Has the Invasion Started? Putin Orders Troops Into Eastern Ukraine

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his Defense Ministry to send Russian troops into eastern Ukraine's two breakaway regions
• According to the Kremlin, Putin only ordered the Russian forces to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine
• This came few hours after Putin recognizes the independence of Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine. According to the Russian government, this is a peacekeeping mission.

Putin gave the order hours after he signed decrees recognizing the independence of the Moscow-backed regions, CNN reports.

In the decree, he declared Moscow's official recognition over two breakaway territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine -- the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic (DPR and LPR), recognising them as independent states.

Putin also blasted Kyiv's growing security ties with the West. He also appeared to cast doubt on Ukraine's right to self-determination.

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Anger, condemnation, disappointment as Russia moves against Ukraine

He said:

"Ukraine has never had traditions of its own statehood," he said, calling the eastern part of the country "ancient Russian lands."

Meanwhile, it is unclear if Russian troop movements marked the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine.

Anger, condemnation, disappointment as Russia moves against Ukraine

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had also reported that following Russia's recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), and the subsequent deployments of troops there, many countries have expressed outrage over Vladimir Putin's move.

Many of these countries have come out to publicly lambast Russia while countries like China deployed a milder approach.

Here are reactions from some of these countries:

Kenya

Kenya cites colonial past in condemnation of Russia moves

Kenya’s ambassador at the UN Martin Kimani said that Kenya and many African nations had been “birthed” with the end of colonialism and had not been able to set their own borders.

Source: Legit.ng