with no losses. school, we say the number of bayonets going out now should be the same. coming back to their homeland i passed the exam and now i can wear the special forces insignia. everything's great where i have no regrets. now i'm thinking about signing up for a 2nd tour of duty but ah, with isaac, this video is from one of our film crews on the front line showing what's happening

right now is the heavy shelling continue. it's very difficult to make out in the pictures though. if you listen closely, you can hear rumbles in the distance and in the distance is where our correspondents are in the don bath republic. well, this endless continuing shelling and fire is still coming up from, from just north of la guns city, where the front line is where we still hear artillery fire more answers and multiple rocket launch systems, however, is becoming more and more distant. it all comes off, the vladimir putin has ordered a special military operation saying the aim is to defend the people of the don baths from genocide by the credit military comments that fly in stock contrast to those of his western partners. a putin saying there are no designs on any occupation. when we were putting it, i have decided to conduct a special military operation. we do not plan to occupy ukrainian territories

brochures that special military operation is targeting only military facilities. as far as we understand, that is the latest statement from the defense ministry, which according to the ministry, means there is no threat to ukraine, civilian population while here at auto international. we are working hard to confirm that and some of the details here concerning that have t f. now, the officials, they're cutting diplomatic ties with russia, urging western partners to build an antique food in coalition as well the us and its allies to slam the covenant operation. as a bob barrack attack and valve harshest of sanctions to date with oh, futons, calling it a peacekeeping operation as rushers, western partners called it a, an invasion and a heinous attack on a sovereign country. welcome to our continued coverage of the conflict in ukraine. it's our to international, by the way. so russia's president has announced an operation. this is

a military operation to defend the don bass. this was made during an address to the nation. it's after the 2 newly recognized republics requested rushes assistance against military aggression from ukraine. russia's defense ministry says the operation poses no threat to civilians. only military infrastructure is being targeted. we are working to confirm all of this for you. meantime, western powers, all rounding on moscow for what they call an invasion and they are threatening severe reprisals. let's learn more, go straight to the ground right now, live to our correspondence artes roman casa ref, reporting from don yeske, murat, gas d, as in lieu gans. but at 1st to you, we've been seeing videos of explosions in new gans and local artillery. firing is, is, is still intense where you are now, or has it, has it gone into a bit of a long well, it's nothing of the same level of intensity as what we heard this morning when there was artillery saturation, which was the launch generally before i defensive begins the offensive, in this case, being the local, the republic of lugens, which said,

which announced that it was launching this offense of this, this morning to reclaim the entirety of the now formal ukrainian province of the administrative boundaries of the region that it used to be now of course it has been recognized as an independent entity by russia, but you can still hear the blasts from, from the distance. it is all. 6 moved a little further away from the, from the city itself, which is where we are earlier on today. we saw a rise in front of our eyes. power going out in various neighborhoods in the, in the distance amid the shelling which was, which was coming and going both ways on the side of the ukrainian military. and on the side of the republic of lou ganske here, there are no russian troops. i engaged in military operations in the republic now of lugens or in the nets. they have uh,

they have said showed themselves the to republican. we haven't seen any russian russian soldiers in the ground here. they say that the offensive here being carried out under their own manpower, the draft. we have seen the of, of the volunteers that have joined up and recent weeks. but in the city itself, it is saying credibly quiet. there have been in many days now, you know, the 1st time that they have be no incoming busts and shells having in the outskirts of the city or the city itself. nevertheless, from what we understand the offensive is on the way they have a plan authorities here say, and they are committed to it. they are progressing. we haven't heard much from the ukrainian side in this area will they have admitted was earlier today the ministry of interior, ukrainian ministry of interior saying that they had lost several settlements. settlement in, in lou gunsmoke region elsewhere. and you crave that there is a lot of conflicting information. we have seen ad room off the air field after

