40 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed, Dozens Wounded Under Putin’s “Special Military Operation”

“Listen to the voice of reason. The Ukrainian people want peace,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded to millions of viewers early Thursday morning on Ukrainian Television.
Dismissing the calls for peace, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin declared the start of a “special military operation” to “demilitarize” Ukraine. The Russian invasion left 57 Ukrainian soldiers killed and hundreds wounded. 
Following weeks of denying invasion, Prime Minister Putin justified the attacks as being necessary to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine. Donetsk and Luhansk are both rebel-controlled areas led by pro-Russia separatists.
Countries across the globe continue to condemn Russia–both the UK and the US have announced sanctions against the country. Along with several other tactics including supplying weapons to Ukraine.

It was 5 o'clock in the morning Kyiv time Putin started an unprovoked war against Ukraine, a war against Europe, a war against the whole world

— Ukraine's Emb. to UK (@UkrEmbLondon) February 24, 2022

The conflict that has been building for years has finally reached a boiling point. Disputes over geographic borders, NATO membership, and intentions for democracy have influenced Russia’s decision to invade. Ukrainian police said Russia carried out 203 attacks in total on Thursday.
 

Up Next, Russia Invades Ukraine