MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation early Thursday in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.

In a televised address, Putin said the people of Donbas turned to Russia for help, according to Russian news agency TASS.

“In this regard...I decided to conduct a special military operation,” he added.

Putin also urged the Ukrainian army to put guns down and not to follow Kyiv's orders.

Noting that the Ukrainian soldiers have "sworn allegiance to the people, not the anti-people junta that plundered Ukraine and mocked these people," he said: "Do not follow his orders!"

"I request you to immediately lay down your weapons and go home. All the soldiers of the Ukrainian army who fulfill this condition will be able to freely leave the war zone and return to their families," he added.

Earlier, separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine had sought Putin’s help in repelling aggression from the Ukrainian army, the Kremlin announced late Wednesday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the leaders of Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk wrote a letter to Putin asking for assistance.

Russia is targeting key areas in cities with weapons and missiles, according to reports.

On early Thursday, explosions were reported in several Ukrainian provinces, including the capital Kyiv, and several tanks reportedly crossed the border with Belarus into Ukraine.

In a statement on Thursday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry announced it is using “high-precision weapons” to disable air defense systems, military airports, and air forces in Ukraine. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.