Ukraine has severed diplomatic ties with Russia following the invasion of Ukrainian territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Mr Zelensky announced on Thursday via his Twitter handle. 

“We have severed diplomatic relations with Russia. For all those who have not yet lost their conscience in Russia, it is time to go out and protest against the war with Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky tweeted. 

On Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he decided to begin a special military operation in response to the republics’ request.

Blasts were heard in Kyiv, the capital city, in Kharkiv, and in Kramatorsk in the region of Donetsk after the televised address

Ukraine’s foreign minister described the ongoing conflict as “a full-scale attack from multiple directions”, assuring that the country “continues to defend itself” from the Russian invasion.

The New York Times reported that Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said Russian troops had landed in the southern port city of Odessa and were crossing from Russia into Kharkiv.

Footage captured by security cameras showed Russian military vehicles crossing into Ukraine from Crimea. 

At the time of filing this report, the Ukrainian government said that over 40 Ukrainian soldiers and around 10 civilians have been killed.