More than 40 Ukrainian soldiers and around 10 civilians have died in the first hours of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, an aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters.
"I know that more than 40 have been killed and several dozen wounded. I am aware of nearly 10 civilian losses," presidential administration aide Oleksiy Arestovych told reporters.
Ukraine forces say '50 Russian occupiers' killed
Ukraine's military command has said government forces killed "around 50 Russian occupiers" while repulsing an attack on a town on the frontline with Moscow-backed rebels.
"Shchastya is under control. 50 Russian occupiers were killed. Another Russian plane was destroyed in the Kramatorsk district. This is the sixth," the armed forces general staff said on Twitter.
Ukraine breaks diplomatic ties with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has severed Kiev's diplomatic relations with Moscow.
It marked the first rupture in ties since Russia and Ukraine became independent countries after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
"We broke off diplomatic relations with Russia," Zelenskyy said in a video message.
China calls for restraint, rejects the term 'invasion'
China has said it is monitoring the situation in Ukraine and called for "restraint" on all sides.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying refused to call Russia's military action an "invasion", and dodged questions on whether China was in contact with Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
"The Ukraine issue has a very complicated historical background" and was the result of "various factors," Hua said at a regular press briefing.
“This is perhaps a difference between China and you Westerners. We won’t go rushing to a conclusion,” she said.
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