Russia launches wide-ranging attack on Ukraine

Russia has launched a military attack on Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin warns other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.”

Russian troops entered Ukraine early Thursday from neighbouring Belarus and Crimea.

The Ukrainian Border Guard released CCTV footage of what they say captured Russian military vehicles moving in.

The Russian military claims to have wiped out Ukraine’s entire air defense and said they are targeting air bases and military assets, not civilians.

Ukrainian leadership says at least 40 people have been killed in what it called a “full-scale war.”

European Authorities have declared Ukrainian air space an active conflict zone.

According to The Associated Press, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia has launched war on Ukraine and shattered peace on the European continent.

“Peace on our continent has been shattered,’” he said. “This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion. Russia is using force to try to rewrite history.”

Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but many countries surrounding it are NATO allies.

World leaders are condemning Russia’s attack on its neighbour as the European Union and others promised unprecedented sanctions to hit the Kremlin.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he will meet with the leaders of G7 countries on Thursday to “collectively respond” to the attack.

In a statement, Trudeau said Canada “condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s egregious attack on Ukraine.”

“These unprovoked actions are a clear further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They are also in violation of Russia’s obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” said Trudeau. “Canada calls on Russia to immediately cease all hostile and provocative actions against Ukraine and withdraw all military and proxy forces from the country. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and the Ukrainian people must be free to determine their own future.”

The European Union is holding an emergency summit in Brussels to plan what it calls the strongest, harshest package of sanctions it has ever considered.