warehouse off the imo depot, struck in russian strikes. we have seen the ministry of defense of the russian federation. come out and say that they have launched precision as shrikes against various military infrastructure sites in ukraine, which includes air fields which includes anti miss anti air defense sites, as well as assets belonging to the ukranian air force which have been taken out of action. we have seen also a ukrainian aircraft, a military cargo aircraft, which has crashed either shot down or crashed depending on who you listen to. but again, a lot of a lot of conflicting reports as to who controls what at the moment, there's also been information from the russian side. the russian, a military has said that they have detected mass desertion in the racks of the ukrainian military. we have heard about ukrainian soldiers surrendering ab,

but the ukrainian side has dismissed many of these allegations. they have said that there is no mass desertion. on the other hand, they have at the same dod ah, the cool own ukrainians, and you couldn't this is there what you could hold a gun should join up with a military and that they hand out a gun to anyone who shoot, put so a many competing views here and it will take days to get to the bottom of what is happening. i'd just also like to mentioned, there have been reports of a russian aircraft or a helicopter being shot down in the vicinity of kiev authorities. and kia claimed that they had cited more than $300.00 russian helicopters, landing at air fields alone to operations that air fields of various strategic sites around around the capital. and we saw footage of one of them a crashing into a lake or the river near keith and the pilot catapulting out no information again

on that yet. but uh well i've got you on the line roman stand by. i just wanted to ask you one more quick question, more idea, any idea theoretically speaking on how long this might go one for we understand that the russian aerospace forces were making precision stripes on military infrastructure. a summer saying that whatever is putin is during it's going to be wrapped up very, very quickly. would you have any idea as to how long this mike, a wonderful well, according to reports, it could all have been averted, according to reports of the ukrainian press. and this is something that the kremlin and the bell russian president a have confirmed a president zalinski was wound hours before that this operation was about to be launched. he was asked to recognize the 2 breakaway republics or their boundaries and turn to tuttle to lodge negotiations. and allegedly, this is allegedly, we come and verify this. we haven't heard from present zalinski himself. but

the telephone call with the authorities in britain refused to go along in this operation was launch. the aim, the kremlin has said the hours ago is. and this is, this is the terminology they used to deal not to fight ukraine and tell them to liberate the country from the course that it's authorities have put it on. so there is, you know, it's a, it's a very open ended statement that did not survive ukraine's of this operation. that there are certainly ain't. there are objectives. we have seen russian troops seizing air fuel. st seasons, receipt excites all as i mentioned. but how long this will go on is anyone's guess . on the other hand, a far russian troops, i, indeed, as ukrainian officials have said outside of care. and we have seen footage again and verified footage of russian vehicles armored vehicles, military vehicles, not far from care and could, could be a while its main stage could be over

a relatively quickly bear in mind that ukraine is larger than france. these. this is something that must be borne in mind. so again, it is very difficult to say how long this missile go on and what, what sort of casualties with we're talking about either. right, thanks very much for that. let's cross over now to our colleague around culture of stunning by lucas, because i understand remind you, woke up to a terrifying morning today, but it hasn't perhaps come down since well indeed, it's been a very incense of the last few days and our crew and the rest of our team crews have been a witness to continuous artillery fire and we've heard all sounds of us shelling it was. hm. but both multiple rocket launch systems moore's hers and indeed the night was very alarming. and there we woke up to the news that the authorities of as an s peoples a republic said that they are now using all of their available methods in order to

strike ukrainian army positions. and they will be doing that until the boundaries are further than as people's republic are free from the ukrainian army. and they're talking about places like sly vans, cromwell tours, and marine people as well. i will, according to the people's militia here in the nest. they have advanced as far as 3 kilometers into the territory, formerly controlled by ukraine. and they, you have liberated at least 2 town center. this was their statement me, while, according to russia's federal security service. so ukrainian border guards have left all of their positions. and as of for 1 pm on thursday, there is no one at the ukrainian border guards over the border with russia. there's no one there. there statements of the russian federal security service had it further than 16 of those are soldiers. 16 of those border guards have actually

