Danilov says Russia's invasion of Ukraine started at 03:40 on Feb 24

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said this in an interview with the Ukrayinska Pravda news outlet, Ukrinform reports.

"The invasion began at 03:40 in the Luhansk region outside Milove, but we thought that they were entering the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. We thought that after the recognition of the 'republics' their goal was to take them within their [administrative] borders. But then, one hour and 20 minutes later, the offensive began everywhere. I immediately went to the president. [Ukraine's Interior Minister] Denys Monastyrsky was already there, I came second. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych [Zelensky] was in a white shirt, and you know, I remembered that. [...] He [Zelensky] says, 'Well, we'll be fighting!'" Danilov said.

According to him, an urgent meeting of the National Security and Defense Council was held at about 05:30. All draft decisions were prepared.

Danilov noted that the National Security and Defense Council held a meeting on February 23 to consider the imposition of a state of emergency in the country and proposals were made there on the need to introduce martial law, but no one wanted to provoke Russia with that decision.

Russian President Putin declared war on Ukraine on February 24 and launched a large-scale invasion of the country. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying infrastructure and residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.