Putin: Military operation aimed at demilitarisation, denazification of Ukraine

Moscow: Unfazed by tough Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he decided to launch a "special military operation" aimed at the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine and also bring to justice those who committed numerous crimes against peaceful people, including Russian nationals.

"People's republics of Donbass approached Russia with a request for help. In connection therewith, I made the decision to hold a special military operation, Putin said in a special television address.

He said the goal of the military operation is to protect the people that are subjected to abuse, genocide from the Kiev regime for eight years, and to this end we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine and put to justice those that committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful people, including Russian nationals.

Justice and truth are on Russia's side, Putin was quoted as saying by state-run TASS news agency.

"Forces are always needed but they can be of different quality," he said. "And we know the real strength is in justice and truth that are on our side."

Putin said all the Ukrainian servicemen that will refuse to perform unlawful orders of Kiev and disarm will be able to freely leave the zone of military activities.

"Do not perform their unlawful orders! I urge you to immediately disarm and go home. To make it clear: all servicemen of the Ukrainian army that will fulfill this demand will be able to freely leave the zone of combat action and return to their families," Putin said.

"All the responsibility for possible bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling in the territory of Ukraine,"

he added.