Kyiv in gridlock with miles-long traffic jams as Ukrainians flee amid air raid sirens

dailystar.co.uk:

Vladimir Putin announced his "full scale invasion" on Ukraine. Long traffic queues stretching miles long were spotted on major roads on the outskirts of the city as people headed to the western part of the country.The scenes were posted on social media shortly after explosions heard across major cities.Local media have said that gunfire and explosions have been heard near the main airport of Boryspil in Kyiv.Ukraine’s Interior Ministry Anton Gerashchenko, said early on Thursday morning that Russia’s "invasion has begun", with "missile strikes on Kyiv".In another clip posted on TikTok, the city is plagued with gridlocks as hundreds of vehicles take up all lanes on the road.Air sirens can be heard blasting out loud overhead at the same time."Air raid sirens as refugee convoy hits traffic on outskirts of Kyiv," the post read.CNN journalists on the ground in Kharkiv in the northeast part of the country have reported hearing a "steady stream of loud explosions".Putin appeared in a televised speech just before 5am local time (3am UK time) on Thursday morning to say the nation was to be "demilitarised and de-nazified".He also accused Western powers of "crossing a red line" by building up NATO presence in the region.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech early Thursday that martial law was being imposed across Ukraine.UK Foreign Office minister James Cleverly told Sky News the international community will impose an "unprecedented level of sanctions" against Russia.He also said the UK would continue to provide Ukraine with financial and military support.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here..