Putin announces special military operation over situation in Donbas

MOSCOW. Feb 24 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he has adopted a decision to authorize a special military operation due to the situation in Donbas.

"I have adopted a decision to conduct a special military operation. Its goal is to defend people who have been subject to humiliation, genocide on the part of the Kyiv region for eight years. And, to this end, we will see the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. We will also seek to ensure that those who have committed multiple bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation, are brought to justice," Putin said in an address in the early hours of Thursday.

Putin said that the special military operation would be conducted in compliance with the UN Charter, the decision of the Russian Federation Council and the treaties with the Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR) People's Republics.

"In line with Article 51 of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, with the authorization of the Russian Federation Council and pursuant to the treaties on friendship and mutual assistance with the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, which were ratified by the [Russian] Federal Assembly on February 22 of this year, I adopted a decision to conduct a special military operation," Putin said in a televised address on Thursday.

"These circumstances require us to take resolute and immediate steps. The people's republics of Donbas have appealed to Russia for assistance," the president said.