carefully choreographed strategy of russia's president vladimir putin. he unilaterally recognized to separate his engines in eastern ukraine as independent of give, and then sent russian soldiers in,

under the pretext of being peacekeepers. the battle for low hands and don, yet, skin the eastern ukraine, has been going on since 2014. with more than 14000 people killed in fighting between the russian back separatists and the ukrainian army. now are putin calls peacekeepers. the only attack on the russian leader is warning ukrainian soldiers not to resist. the, when you put dell, said when you shed, however, we try to stop us and further create threats to our country to our people should know that russia's response will be immediate and lead you to such consequences that you have never faced in your history. we are ready for any outcome. the russian invasion began despite last ditch appeals from members of the united nations security council to ease tension ukraine's ambassador to the un demanded. his russian counterpart stepped down as chairman,

co putting cola rove to stop aggression. there is no purgatory for war criminals. they go straight to hell, ambassador. ah, as news of the invasion spread in ukraine's capital, kiev main highways out of the city quickly became gridlocked with traffic as a mood of desperation. developing now many people just jumping into their cars, getting their families together, and heading on the road, trying to get to poland. but the main auto roots are all jammed. there are so many people trying to do the same thing. others are going under ground taking shelter. people have been flocking to the supermarkets and frantically stalking up on essential items. this was the scene in cremmit, also in the east of ukraine as shoppers grab what they could to fill their cupboards. the ukrainian army and air force are putting up

a fight and resisting the russian attack. this video from the defense ministry said to show a russian helicopter shot down by ukrainian forces near keith. but there will be no reinforcements from nato. and the olds look heavily stacked against ukraine's forces. andrew simmons al jazeera give, or ukraine's military says, it believes russia is planning to block key. evan create a land corridor to the crimean peninsula and breakaway region of moldova. and a senior u. s. defense official is told reuters that russian forces are making advances on the ukrainian capital arches invasion comes after months of preparation. nearly $200000.00 soldiers were deployed around the country, including the rebel held areas of the hands can done yet in the east. and the crime near which russia annexed in 2014 russia's attack, the capital key. evan major cities of car, kiva, murray or pl anthony pro. and it's military immediately targeted ukraine's air

defenses as well as cubes main airports and add bases and several other cities. russian military vehicles have been deployed from crimea and but a ruse. russian troops were taking part in joint military drills and in the east ukrainian military says it's killed, 50 troops, enhanced region, and down 6 russian warplanes. ukraine is saying that russian forces took the antenna of international airport at her stomach, but the ukrainian deputy interior minister said that it has since been regained, sought russian. and american. russian military has taken each a noble nuclear plant as well. and this video from inside the zone appears to confirm their control. it's the sight of the world's was nuclear disaster and lies just 230 kilometers from the capitol. the exploded reactor is covered by protective shelter to prevent radiation league and the entire plant has been decommission. president lance, he says, attacking it is a declaration of war against the whole of europe. or more than 1400 people have

been arrested or anti war protests across russia. according to the o. v. d info monitoring group. ah thousands time now anti war protests in at least 50 cities including moscow itself . it catherine bad enough as it bears and st. petersburg. earlier the reclining present address russians directly sank, people needed to know the truth and asked of rash as citizens wanted war. let speak now to bind it smith in moscow and protest there today. how wide spread is opposition to this ration attack on? ukraine was very difficult to gauge public opinion, mariam in russia because it so difficult the people to freely express their opinion. but there have been some indications of the happened. those protest taking place and france has been for russia has also now been threatened with major

sanctions. france as those sanctions are going to be spectacular to run in tandem with those imposed by the united states and by the united kingdom. but russia has been, is ready for these, and the kremlin spokesman said that they had enough tools in their kit to survive market volatility. dmitri pess coffee is the spokesman said that the emotional reaction to russia's invasion of ukraine would eventually even out. and he said is not going to be possible to shut rusher off behind. and i and curtain russia's foreign ministry. it says that this war is been going on for 8 years now. it's ending just a few hours after launching the biggest invasion of a european countries in the 2nd world war. it looked like business as usual at the kremlin. pakistan's prime minister was the guest. but my vladimir putin's mind have been elsewhere. as the 2 men talked, russia's military was advancing in ukraine. these trucks were headed from crimea to

