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The invasion of Ukraine “has begun” and Britain will now impose further sanctions on Russia, Cabinet minister Sajid Javid has told Sky News.
The health secretary said Europeans were “waking up to a very dark day”, as tanks and armoured vehicles were seen overnight near Donetsk, in a breakaway region of eastern Ukraine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last night, chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency COBRA committee at 6.30am this morning.
The PM is due to make a statement to parliament later on Tuesday.
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Column of unmarked military vehicles near Donetsk
“It’s clear from what we have already seen and found out today that the Russians and President Putin have decided to attack the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity,” Mr Javid told Kay Burley.
“We’ve always said that’s completely unacceptable. We’ve seen that he has recognised these breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine.
“And, from the reports or I think we can already tell, he has sent in tanks and troops.
“So I think, from that, you can conclude the invasion of Ukraine has begun.”
Mr Javid said Mr Zelenskyy had been assured of UK support and confirmed Britain would now introduce more sanctions on Russia “as we said we always will”.
Those measures are set to come into force today.
President Putin is sending ‘peacekeeping’ troops into two separatist regions
“I’m sure that we will make those sanctions as targeted as possible at the people who are responsible for this flagrant violation of international law,” Mr Javid added.
The health secretary urged any British citizens remaining in Ukraine to leave the country while commercial flights are still available.
Mr Putin on Monday night recognised two breakaway areas of eastern Ukraine as independent states and has ordered Russian forces to carry out “peacekeeping” duties in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
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