Explosions rock Ukraine’s key locations

KIEV — A series of explosions hit Ukraine’s largest airport Boryspil and several military objects in eastern and southern Ukraine early Feb 24, according to Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian Armed Forces are destroying “military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, aviation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces” with high-precision weapons, not targeting Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb 24 declared martial law in the country after Russia started a military operation against Ukraine.

In a video address, Zelensky said his country is under attack. According to the Interior Ministry, military depots and airfields in the capital were hit by missiles.

The Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said it was evacuating passengers and staff from Boryspil.

Media reports said there were also attacks in Kharkiv city in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border, in Kramatorsk town in the frontline in eastern Ukraine, in Vasylkiv city near Kiev, in Dnipro city in central Ukraine as well as in the southern port city of Odesa.

Russia closed its airspace to civilian aircraft on Feb 24 on its western borders with Ukraine and Belarus, the Russian aviation authorities announced, shortly after President Vladimir Putin authorized a “special military operation” in the Donbass region.

“Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. We are not going to impose anything on anyone by force,” said Putin.