Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Thursday morning asked western nations for help with the ongoing Russian invasion, which began earlier in the day.
Podolyak told CNN that a “full-fledged large-scale war has begun in Europe.”
“Russia is attacking not just Ukraine, but all the rules of normal life in the modern world. What will be left of the security system on the continent? Zero,” he added.
Podolyak also told the network that Russia attacked Ukraine from the north, east, and south, and that “Our army repulses attacks, the enemy suffers significant losses.”
“The main thing now is to focus as much as possible on defending the country and preserving people’s normal lives,” he added. “But Ukraine needs more support from the world and is very specific — military-technical and financial support, tough sanctions against Russia. The West must act today.”
Podolyak’s request comes as Russia has begun an invasion into Ukraine, with the invading nation claiming to have destroyed 74 facilities in Ukraine, including 11 air bases, according to The Daily Wire.
Hours after Russia began what it called a “special military operation,” Ukrainian government officials said they had successfully shot down five Russian fighter jets along with one Russian helicopter. The Ukraine’s Department of Defense tweeted:
According to the Joint Forces Command, 5 planes and a helicopter of the aggressors were shot down in the area of the Armed Forces today. The combined forces give a worthy rebuff to the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Military units in their positions. The enemy suffers losses. Keep calm!
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged it has lost a Su-25 attack jet, but said it was due to “pilot error,” according to the Associated Press. Russia has not commented on the loss of other aircraft at the time of publication.
The Daily Wire reported that the Ukrainian government is offering any citizen a weapon to join the army and defend the nation against Russia:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday morning that he would give weapons to anyone who wanted to defend the country from the full-scale Russian invasion that was launched during the early morning hours which came at approximately the same time that Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that a “special military operation” was underway.
Putin told Ukrainian soldiers to give up and go home while threatening the U.S. and NATO that if they intervene “Russia will respond immediately, and you will have consequences that you never have had before in your history.”
“We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities,” Zelensky said in a statement. “We will lift sanctions on all citizens of Ukraine who are ready to defend our country as part of territorial defense with weapons in hands.”
After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the country’s invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden released a statement:
The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable. … Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance.