Russia has launched a “full-scale invasion of Ukraine”, the Ukrainian foreign minister has said.

“Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes,” Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

“This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin.”

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What do we know so far?

2.30am GMT: An emergency session of the UN Security Council begins in New York.

Shortly before 3am GMT: Russian President Vladimir Putin appears on state TV, telling citizens he has decided to “conduct a specialised military operation” in the Donbas region.

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Shortly after he begins speaking, big explosions are heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities across Ukraine.

Russian news agencies are reporting that troops have landed in Mariupol and Odessa, on Ukraine’s coast in the south. The Ukrainian military said the reports from Odessa were false, however.

Mr Putin told the Ukrainian military to lay down their weapons and go home.

The goal of the action, he said, is the “protection of the people who for eight years suffered from abuse and genocide from the Kyiv regime”.

Moscow has been left with no choice but to defend itself, he added.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared martial law in Ukraine and told people to stay at home.

He said Russia had carried out missile strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure and on border guards.

Ukraine’s defence minister said armed forces units, military control centres and airfields in the east of the country were targets of intensive Russian shelling.

In a statement overnight, US President Joe Biden denounced the “unprovoked and unjustified” attack on Ukraine and said the “prayers of the world” are with Ukraine.

Boris Johnson said he is “appalled by the horrific events in Ukraine” and has spoken to Mr Zelenskyy to “discuss next steps”.

The prime minister will chair an emergency COBRA committee meeting at 7.30am to discuss the UK’s response.

Speaking after an emergency Security Council meeting in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the war “doesn’t make any sense”.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the Russian attack on Ukraine is a “blatant” breach of international law.

EU leaders will hold an emergency meeting later today to discuss further sanctions on Russia.

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