cross the border into crimea, and they refused for further service for ukraine. now ukraine's beauregard authorities have issued their own statement as well as saying that depending on the situation, all of their personnel will be relocated to reserve a post. huh. now some you creating soldiers like murat mentioned earlier as well for ashley surrenders and switch a switch side. so that's according to people's militia i here as well. and that, of course, are in accordance with letting me putin's coal and people's malicious call to ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms to surrender and all stop the aggression against their republics. and they have been promised human. it's erin corridors, as long as they are, we, as long as they leave their weapons behind and,

and they've been promised a amnesty as well. i meanwhile, our media reports are, are suggesting, and that's according to the office of the ukrainian president zalinski. that's more than 40 ukrainian soldiers. i had been killed over the last. well since the operation began and at least a sense civilians had been killed as well. but sir, we saw for haven't received any confirmation as for those numbers or whether that fact had taken place at all. a meanwhile, here in don bos, peoples, a republican since fighting is taking place along all of the front lines, mainly in the south of the republic, close to the city of farm marie opal and her from what we've heard from edwards a saw in the representative of the people's militia that place emory, opal is now encircled by the national defense,

a battalion said and the organization militarize organization that are connected with a neo nazi belize and that leads battalions are preventing people from leaving. maria polk making will essentially a human shields out of them. well, other places like a girl of color, for example, it's about an hour away from here is also seen continues her heavy artillery shelling throughout her thursday a may or alpha. that sound made an announcement earlier saying that at least one person had been killed. civilian and another 4 civilians were oh, wounds at now. fighting is also continuing on the outskirts of genetics where people are hiding in bomb shelters. like well, they've been used to back in 2014, back in 2015. when this conflict had started. and as the result of the shelling here here in the oscars of the nets and cities near by,

a lot of us civilian infrastructure had been, had been damaged. and as the results, thousands of people are now without water. and without electricity. now they had of the, the next people's republic, denise push it and said earlier that said this operation, that sick continues from thursday morning in the bus will and very soon and it will . and the, with the authorities claiming the rest of the territory of the dentist people's republic. and you mentioned a po, shilling that roma you mentioned for sure that the head of the break where republics there and he was doing it, it was a bunch of basically the, the 2nd have a press conference and from, from, from there. and he was saying that they're getting shelling for their shelling from both sides of the board of both sides are shelling each other. so that is not one side here is definitely definitely 2 to tango in this situation. romance caused a rough life and on. yes, thank you. oh,

it's not my thought not at this video was filmed by one of our crew is on the front line in the don't yet. script public is where happy shelling is ongoing, very difficult to make out on these pictures though, i russians, defense, mandatory studies, ukrainian force is firing at cities on don bass were working to confirm that. while the breakaway republics authority say they are engaging ukrainian soldiers on the contact lines shelling, being blamed on both sides in this conflict. now a series of powerful explosions were reported across ukraine. this morning. allow blasts rocked several cities after russia did launch its military operation. now as being reported, the explosions were caused by my thought strikes from russia's aerospace forces and just recently got these pictures from mirror murray up. well, now it's a large city down there with a thick smoke all across the sky, a powerful explosions being reported throughout various parts of ukraine. now every the we can bring up

a map of that done yet. can look on people's republics to really give you a clear idea of what is going on. it's important that you understand that these 2 republics did announce the independent strong kiev, shortly after the 2014 might revolution and have its claim be repeatedly shelled, ever since leading to roughly 23000 injuries and are both republic say they will liberate their territory. still under t as control up until now they've only held about half of that area. but president putin says russia recognizes these 2 states as defined by that map. now let me put in did announce this whole decision in a nationally televised speech thing that has no intention as of yet to occupy ukraine. if you get rich with, according to the article, 51 in the 7th chapter of the un charter with the sanction of the federation council and according to the friendship and mutual help treaties with the nets and lu

