Inside Politics: War in Europe as Russia launches full invasion

The haunting sound of air raid sirens are ringing out in Kiev. Russian president Vladimir Putin has launched a full scale-invasion of Ukraine, confirming what so many had predicted and anticipated. Earlier this morning, the sound of explosions ripped through the dawn air as Russian forces launched their first attacks on what are believed to be Ukrainian military sites on the outskirts of the capital. Updates are coming in by the minute – we’ll bring you all the latest developments on our liveblog.

Events in Westminster today are likely to be dominated by the Ukraine crisis, although there is other business taking place. The Commons is scheduled to sit from 9.30 am with Cabinet Office questions to minister and No 10 chief of staff Steve Barclay. After that isany urgent questions, statements and the weekly Commons business statement from Mark Spencer, the new leader of the house. Later there are two backbench debates, the first on the UK’s relationship with Russia and China and the second on recognizing the state of Palestine alongside Israel. Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain has an adjournment debate on long Covid.

Coming up:

– Defence secretary Ben Wallace on LBC at 7.50am

– Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden on Sky News at 8.05am

RUSSIA INVADES: Shortly before 5am UK time, Putin ordered an attack on Ukraine after weeks of building up troops along the border while denying that he planned to launch a full scale attack. In a televised address to the nation, Putin described the offensive as a “special military operation” in the east of the country where he had recognised the separatist “Peoples’ Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk “to defend people who have been victims of abuse and genocide from the Kiev regime”. He said he did not want to occupy Ukraine, but he intended to “de-Nazify” the state and demanded that the country’s armed forces lay down their weapons, saying that otherwise Kiev will be responsible for “possible bloodshed”.

EXPLOSIONS HEARD: Literally minutes after Putin’s remarks were broadcast, the first attacks were launched on military sites near Kiev. Reports of explosions or gunfire are coming in from at least five other places in Ukraine or near the Russian border, including Kramatorsk, Odess, Kharkhov and Berdyansk. In the past hour, the Ukrainian armed forces said they have shot down five Russian planes and a helicopter, which Moscow denies.

MARTIAL LAW: Although Putin claims he doesn’t want to occupy Ukraine, its president Volodymyr Zelensky is taking no chances and has declared martial law across the entire country, meaning the military is now in direct control of all normal civil and administrative functions. He issued a fighting statement, saying his army “will defeat everyone” and told citizens to remain calm. “We are working. The army is working,” he said. “Don’t panic. We are strong. We are ready for everything.” Despite Zelensky’s calls for calm, people in Kiev are boarding buses to leave the city, and there are queues of cars trying to get out. Others are queuing up at banks to take their cash out and rushing towards the city’s metro system to take shelter.

WEST’S RESPONSE: Boris Johnson is leading an emergency meeting of Cobra this morning and will make a statement to the House of Commons later. In a statement last night, the prime minister said Putin has “chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction”. “I am appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine and I have spoken to Zelensky to discuss next steps,” Johnson tweeted. He said the UK and its allies would respond “decisively” as London warned that Moscow would “incur severe costs’’ of its actions on Ukraine. US president Joe Biden said that he “condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces”. Leaders of G7 countries are scheduled to hold talks later on how to respond to the invasion, with further rounds of sanctions likely to be set out, although it remains to be seen how useful those could be now that the Kremlin has already made its move.

OIL PRICE HIKE: Over the past few days the price of oil has been steadily climbing amid the threat of war, with markets fearing disruption to global supply chains. Princes are now at more than $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014. Brent crude reached highs of $102.48 on Thursday morning, rising by more than 5 per cent. Russia is the world’s second-largest oil producer and is a major supplier to Europe. It is also the largest supplier of natural gas to the continent. Russia’s energy sector has not yet been targeted. However, with the US, EU and UK all set to discuss tougher measures on Thursday, there are concerns oil supply could be hit. Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower Thursday as anxiety about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine rose. Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney sank.

DISH BEST SERVED COLD: Away from the Ukraine crisis, Johnson is planning a “revenge reshuffle” if he manages to survive the partygate scandal and secure a good result for his party at the local elections in May, loyalists close to the prime minister believe. One well-placed MP predicted that, if so, he would move against those he feels have undermined him. They told The Independent: “Boris is someone who rewards loyalty, and there are a lot of people who very noticeably failed to show it.”

UNI FEES ROW: A shake-up of university finance will punish poorer students while top-earning graduates pay less, ministers are being warned – as a call to bring back maintenance grants is rejected. The long-delayed response to a review ordered by Theresa May also throws out a recommendation to slash annual tuition fees from £9,250 to £7,500, made because of fears that high debt deters disadvantaged teenagers. Instead, fees will be frozen, while graduates will feel the pain of a cut in the threshold to start repayments from £27,295 a year to £25,000, to “make the system fairer for the taxpayer”, ministers say.

“Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats for our country, our people should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences that you have never experienced in your history.”

Putin issues threat to the west.

“Can’t sleep, feel sick.”

Guardian eastern Europe reporter Shaun Walker is overwhelmed by the Ukraine news.

Sign up here to receive this free briefing in your email inbox each weekday