International

Russia Invades Ukraine, Putin warns ‘consequences you have never seen’ to those who interfere

Published

11 months ago

February 24, 2022

Overnight Wednesday, Russian forces attacked Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. Russia called the invasion a “special military operation.” Russia’s President Vladimir Putin warned the world that if any country intervenes, they could receive “consequences you have never seen.”

The full-scale attack has already left “dozens dead.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to promise “we will defend ourselves” although Russia has publicly stated Zelensky is a direct target they are going after.

The Associated Press reported smoke and debris were seen at a Ukrainian air defense base in Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine, in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike on Thursday. “The Russian military claimed to have wiped out Ukraine’s entire air defenses in a matter of hours, though its claims couldn’t immediately be verified.”

President Joe Biden will address the nation at noon on Thursday from the White House. The U.S. and its allies, many of which have or are actively imposing sanctions against Russia, have condemned the attacks against Ukraine.

The AP reports “sirens rang out in Ukraine’s capital, large explosions were heard there and in other cities, and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as the government said the former Soviet republic was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north and south. It reported more than 40 soldiers had been killed and dozens wounded so far.”

Featured

Trump: Tanks to Ukraine could escalate to use of ‘NUKES’

Published

6 days ago

January 26, 2023

Alexander Carter

Former President Donald Trump stated bluntly on Truth Social, “FIRST COME THE TANKS, THEN COME THE NUKES. Get this crazy war ended, NOW. So easy to do!”

Trump was referring to the escalation of war in Ukraine. He, like many other commentators and lawmakers, are warning that the decision to continue sending weapons – and now tanks – could potentially lead to the use of “nuclear weapons.”

It’s mission creep and it’s dangerous, they say.

Why? Because Russian President Valdimir Putin has indicated in two different speeches that he would use nuclear weapons to defend Russia, if needed. Those warnings are not just bluster but a very real possibility.

And the escalation of war is visible.

Russia launched 55 missiles strikes across Ukraine Thursday, leaving 11 dead. The strikes come one day after the United States and Germany agreed to send tanks to Ukraine in an effort to aide the country. 47 of the 55 missiles were shot down according to Ukraine’s Air Force command.

Eleven lives were lost and another 11 were injured additionally leaving 35 buildings damaged in the wake of the attacks. According to The New York Times, Denys Shmyhal, said in a post on Telegram. “The main goal is energy facilities, providing Ukrainians with light and heat,” he said.

Ukraine is now demanding that they need F-16 fighter jets. In a post on twitter Ukrainian lawmaker, Oleksiy Goncharenko said, “Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16.”

Morning. Missiles again over Ukraine. We need F16.

— Oleksiy Goncharenko (@GoncharenkoUa) January 26, 2023

The US has abstained from sending advanced jets in the chances that a volatile decision could foster more dangerous attacks like former President Trump’s post on Truth referred to. If the US did authorize the decision to lend Ukraine the F-16 jets Netherlands’ foreign minister, Wopke Hoekstra, would be willing to supply them. According to The New York Times, Hoekstra told Dutch lawmakers, “We are open-minded… There are no taboos.”

F-16 fighter jets are complex to work on, they are not the average aircraft that can be learned in a matter of weeks. It can take months for pilots to learn how to fly these birds. European and US officials have the concern that Ukrainian forces could potentially use the jets to fly into Russian airspace and launch attacks on Russian soil.

Western allies are trying to avoid such a provocation, because that could lead to nuclear warfare in reference to what Putin has said he would do to defend his country.