This story has been updated with new developments. As Russian troops pushed into Ukraine Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced the "war of aggression" and urged other countries not to stand by as Russia invades. "The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now," he said. Ukrainian authorities say the country is being invaded from three directions in a "full-scale war" and Russian tanks have now reached Kharkiv, the country's largest city, the BBC reports. NATO says Russia has deployed ground troops and special forces and is targeting military facilities and major cities with air and missile attacks. In other developments:
- Assault on airport near Kyiv. Ukrainian officials have confirmed that Russian helicopters have attacked a military airport near Kyiv, the Guardian reports. Area residents have shared video of the attack, which involved at least 20 aircraft. Analysts believe Russia is trying to seize the airport to move heavy equipment close to the capital.
- Kremlin says it plans to 'cleanse' country. Reuters reports that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Russia intends to cleanse Ukraine of "Nazis" and "neutralize" its military capabilities. He claimed that Russia has no intention of occupying the country.
- EU promises 'harshest sanctions.' European Union officials say the Russian invasion will be punished with the harshest sanctions the EU has ever imposed, the AP reports. "These are among the darkest hours for Europe since World War Two," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. "A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue," Borrell said. "This is not only the greatest violation of international law, it’s a violation of the basic principles of human coexistence." Amid widespread international condemnation, Putin has warned that any attempt by other countries to intervene will lead to "consequences you have never seen."