Reports: Russia has invaded Ukraine as mass explosions heard across country

This is a developing story

Overnight reports have confirmed that Russian forces have invaded Ukraine and are believed to be planning a further full scale invasion. Russian officials have maintained that the invasion is not an invasion and neither is it a war — but some kind of special military operation. The Russians maintain that the moves are solely that to defend separatist controlled areas. Ukraine, however, maintains that they have not threatened the separatist controlled areas.

European officials are expected to begin further meeting tomorrow to discuss the next round of consequences against Putin. Social media has lit up in response to the Ukraine crisis and how Putin has all but walked into the country.

The latest as of 11:30 pm EST Wednesday:

Multiple reports confirmed that Ukraine went into a nat’l state of emergency on Wednesday evening. This means that security will be bolstered across the country; additional passport and such checks, and pretty much a larger presence of government forces and troops.

It’s worth noting that Putin previously claimed in his Monday speech that an occupation of Ukraine was not on the agenda though nobody really believes that.

Following Putin ‘s speech(es) explosions were reported in multiple cities including Kyiv.

Most of these acts of war are on the basis that Putin wants to re-establish the “Russian Empire” otherwise known as The Soviet Union.

Ukraine ‘s President Zelensky confirmed overnight that he had tried to call Putin but was met with literal silence according to multiple reports.

The following words are understood to have been part of Putin ‘s speech but are translated into English below:

“Now a few important, very important words for those who may be tempted to intervene in ongoing events from the outside,” Putin said. “Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history. We are ready for any development of events. All necessary decisions in this regard have been made. I hope that I will be heard.”

American officials are understood to have conducted an assessment that has found that the explosions near places like Kiev are in fact heavy missiles.

— This is a developing story – Thursday updates will go below this line as they arrive in our newsroom —