Kyiv, Feb 24: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it's intended to protect civilians.

In a televised address, Putin said the action comes in response to threats coming from Ukraine. He added that Russia doesn't have a goal to occupy Ukraine. Putin said the responsibility for bloodshed lies with the Ukrainian “regime”.

Also Read | US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Says Russia May Be Engaged in Full-Blown Invasion of Ukraine Before Night is Over.

Putin warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen”.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)