Russia-Ukraine updates: US to ban Russian carriers from its airspace

There are reports that Russian troops have now crossed the border in eastern Ukraine, close to the city of Kharkiv, as explosions in the area continue.

Ukraine’s deputy interior minister, Anton Gerashchenko, told media the troops crossed near Kharkiv. A former senior adviser to Ukraine’s government also confirmed the reports, saying he was informed by the president’s office, while Ukraine’s main newswire agency, UNIAN, has also reported the news. 

Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second largest city and is only about 20 miles from the border with Russia. However, it is not next to the separatist-controlled areas.

Ukrainian authorities also said that Kyiv and multiple cities east of it have been stuck by ballistic missiles. Gerashchenko said at least seven cruise missiles or ballistic missiles hit a military aerodrome near Kyiv that is home to fighter jets. It appears that the missiles have largely struck targets on the outskirts of the city so far.

Russia’s defense ministry said it is striking Ukrainian air bases, military infrastructure and air defenses across the country but said it will not target Ukrainian cities themselves.

The ministry said “high-precision” missiles are being used.

Reports of explosions also continue to come in from Odessa, Dnipro and Mariupol.

-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s early morning attack on Ukraine is a “full-scale invasion” and added that the world needs to respond immediately.

“Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” Kuleba tweeted. “Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.”

As the late-night meeting of the U.N. Security Council came to a close amid a Russian attack on Ukraine, the Ukrainian ambassador directly addressed his Russian counterpart.

"There is no purgatory for war criminals," Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya. "They go straight to hell, ambassador."

With that, Nebenzya, the council’s current president, adjourned the meeting.

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan

As reports of explosions came in from multiple Ukrainian cities, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement condemning “Russia’s reckless and unprovoked attack.”

Booms and explosions have been heard in Kyiv -- Ukraine’s capital, which is in the north-central part of the country -- as well as Dnipro in central Ukraine and Odessa in the southwest.

“I strongly condemn Russia’s reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives,” Stoltenberg said. “Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.”

Stoltenberg said NATO allies would meet to talk about consequences of Russia’s “aggressive” actions.

“This is a grave breach of international law and a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security,” he said. “I call on Russia to cease its military action immediately and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”