Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday 24 February 2022 with explosions heard soon after in the capital and other parts of the country, prompting outrage from Joe Biden who warned of a “catastrophic loss of life”. Putin said in a television announcement shortly before 6:00 am (0300 GMT) in Moscow:

I have made the decision of a military operation.

Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms, and justified the invasion by claiming a “genocide” in Ukraine’s east. He also warned, “Whoever would try to stop us and further create threats, 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.”

Last night, the 23rd of February marked the start of an unthinkable military blunder in the history of World Wars, security sources have claimed after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a military invasion of Ukraine-government controlled territories.

According to Ukraine security sources, volleys of missiles, artilleries and other military weapons flooded towards Ukraine’s borders with Russia last night and other cities including Skadovsk and the capital Kyiv have already reported fatalities and property destructions after airstrikes hit those regions.

A planned military operation by Russia is happening in Ukraine in Putin’s bid to gain control of Ukraine-controlled territories.

The country’s defense has also claimed that it has gunned down six Russian aircraft and killed more than fifty of its soldiers.

Major missile strikes have so far been reported in most of Ukraine’s cities with online pictures and videos indicating huge damage to buildings.

A number of media houses on the ground including Sky News have compiled pictures and video footages of what is happening in Ukraine.

Here are some devastating photos of the Russia-Ukraine war iHarare got hold of that show the impact of the conflict since last night.

A man assisting an elderly woman away from a burning building after airstrikes in Ukraine (credit:Alex Lourie)

The aftermath of an airstrike in Ukraine (credit: Alex Lourie)An injured survivor in UkraineUkraine Fire Fighters struggling to extinguish fire after an airstrike hit Kharkiv (Credit: Sky News)Image: Alex LourieThe Aftermath of bombings in Ukraine military building caught fire after missile strike (Sky News)Ukraine military personnel inspecting remains of a missile (Sky News)Ukraine firefighters going through remains after a missile attack (Sky News)