Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

* Putin says his aim is to demilitarise and 'denazify' Ukraine. * President Volodymyr Zelensky approved decree on martial law, parliament approves the measure * Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia with Belarusian support at around 5 a.m. local time on Thursday, and an attack was also being launched from annexed Crimea, Ukraine's border guard service said. * Gunfire heard near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

Here are what you need to know about the Ukraine crisis right now: HEADLINES

* Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" against Ukraine early on Thursday to eliminate what he called a serious threat. * Putin says he aims to demilitarise and 'denazify' Ukraine.

* President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the decree on martial law, parliament approves the measure * Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia with Belarusian support at around 5 a.m. local time on Thursday, and an attack was also being launched from annexed Crimea, Ukraine's border guard service said.

* Gunfire heard near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. * U.S. President Joe Biden condemned an unprovoked and unjustified attack by the Russian military in a call with Zelensky.

QUOTES "I have decided to conduct a special military operation... to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide... for the last eight years," Putin said. "And for this, we will strive for the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine.

"And to bring to court those who committed numerous bloody crimes against civilians, including against citizens of the Russian Federation." "Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.

COMING EVENTS * U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with his counterparts from the Group of Seven allies early Thursday to map out more severe measures against Russia after President Vladimir Putin launched what Biden called "a premeditated war" against Ukraine.

* European Union leaders will discuss a further sanctions package on Russia at an emergency meeting later on Thursday, the EU said in a statement. * NATO ambassadors to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday 

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)