JUST IN: Russian Forces Take Over Ukraine Antonov Airport
The Antonov International Airport, located just outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, has been taken over by Russian troops.
Russian soldiers have taken control of Antonov, a freight airport, according to reports from CNN reporters in Ukraine.
CNN correspondent Natasha Bertrand took to Twitter on Thursday.
“Breaking: @mchancecnn with Russian forces at the Antonov airport about 15 miles outside of Kyiv. “These troops you can see over here, they are Russian airborne forces. They have taken this airport,” Ms Bertrand tweeted.
The new developments come as Ukraine has blocked its airspace to all civil flights and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued warnings regarding military activity in Russia and Belarus’ border territories.
The Ukraine State Air Traffic Services Enterprise had closed the country’s airspace and suspended air traffic services, according to Reuters.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia has launched more than 200 attacks since Thursday morning, and combat has erupted in practically every section of the nation.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military operation in Ukraine, with the first wave of attacks beginning with a series of missile attacks near the capital Kyiv, where Ukrainian authorities reported seven people killed and 17 injured in a missile attack on a military area northeast of Kyiv.
The city of Kharkiv, near the Russian border, was also struck by the strikes. As Russian forces continue to strike Ukraine, violence has extended over the country’s center and eastern regions.
Those eager to return home, according to Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, would be able to do so whenever Ukrainian airspace reopens to civil aviation traffic.
