After weeks of Russia's movements towards Ukraine's border, Russia has officially declared war. As of Wednesday night, Februrary 23rd, Russian missiles were launched on Ukraine's cities and its capital, Kyiv.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin announced in a televised broadcast that operation aims to "demilitarize" Ukraine. Russian troops have crossed the border in various locations including Obolon, which is close to the center of Kyiv.
The US has imposed economic sanctions against Russia in response. Biden remains firm that "Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences". The sanctions target Moscow's financial, technology and aerospace sectors.
Russia's largest financial institutions, Sberbank, will no longer be able to handle transactions made in US dollar. Any assets related to the US financial systems will be frozen from several Russian financial institutions.13 Russian enterprises will be restricted from raising assets worth an estimated $1.4 trillion in the US. Other sanctions include restrictions on use of US software, technology or equipment by Russian military. Import and export restrictions will cut off Russia's access to tech goods. Several other countries including, EU, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and the UK have proposed similar sanctions.
Ukraine has remained strong. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russia has marked him as "target number one". However, he still remains in Kyiv. Early Friday local time, Zelenskyy posted a video with his administration, where he said "We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine." Faced with the devastation of war in their home country, several residents are trying to evacuate. Large queues of people have stalled banks, ATMs, and grocery stores. Those who are at risk of ongoing attacks are now forced to take shelter in the city's subway stations.
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