the ukrainian border, part of an army that had surrounded a country of 40000000 people. a country that rushes president has said he doesn't think should exist. in an address to russians on ukrainians, putin said his aim was to demilitarize ukraine and he made clear his antipathy for the government in key f. those unable to keep the equal. i have to also address the ukrainian military. dear comrade, your father's grandfather's great grandfather is fought against the nazis defending our coleman motherland. she should not for today's neo nazi to take baldwin keith, you took the oath of allegiance to the cranium. people, not the john to robin ukraine and bowling its own people. you do not follow its criminal orders. i urge you to immediately lay down your weapons and go home. russia's defense ministry says it's met all its targets for thursday, destroying 83 ground facilities of the ukrainian military. and it insists they're

not targeting civilian areas. so some of them are the high precision weapons or the russian armed forces on to destroy the military infrastructure. but these are objects of fair defense, military airfields, of ation of the armed forces of your grain doctor stage to video of human with mass casualties were amanda civilian population was filmed in ukrainian cities that have been some attempt in russia to protest against the invasion. several 100 turned out in moscow. the shouting no, to war, judging the russian public reactions difficult because it's almost impossible to protest freely here. but vladimir putin approval rating was at 69 percent in the build up to the wall. a rush of plans to take over the entirety of you gray. not just a don boss, not just give all over the country because you can't ensure demilitarization. demilitarization means a total destruction of the ukrainian military. it's fair personnel should go home,

it's weapons should be cash or darn to stride. and the country as it is will not be any more flooding. a putin's day ended with a meeting of businessmen. if they're worried about sanctions. no one mentioned it. russia central bank says he's got $631000000000.00 in cash reserves to cushion the economy if it's closed off from the global financial system. and when you buy and vice president emmanuel mac, ron had a conversation with the russian president just before that you leaders meeting, what do we know about this? oh, it's all that in that phone conversation, instigated by the early se palace in paris, emanuel micron demanded the russian president, vladimir putin, immediately see some military operations in ukraine. and he had that phone call after he'd spoken with the ukrainian president of the kremlin, says that what happened was that vladimir putin and french prison to many mach one,

had a serious and frank exchange of views on the situation around ukraine. and the 2 sides agree to stay in touch, but it seems probable that whatever was whatever was discussed in that conversation, it's not going to be enough now to stop the russian military advance on kia. thank you very much. bernard smith, reporting from the russian capital, moscow, or western countries, a hitting russia hard with more economic sanctions. you as president joe biden is blocking the assets of 4 large russian banks, sanctioning oligarchs and hammering rushes access to high tech goods like computers, semi conduct as an aircraft parts. it's also sanctioning banks and the defense industry and bella roost, which supports russia. canada has canceled all export pan that's worth around $500000000.00 is targeted 60 to individuals and entities, including banks and members of russia's ultra rich elite. the u. k. is freezing the assets of major russian banks, including the 2nd largest in russia, the t

b. also stopping some companies from raising money in the u. k. and restricting financial access of many wealthy russians, including pigeons for my son in law. and at the you is promised to strike at the heart of russia's economy, freezing russian assets in all 2070 nations, stopping banks from accessing european financial markets, and restricting rushes, trade, energy and transport industries. and you've barker has more now, from london. you would mean, as missiles fell on ukrainian cities, so international condemnation rained down on vladimir putin or the russian attack. early this morning, russian troops invaded ukraine, a free and sovereign country. and once again, in the center of europe, innocent women, men, and children, and dying of fear for their lives. we condemned this barbaric attack for you from national capitals, leader of the leader promised a coordinated and unprecedented sanctioned responsive amos and president putin. of

the russian elite and the sauce isn't havens of russian wealth, hoping against hope that they will make a difference. we will limit russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds, and yet to be part of the global economy will limit their ability to do that. we're going to start the ability of to finance and grow, rushed the russian military. we're going to impose major and we're going to pair their ability to compete and high tech, 21st century economy. we're taking new powers to target russian finance. earlier, the british prime minister also announced to salvo if sanctions with banning russian companies from its markets and rushes national airline from british airports. the measures include asset freezes against major russians, state banks, and individuals, and a halt on high tech exports. those responsible for propping up putin. he said we'll have nowhere to hide. this includes all the major manufacturers that support putins

