Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Amid efforts to broker peace, bloodshed and destruction in sight

Amidst weeks of diplomatic efforts to broker a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced ‘a special military operations’ in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

In a televised address, President Putin called on Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the region ‘to lay down weapons and return home’.

President Putin further added that the decision by Moscow to hold a special military operation was made after, ‘the people’s republics of Donbas approached Russia with a request for help’.

Moments later Moscow’s announcement, explosions were heard across Ukraine including in Kyiv, Kharkiv.