"Ukrainian military infrastructure, air defence facilities, military airfields, and air forces are being neutralised by high-precision weapons", the Russian Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
The MoD stressed there are no threats to the civilian population.
The tensions have been escalating over the past few days, with Ukrainian forces shelling the territory of Donbass, forcing thousands to evacuate to Russia.
A tank of the Ukrainian armed forces fires during tactical military exercises at a training ground in the Rivne region, Ukraine February 16, 2022
© REUTERS / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER
Following an appeal from the leaders of the Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic, Moscow recognised both as independent nations and called on Ukraine to stop the eight-year-long war in the region. Russia also stressed that it will protect the people of Donbass against any threats, as president Putin noted the actions of the Ukrainian regime in the region are genocide.
In response to the ongoing attacks, President Putin authorised the military to conduct a special operation to protect Donbass, aiming at the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine and saying that people who committed war crimes during the eight-year-long bloodshed should stand trial.