‘Putin declares war’ and missiles hit Kyiv

With Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing military action in Ukraine after the newspapers went to press, their websites have been updating with the latest reports.

The paper says the invasion began after a televised address early this morning “from a defiant Putin”, who rejected last night’s calls for peace from Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

It says Russian forces appear to be targeting military infrastructure in early strikes, with explosions reported at airfields, military headquarters and military warehouses.

The paper says the operation began amid warnings from world leaders that it could spark the biggest war in Europe since 1945.

The Daily Mail website talks of missiles raining down on Kyiv and unconfirmed reports of a huge seaborne landing by Russian forces in the Black Sea port of Odessa, involving large landing craft and helicopters.

The Independent says President Putin’s announcement confirms fears he was massing troops along the border ahead of a strategic offensive.

It also highlights what it calls the “emotional” address by President Zelensky in which he said that he and his people wanted peace with Russia, but would defend themselves.

It cites a recent survey by CNN, which shows that support among Russians for military force against Ukraine – to prevent it from joining Nato – has dropped to 50%, with a quarter of the Russian population indicating it would be wrong.

It says Russia’s renewed aggression towards Ukraine should be a wake-up call to the UK “over who it is willing to do business with”.

It says that the chancellor will use a major speech today to lay out his vision for “economic freedom”, but will also hint at spending cuts in the years ahead.

And the Telegraph reports that home abortions – where women can get pills by post to terminate a pregnancy in the first 10 weeks – will be axed in the autumn.

The service had started in the pandemic but the paper says there have been long wrangles in the government about women’s reproductive rights.

The paper says leading medics have voiced concern about the service ending, saying the move will be “devastating for women” and a “huge backward step”.