ganske, the public's i have decided to conduct a special military operation. the goal is to protect the people who for 8 years of the bullying and genocide from the key of regime. and for this we aim for the, the militarization and the next, if a cation of ukraine will bring to the court. those who committed multiple sanguinary crimes against civilians, including russian citizens. we do not plan to occupy ukrainian territories. and it wasn't a very early hours of this morning during our put and televised the address to the region down there in ukraine, basically telling ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms. and just in the past couple of hours, the ukranian president lensky has tweeted that we will lift sanctions on all citizens of ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hans, in the mean time, we have heard from a don bass resident, who was evacuated across the border to rushers arrest off region his what you had to say was happening right now is of course very scary,

but we're glad the russia is finding, providing us with assistance. the troops of entered the liberating territories to help non military and civilians. we hope this ends quickly. your current president zalinski says his country is now severing diplomatic ties with russia. earlier he imposed martial law, citing the fact that ukrainian military infrastructure was under attack and it was ukraine's foreign ministry says a full scale russian invasion is underway. that is a sentiment echoed by putin's professional partners in the west a. here's the landscape speaking on a ukrainian tv just a bit earlier. ronald. this morning has gone down in history that this story is absolutely different for our country and for russia. and we have 7 diplomatic relations with russia for ukrainians, independence, and the right to live on their land is the highest value. with russia,

the defense ministry has made it clear that the military operation is aimed at protecting the don bass republics. following their recognition by moscow that is, according to the ministry, it says that civilian areas in ukraine will not be targeted nor will soldiers who lay down their arms. now, the ministry stresses that there is no danger to be a crane in population here at auto international with all of a correspondence on the ground, we are working to confirm these details now, starting outside the russian administrative, international affairs, and defense. are these really up a trinket reports? well, we did indeed hear from 2 very important officials in the last several hours. first of all, let me talk about the latest comments made by the kremlin press secretary dmitri past cove. who said that under no circumstances should any one use the word occupation when referring to the current military off that russia's carrying out in ukraine. a. when mr. prescott was asked whether direct contacts between his boss,

latimer, potent and the cranium president of dumas lensky. if these contacts are so a possible mr. mr. prescott said that indeed they are. if ukraine is ready to discuss russian security concerns over of everything that's happening in ukraine currently now, besides this, mr. pasco said that the time frames for this notary operation will be determined by the president of russia. however, he did not specify what exactly that means. now, despite a number of western officials, including the nato secretary general against oldenburg, calling, what's happening in ukraine and invasion and occupation? the number one message from the russian army spokesperson, mister connor shank of was that no civilians under any circumstances in ukraine

will be targeted by the russian military. it's only the ukrainian military infrastructure that a will be a target for the russian high precision weapons. as he put it, but there's it in your room, you'll get a uniform ukrainian armed forces are continuing to show the cities of the dumbass. there are victims among the civilian population. russia is not conducting any missile aviation, or tillery strikes on the cities of ukraine. the positions of ukraine's military units that have laid down their weapons and not to be subjected to strikes russian on forces, disabling only military infrastructure, defense facilities, military airfields, and aircraft, of ukraine's armed forces. i would like to emphasize that the russian armed forces not striking at the cities of ukraine. they are not threatening the civilian population. a little earlier, a lot of our potent addressed the service men of the cranium army and called on them to literally lay down their arms and go home. and then eventually we heard

from the russian ministry of defense that the cranium military units that will lay down arms a will not be targeted by the russian army. that's another very important message that we heard from the building behind my shoulder. let's say this further here, what are the national joining current? can i still a former foreign minister of austria coming on during rolling breaking news coverage? great to see today. thanks very much for coming on the program with him. like i'm going to ultimately at the end of the day, rushes western partners according this a heinous act that calling it a russian invasion, a barbaric act. putin is calling this a mission of peace keeping. we understand the military side of it for now to some degree, we're still gathering data by the minute here at off into national. let's address, however, cower and the economic issues. now that already being discussed by various western officials, as we understand they are drafting new sanctions. and,