woman, she describing the russian president and an address to the nation as a dictator for all his bombs and tanks and missiles. i don't believe that the russian dictator will ever subdue the national feeling of ukrainians, and that passionate belief of their country should be free. world leaders have however, fallen short of banning russia from the swift international payment system through which moscow receives foreign currency. some european countries pay a billions of dollars of russian debt won't be repaid to european creditors if moscow's forced out of the scheme. ukraine's urged western leaders to reconsider. cromwell determine efforts continue by a number of countries to supply ukraine with lethal and defensive weapons. no one's offering to stand shoulder to shoulder with care of and fight. we have it with, although any plans an intentional deploy nato troops to ukraine or what we have

a very so we have all the, the increased army or increasing the pretzel nickel troops in the eastern part of the ice on april territory. that will not be a factor in putin's plans. for now a neighboring countries have other problems to consider. the polish governments as 9 reception points will be opened along ukraine's border to receive an expected wave of refugees. a country that in recent months has used cause to repair refugees from the middle east, must now brace for ukrainians, fleeing war in their thousands nave. barker al jazeera unofficial joins his life from the white house and alan ukrainian present was in his lensky. it was furious about fact that western powers have not taken the decision to block russia from the international payment system. how did the u. s. president explain this? well, it's clear that the americans would like to do that,

but they're facing opposition from some of the allies. joe biden would like to keep that everyone united. and so he's not pushing for this at the moment. but given the comments that have come out of ukraine over the last 24 hours, he will put pressure on the 2 countries that we understand have been the biggest hall dose to this idea and that the germans and the italians, though the swift system essentially is the oil for international banking payments aren't made through swift. what is, is notifications. it replaced the old idea of telexes when one bank would send to another in another country and say, we are sending this money. it speeds up the whole process. so if you take swift out of the occasion that the equation, it makes it much more difficult to do business though. joe biden believes that it could take a couple of weeks for the pain of the sanctions that have been imposed. to start at the heartening businesses in russia, and there are some here in the united states have already said it's not enough. but if you look at the russian stock market,

don't buy more than 50 percent at the rebel against the dollar, the lowest. it's been in a very, very long time. it's already having an impact, and he's held back on some other measures. he could make no, in his news conference just a couple of hours ago, he's asked why aren't you personally sanctioning vladimir putin and he didn't give a clear answer on that. but clearly the americans are hoping that the sanctions are put in place will be enough to give blood em. you put and pause for thought. and if it doesn't turn the tanks back, then he is going to start cranking it up with more sanctions, including those targeting vladimir putin himself. and of course, biden had some very strong remarks about the russian presence intentions. any indication as to how the u. s. will respond here is continued attack and destabilization of ukraine, particularly if the nations try to force raising, changing possibly than take this attack beyond ukraine's or this

more clearly in ukraine. the concern is that there's going to be no americans fighting there. and normally 2 trips will go into ukraine, either what they can do is provide financial support and this will be ready seen over the last few months. they are provided extensive training and also lethal force weapons, not just defensive force, but things that they can use. if the russians attack such as javelin anti tank missiles and they have been using them, we are told in the few hours that there has been since the russians crossed the border. the biggest concern, obviously for joe biden and others is any possible attack or nato countries. and that is why 7000 more troops are being sent to germany and were where they had deployments to countries like poland and romania to shore up the fences there. the worry would be that if any russian troops crossed the border into either poland, romania, or even the baltic countries, then that would trigger article 5 of the natal constitution, which of course says wanted to attack on one is an attack on all it's been used once before that was back after the 911 attacks in new york and that the u. s.

benefited there when they went to war in afghanistan. and so this is all about trying to contain the situation and perhaps put enough financial pressure on vladimir putin. the banking sector of the technology sector, and overall the economy and russia, and make him think again and perhaps stop what he's doing right now. thank you very much. from washington allen fisher was actually general antonio. terry says that the united nations is scaling up as humanitarian efforts in ukraine, and that the protection of civilians has to be a top priority. he also repeated his call for russia to immediately pull its tramps back. the decisions of the coming days will shape or world and idly affect the lives of millions upon millions of people in line with the charter. it's not too late to save these generation from the scourge of war.

