Just before dawn on Thursday, February 24, Russia “launched a sweeping military invasion of Ukraine.” Offensive forces had plenty of cover from “an intense barrage of air and artillery attacks,” allowing Ivan to stream across the Ukraine border on three sides, north, east and south.
Russia moves in hard
The first bombardment of aircraft, cruise missiles and rockets apparently targeted five of the nation’s major cities, “including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Mariupol.”
According to the U.S. embassy in Ukraine, Russia attacked “airfields for squadrons of Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29s, Su-27s and L-39s, along with anti-aircraft missile units operating S-300 systems.”
The Ukraine Ministry of Defense confirms that one of their Su-27’s “appeared to flee to Romania in the first minutes of the Russian assault.”
Two Romanian F-16s flew along side and “escorted the Ukrainian Su-27 to land at the 95th Air Base near Bacau in northeast, Romania” The traitor pilot “surrendered.” Both Russia and Ukraine “ordered the closure of the airspace over Ukraine to civilian air traffic.”
European Aviation Safety experts note Ukraine is now an “active conflict area.” That means the “presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.”
Russia swiftly attacked Ukraine military facilities and border posts causing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to impose martial law in response.
Never give up
What Russia just did, Zelenskyy declares, is an “unjustified deceitful and cynical invasion.” He swears “Ukrainians will never give up their freedom and independence to anyone.” Needless to say, he’s giving Vladimir Putin the cold shoulder.
“Kyiv has subsequently severed all diplomatic relations with Moscow.” Around the world the attacks were met with shock and condemnation. Various countries plan to slap Moscow with economic sanctions but Putin just laughs.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Putin and asked him nicely to give Ukraine back and go home.
What he actually said, Aviation Week reports, is that he “called on Russia to cease attacks on Ukraine immediately, calling the invasion a ‘grave breach of international law,’ and a ‘serious threat‘ to Euro-Atlantic security.”
“Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way,” U.S. President Joe Biden said, as he asks his handlers what that should be. He promises the world will hold the Kremlin “accountable.”
Meanwhile Vladimir Putin went on TV telling Russians the “goal” is simply to “demilitarize” Ukraine and roll back the encroachment of NATO forces and allies on Russia’s borders. Some say, the move makes sense even if it is a sneaky trick. It would be like the U.S. sending troops to help secure the Mexican Riviera from the dangerous killer cartels. Sometimes, maintaining “order” and “safety” requires politically distasteful actions. Niccolo Machiavelli would be all for this move. He was never popular but often right.
