INNOCENT TARGETS
Horror pics show blood-drenched civilians after Russia blitzes apartment block killing boy in Ukraine invasion
HORROR pictures show the devastating impacts of Vladimir Putin's war as civilians were left covered in blood and weeping for lost loved ones.
Photos from airstrikes across Ukraine show the already disastrous human cost of the Russian invasion that has left the world stunned.
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At least 10 civilians are reported to have already been killed - but this number is expected to rise amid the full scale invasion.
And in one assault, Putin's forces blitzed an apartment block - leaving many residents bloodied and killing a young boy, 15.
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UN refugee chief Felippo Grandi would have "devastating" humanitarian consequences.
And he urged neighbouring countries to keep borders open to those fleeing the violence
"The humanitarian consequences on civilian populations will be devastating. There are no winners in war but countless lives will be torn apart," he said.
Grandi added: "Civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must be protected and safeguarded at all times."
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It comes as the Russian President declared war this morning after months of growing tensions.
Police sources reported explosions as air raid sirens blared as far west as Lviv while hundreds of casualties were reported by Ukraine's Interior Ministry as the country was placed under martial law.
Firefighters were seen trying to extinguish the flames of a house burning after an airstrike hit in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv.
A shocking video shows the moment a cyclist gets hit by a shell in Uman, in the Cherkassy region.
According to reports, one civilian was killed and five others wounded.
It comes as:
- Vladimir Putin warns of 'untold consequences' if the West challenges his invasion of Ukraine
- Britain is to batter Russia with 'unprecedented' sanctions of the invasion
- Boris Johnson is holding a crisis Cobra meeting over the invasion as the West daws up plans for 'severe sanctions'
- Horror pictures show after Russia's dawn assault
- Fears are growing over the price of petrol and gas as the markets quake in the aftermath of the invasion
- Civilians are believed to have been hurt in the initial assault by Russia
- Putin is feared to have deploy Russia’s horrifying
The evacuation of the population within a 19-mile radius of a military unit was announced.
Meanwhile, terrified Ukrainians were seen fleeing the country as explosions hit the capital Kyiv and other major cities.
Families took shelter inside subway stations while long queues were seen on platforms.
Residents rushed to gas stations as they tried to head out of Kyiv but were met with gridlocked highways.
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A shaken mum, Ksenya Michenka took cover with her teenage son in a metro station off Kyiv's Maidan Square.
She said she ran to the subway station for cover "because Russia has started a war against Ukraine."
She said: "We need to save our lives.
"We hope the metro can save us because it is underground."
Thousands woke up terrified as Kyiv was rocked by a number of explosions.
Maria Kashkoska,29, said while sitting on the station's floor: "I woke up because of the sounds of bombing.
"I packed a bag and tried to escape. We are sitting here, waiting."
Ukrainian defence officials later said that Kyiv's main international airport had come under a Russian bombing attack.
A police car drove down Kyiv's main Khreshchyatyk Avenue urging everyone to remain calm and take shelter.
Long queues formed at petrol station as residents prepared to flee.
"I once again call on the people of Kharkiv to stay at home and to remain as calm as possible," mayor Igor Terekhov said.
62-year-old Vladimir Levichov said: "If they continue to bomb us, I will find weapons and defend my homeland."
Putin said the “special military operation” aims to "demilitarize" and "de-Nazify" Ukraine during his speech this morning.
The despot also sent a chilling warning to the West saying it "will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history" if they interfere.
Defiant Foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said: “Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”
President Voldymyr Zelenskyy said that "the Ukrainian people want peace," and that his government was "doing everything it can to build it" after Putin refused to speak to him last night.
The Ukrainian president addressed the nation urging people to donate blood for the injured soldiers in the hospitals.
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He also made a plea to anyone with military experience to join the country's defence saying the government will provide weapons to those who want them.
Zelenskyy said: “We need blood. Please give blood and donate your blood to our defenders.
“We will remove sanctions on any citizen of Ukraine who is able to take up arms in defence our country.
“This is a morning which will go down in history - Russia has taken the path of evil.
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“Russia has attacked our state in a cunning way like Nazi Germany did in World War II.
“For Ukrainians independence is the highest value…we will fight for our country and we will support our country in the squares of each town."
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