- Ex-Dutch football star Johan Neeskens dies
- Man Utd battling to improve fortunes, says Evans
- What is microRNA? Nobel-winning discovery explained
- Masood, Abdullah centuries lift Pakistan to 328-4 in first England Test
- Hurricane Milton strengthens fast, threatens Mexico, Florida
- Tunisia's President Saied set for landslide election win
- Barca hoping to return to Camp Nou 'by end of year'
- Trump to open second golf course at Scotland resort in summer 2025
- Super-sub Jhon Duran rewarded with new Aston Villa deal
- US duo win Nobel for gene regulation breakthrough
- Masood hits first ton for four years to power Pakistan to 233-1
- Fritz wins delayed match to reach Shanghai Masters third round
- Naomi Osaka pulls out of Japan Open with back injury
- Weather may delay launch of mission to study deflected asteroid
- China to flesh out economic stimulus plans after bumper rally
- Artist Marina Abramovic hopes first China show offers tech respite
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on US jobs data
- Pakistan 122-1 at lunch in first England Test
- Kazakhs approve plan for first nuclear power plant
- World marks anniversary of Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- 'Second family': tennis stars hunt winning formula with new coaches
- Philippines, South Korea agree to deepen maritime cooperation
- Mexico mayor murdered days after taking office
- Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
- Japan govt admits doctoring 'untidy' cabinet photo
- Israel marks first anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack
- Darvish tames Ohtani as Padres thrash Dodgers
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on jobs data
- Family affair as LeBron, Bronny James make Lakers bow
- Cancer, cardiovascular drugs tipped for Nobel as prize week opens
- As Great Salt Lake dries, Utah Republicans pardon Trump climate skepticism
- Amazon activist warns of 'critical situation' ahead of UN forum
- Mourners pay tribute to latest victims of deadly Channel crossing
- Tunisia incumbent Saied set to win presidential vote: exit polls
- Phillies win thriller to level Mets series
- Yu bags first PGA Tour win with playoff win
- PSG held by Nice to leave Monaco clear at top of Ligue 1
- AC Milan fall at Fiorentina after De Gea's penalty heroics
- Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held
- Fresh Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Sucic stunner earns Real Sociedad draw against Atletico
- PSG draw with Nice, fail to reclaim top spot in Ligue 1
- Gudmundsson downs AC Milan after De Gea's penalty heroics for Fiorentina
- 'Yes' vote prevails in Kazakhstan nuclear plant vote: TV
- 'Difficult day': Oct 7 commemorations begin with festival memorial
- Commemorations begin for anniversary of attack on Israel
- Lewandowski hat-trick powers Liga leaders Barca to Alaves victory
- 'Nothing gets in way of team,' says Celtics' MVP hopeful Tatum
- India maintain Pakistan stranglehold as Windies cruise at Women's T20 World Cup
- 'We will win!': Mozambique's ruling party confident at final vote rally
CMSC | -0.02% | 24.695 | $ | |
SCS | -1.35% | 12.797 | $ | |
BTI | -0.23% | 35.21 | $ | |
GSK | 0.51% | 39.02 | $ | |
RIO | -0.07% | 69.65 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.11% | 24.785 | $ | |
NGG | -0.96% | 65.87 | $ | |
BP | 0.9% | 33.18 | $ | |
AZN | -0.16% | 77.35 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0% | 6.98 | $ | |
BCE | 0.04% | 33.725 | $ | |
RBGPF | -1.16% | 60.1 | $ | |
BCC | -1.58% | 136.738 | $ | |
RELX | -0.9% | 45.875 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 13.26 | $ | |
VOD | 0.22% | 9.681 | $ |
Fear, disbelief on Ukraine border as Russia invades
An elderly woman keeping night watch at a hotel in the city of Taganrog sounds incredulous as guests trickling down to the lobby at dawn tell her Russia had invaded Ukraine.
"Maybe it's a lie?" says the employee of Ida, a small hotel in the historic centre of the southern port city near the border with Ukraine.
Then the woman in her 60s turns on the TV and her eyes widen.
On the screen, she sees a surprise address from President Vladimir Putin, who announces the start of an air and ground assault on Ukraine in the small hours of Thursday.
The road to the Ukrainian border -- and towards the port city of Mariupol -- hugs the coastline. Early Thursday, there is little traffic, but the road, recently battered by rain, is shrouded in a thick fog.
At the Russian-Ukrainian border post, a strange calm reigns. Several policemen go about their business, and tents of the Russian emergencies ministry have been erected.
Not a soldier is in sight, not a detonation is heard. Three police vehicles parked at the checkpoint allow sporadic civilian cars to cross the border despite the offensive.
Dozens of kilometres away is the village of Pokrovskoye. One day earlier, it had been packed with Russian soldiers.
Now it is deserted, the soldiers likely having departed north towards the Ukrainian region of Donetsk. The fresh tank tracks could be seen in the mud.
- 'War has started' -
Anastasia Yashonkova comes out of a store where she bought toys and lemonade for her four-year-old son. Holding her child by the hand, Yashonkova says all she wants is peace.
"This is really scary," said the 30-year-old. "I feel sorry for the people who live there, I feel sorry for all the soldiers. I feel sorry for everyone."
Ambulances could be seen racing down the roads, without sirens.
In the border village of Avilo-Uspenka, a tent camp has been set up by the emergencies ministry.
Volunteers from a pro-Putin movement, the Popular Front, welcome people fleeing the separatist territory of Donetsk, whose independence Putin recognised this week.
"300 to 400 people have arrived since this morning," said Kirill, one of the volunteers.
"We have prepared wheelchairs for the elderly, we are offering medical aid," said the student, who is in his 20s.
Back in Pokrovskoye, where wet dogs run through mud puddles, Yulia, a 20-year-old student, says she cannot believe the news.
"I woke up and my father told me that the war had started. I don't feel good about this," said the young woman, declining to give her last name.
She said she was worried about civilians both in Russia and Ukraine.
"I want everyone to be alive and well," she said.
Insurance agent Anton Shakhovalov brushed aside concerns.
Even though some of his relatives lived in Ukraine, he defended Putin.
"I think this will all be over very quickly," said the 40-year-old.
"The president has made the right decision. As they rightly say, these are defensive and not offensive actions."
P.Santos--AMWN