and some of thing much is going to depend on what germany does here. some officials in berlin have suggested a block on all energy imports from russia. that does sound rather dire. could you see that happening? karen? thank you. why the, according to what i've also been following. i was instance morning. yes, this is apparently the announcement we'll see for tonight because i don't see bilateral journal sanctions. there will be one big package by the you, by a lot tonight announced that there is german officials, including i think even the minister economy have said we are able to substitute ration in gas imports. i'm not so sure that this would really be possible because we are speaking of huge white homes of gas oil and also coal affects in summer. even announcing that in this final stage of renegotiating the agreement with iran,

that iranian gas could substitute russia natural gas. i mean, this will be the irony of history to, to substitute russian gas, natural gas, or so the pipeline with better gas from, from iran, given also all the while the insurgency is that you have, is iraq apart from the technical aspect to why you can these williams really be substituted, the immediate impact is already seen on the stock exchange market. it's a tremendous price hike. and we might even see a situation where the average german household will have to spend maybe 50 percent of the income on utilities. i mean, this is something that has never been happened. you have a huge amount of expenditure, current coverage, family b be relied upon to actually pay that much not. and then we was see, i mean there's always was any kind of conflict situation. you have to bear in mind

the domestic front, and in that case, high energy prices will put a tremendous pressure on the average german, the average german is the electorate. and it will decrease even furthermore, an already very fragile proof, just how, why did the inflation is only galloping so? so the has to be a balance of strike. why did john officials know how to, how to find that balance? and we will, we will see that seems to be a parent, a consensus among professional apartments in western countries to punish russia of what they're calling a heinous act. as you well know, russia was hit with some pretty severe sanctions back in 2014 with the repatriation or the seizure of crimea, depending on how you see it. do you think the sanctions against russia could be worse this time? yes, of course. there was, there were a spanish, at the center of july 2014,

have only left, $2.00, instigation of the russian economy into a trans actor that encounter sanctions. but this time, i mean, speaking of something like a mother of sanctions package or something never seen before. so the announcements are huge. but the big box is really how would that be technically feasible all the way? i mean actually is one thing and that has a tremendous impact already now in terms of prices. but the other thing is the financial markets and sanctions, the russian economy and the rest of the world. a t. p. intertwined. we. we have french banks, german banks, austin, thanks and above all, italian banks, which are very much present on the russian banking sector. so we're not only speaking about swift, the transfer financial transaction system, this can be replaced by something else which might be much more cumbersome,

but this is something that is technically replaceable. what, what will not possible is to, to, to disentangle this corporation by banks with all that he did the credit to have and, and then westman, i, i simply can't imagine that what maybe it can be and all politically, but how it can really be implemented. and other practical level i have problems in, in seen that kind of can i tell a former foreign minister of austria joining us live during this breaking news coverage or are you international many thanks. we appreciate your time. thank you almost like come what i will. thanks for joining us. there were naughty international as well in response to the international outcry. and there has been an international outcry. china's foreign ministry has called on all sides to show restraint loose russia as a permanent member of the un security council. it is an independent and sovereign

superpower, russia autonomy, slee plans and exercises its foreign policy and strategy based completely on its own judgment and national interests. you are your friends, president has l talks with the leaders of the u. s. u. k, germany and others, as well as key urging them to form what's called now an anti putin coalition and imposed the toughest possible sanctions. and nato has held an emergency session pledging to bolster it's east. european defense is what we are continuing. our breaking news coverage here on our tea until now, so it's just now half past 4 in the afternoon is really good to have your coverage today. the minutes agreements applies to both sides of ukrainian culture to withdraw weapons from the front line. this is something that a lot of people are not aware of, of thousands of civilians to live in the so called gray zone, many as unwitting witnesses and victims of the ongoing conflict. we're going to bring you stories now from some of these people. it's coming up next on the international. it's well worth having to watch.

i mean you go to assign. on february the 12th 2015, it was meant to end military conflicts in ukraine, between government forces and on bass militia groups. the agreement stipulated that both sides would withdraw heavy weapons to an equal distance from the contact line . this left several 100 settlements trapped between opposing forces. local civilians became unwitting witnesses to and victims of the continuing civil war. thousands of people still live in small towns and villages that have become the new front line. they call this area the greys own. mm hm. with

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