Heartbreaking photos from Ukraine show bloodshed and death after Russia declared war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Wednesday night, Feb. 23, ending weeks of diplomatic stalemate and plunging Eastern Europe into the kind of chaos not seen since the darkest days of World War II.

Putin claimed Russia was undertaking a “special military operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” the country under the guise Russia was defending itself.

He announced the operation in a live televised speech that aired before 6 a.m. local time, and threatened countries that attempt to interfere with “consequences” they have never seen.

Immediately after the speech, explosions were reported in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Kharkiv, Odessa, and Mariupol. 

Russian tanks crossed into Sen’kivka, Ukraine from Belarus on Thursday, Feb. 24.

Ukrainian’s airspace has now been closed to civilian aircraft as the region is considered an active conflict zone.

Highways could be seen jam-packed with vehicles early Thursday as Ukrainian citizens desperately tried to flee to safety.

Images from Ukraine show Ukrainian citizens bandaged and bloodied from the bombings.

In one heartbreaking photo taken today, Feb. 24, a man is seen crying near a body as an airstrike damages an apartment complex outside of Kharkiv, Ukraine.
 

Another shows a woman wounded following airstrikes in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Her head is bandaged and dried blood is seen covering most of her face in the heartbreaking photo.