Russia: Six Reported Dead, Seven Injured In Ukraine As Defence Minister Calls On Willing Citizens To Join Forces
At least six people have been reported dead and seven others wounded in a bombing in the southern Odesa region, according to Ukraine’s General Office of National Police.
The casualties occurred in the city of Podolsk as Russian forces continue military operations in Ukraine. It’s the first announcement of any casualties as the situation in the region unfolds Thursday.
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Conditions on the seven people injured in the bombing are not yet clear. There are 19 people unaccounted for in the bombing, authorities said.
NBC News reporters in the central capital of Kyiv and the northeast city of Kharkiv had reported hearing loud explosions or thuds just minutes Putin’s announcement.
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The attacks ended hopes for a diplomatic solution that the United States and its allies had been attempting for weeks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that “Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.” Prior to Putin’s announcement, Zelenskyy said he tried to call the Russian leader but was rebuffed.
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Reacting, President Joe Biden said he would meet with world leaders to impose “severe sanctions” in the wake of the Russian attack.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister, Oleksiy Reznikov has called on “anyone who is ready and able to hold a weapon” to join the country’s defense forces.
“Dear compatriots! The enemy is attacking, but our army is invincible,” Reznikov said in a Facebook post Thursday morning.
He added;
Ukraine is entering a regime of total defense. Anyone who is ready and able to hold a weapon can just now join the ranks of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in your region.
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The defense minister directed those looking to obtain weapons to contact the brigades and battalions of troop forces in their area.
“You only need to have a passport,” he said, as he called for “death to the Russian occupiers” and “glory to Ukraine.”
