The Russian military says it has bombed Ukrainian air bases and other military installations

Russian troops have fired rockets into several Ukrainian cities, officials and media say, after President Vladimir Putin authorized what he called a special military operation in the east of the country. Shortly after Putin spoke in a speech broadcast on Russian state television, explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. The shootings took place near the capital's airport, according to the Interfax news agency, and warnings of attacks could be heard in the city. "Putin has now launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and safe cities in Ukraine are under attack," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter. The Russian military says it has bombed Ukrainian air bases and other military installations and is not targeting crowded areas, and according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry, the military has used non-lethal weapons. Putin accused the United States and its NATO allies of ignoring Russia's demands to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and guaranteeing Russia's security. "Anyone who tries to disrupt us, let alone endanger our country and our people, should know that Russia's response will be swift and lead to consequences unprecedented in history." said Putin.