Russia-Ukraine war. ~Preet After threats of economic penalties from the United States and its allies failed to discourage him, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his long-anticipated invasion of Ukraine, sparking one of Europe's biggest security crises since World War II. In a televised speech that coincided with the operation's start around dawn, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to "demilitarise" the neighbouring country of more than 40 million people, denigrated the Ukrainian leadership, and said the assault was directed at those he claims have taken Ukraine "hostage." At the same time, a barrage of missiles, artillery, and air assaults poured down on Ukraine, while Russian soldiers advanced from positions in Belarus onto Kyiv, the country's capital city. Ukraine's border guard said that it was being attacked from five different directions, and that Russian tank convoys were entering the country. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers were ki