we need peace. a diplomatic editor james bay's joins us live now from brussels. and james, i suppose the issue for e u. an nato member states, is that they are going to be affected by sanctions and punitive measures that are taken against russia. how, how was brussels been grappling with this? yeah, they're going to be affected by them. because clearly, if you're going to affect trade on and hom, russia than that, the, the other half of that trade equation is the e u country. so they all concerned about it, and i think there are some divisions around the table. we had a statement come out from the you talking about these very, very harsh sanctions are gonna be putting in place. and some of the sectors going to be affected. we don't think the swift banking system alan was talking about a moment ago is going to be talk targeted. but i can tell you that one of the

delegations here says that the discussions go on, even though they've already put out a statement. and there that particular delegation, recons. this'll be a long meeting going on into the early hours. certainly as they arrived here, some of the leaders were saying, this really needs to be the big one. this needs to be the thing that really forces putin to think again, others are saying no, we need to leave something in reserve. we need to have a next phase of the sanctions ready for whatever could be coming next. so a difference of opinion, although all of them are certainly have the same opinion in terms of the scale of what has happened and a book by, in the actions of president putin, that he's crossed a line that he is breeching international law. that he's breaching the un charter and they feel certainly is the time to send a strong message to the russian president. we just staring a clip from events after hell, anti the terrorist,

a great deal of concern about their humanitarian impact of an attack on ukraine. what does europe have a plan or a strategy for dealing with at the human cost of this it with casualties and refugees expected to meet expecting $1.00 of the consequences was certainly some of the i actually raised the we can with the president of the europe in commission, us live on the line when she spoke to out there, and also with the sex general of nato young stilton. but the e. u has plans and contingencies in place to deal with this. and certainly, nato said, that's not that main job, but they will assist in any way they can with the humanitarian response. and the scale could be enormous. i'm told by high level un sources. so the planning that you and hcr, that's the refugee agency of the un has done it has an estimate. if there is an

all out full scale invasion of ukraine, and that's pretty much now what we're seeing, that they'll be $3.00 to $5000000.00 refugees. and you're right to mentioned the u as the key player because they are going to get to remember that g ukrainians have for some years had visa, free entry to europe in unions. so there's nothing going to stop any ukranian who wants to come into europe from coming in and staying in europe. and i think that is another of the things that will be exercising the minds of those leaders. the $27.00 leaders that are here for the council meeting, which continues. thank you very much. i did with a matching editor, james by reporting from brussels. we're joining me now is ben judor, a senior fellow at the atlantic councils, europe center. he is the author of fragile and power, how russia fell in and out of love with regiment present joins me now from new york . and so this has been described as

a major watershed moment for european security. while european countries prepared for this, she is indeed a watershed moment in european security, and they were divided into really free camps. there was european countries that were privileged to the highest grade. american intelligence, including the u. k will have their own intelligence which would deeply, deeply worried about this. there were countries that were seeing the intelligence only a bit later through nato mechanisms and allied mechanisms, or was being presented to them or by the americans or by the british such as france or germany, which were in a 2nd here or concern. and then there were countries that don't think too much about russia, that sort of were surprised by this in nato, and felt it was going to be a logical course of action and suspected that possibly the west was being misled,

tricked into thinking an invasion was imminent. by the end of the build up of this crisis, the evidence was so overwhelming, the intelligence was so good that these divisions had essentially, mel said on the night of the attack, britain, the united states, france, we're all on exactly the same page. in some ways this is going to be viewed by the i by my 6 us, we're redemptive moment to them after the sort of long and rightly desert off the shock. so the force of the cations about intelligence during the iraq war. so i think we're going to enter a period now in which what they have to say is taken more seriously than it has been over the previous few years. o e, mamma states. and we've seen this play out a potentially in recent years with brakes. it very divided by geography history,

national interests. will they be able to, to maintain unity in the face of this russian threat? i mean, obviously everyone's united are not wanting. they don't want to be a war in europe, but will they be able to continue to manage these divisions? i think we need to remember that this is only the day of what is life to be a very savage war. and one that could last in its most intense phase for several days or several weeks if not longer. and then with a long ryan gorilla campaign afterwards, you know, we're going to see, i say, a large scale civilian casualties. and that pressure of blogs is going to start shop european public opinion indeed in countries which have wanted to keep close relations with russia such as hungary was already accepting ukrainian refugees. and i think that he's going to maintain the coalition that we're seeing now

the europe have the capacity to undergo this. i know you've spoken about this, the transformation needed in a literally, in terms of its divisions, but also economically in terms of dependent. and it's on russia's oil and gas. how does europe have to change? well, this is the end of an era in many ways. and not simply because a dictator has launched a war of conquest again in europe, the nationalist reasons the for the 1st time in a long time. what we are also seeing is that the model, the britain with london developed of the british.