Times Of Israel: Dozens Killed On 1st Day Of Invasion

Dozens killed on 1st day of invasion as Russian army takes Chernobyl, nears Kyiv

The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they unfold.

Zelensky signs decree ordering general mobilization of military, calls up reserves

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky signs a decree ordering a general mobilization as his country faces a large-scale invasion by Russian troops.

Conscripts and reservists in all of Ukraine’s regions will be called up, according to the decree published by the Ukrainian presidency, which is to be in effect for 90 days.

Zelensky calls on EU leaders to ‘stand side by side with Ukraine’ to stop Russia

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky calls on the leaders of the European Union, who held an emergency summit on Thursday, to “stand side by side with Ukraine and stop the aggressor.”

In a statement published on his page in the messaging app Telegram, Ukraine’s leader calls for “powerful economic and financial sanctions” on Russia, including cutting off SWIFT and imposing an embargo on oil and gas trade.

“Europe’s fate is being decided in Ukraine: if (Russian President Vladimir) Putin doesn’t get a decent rebuff now, he will move on further,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the EU could also help Ukraine with weapons and ammunition and support a UN peacekeeping operation.