RT News - February 24 2022 (13:00 MSK)

Vladimir Putin has ordered a special military operation in Donbass, saying the aim is to protect people there. The Russian Defense Ministry says there is no threat to civilians in Ukraine and the Russian president stressed Russia had no plans to occupy its neighbor. Earlier the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics asked Russia for "help in repelling the Ukrainian regime's military aggression." It comes after Donbass leaders say Ukrainian forces stepped up cross-border shell fire. Kiev has broken off diplomatic relations with Russia urging the West to build an anti-Putin coalition. That as leading world politicians slam the Kremlin's operation as a barbaric attack, and vow the harshest sanctions yet.