Swindon South MP Sir Robert Buckland has called for western countries to come up with a programme of ‘hard-hitting’ sanctions against Russia.

Sir Robert’s intervention comes after the Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to conduct a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.

This morning, Russia launched attacks right across the former Soviet state, with explosions being heard in the capital Kiev.

There are also reports that Russian tanks have already entered Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv in the north-east of the country, along with missiles being fired into the city.

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Ukraine’s military have said that they have shot down five Russian planes and three Russian helicopters, although the Kremlin denies this.

Additionally, there are also reports that Russia has entered Ukraine from all directions, from occupied Crimea in the south to Belarus in the north. Fierce fighting is also being reported in the east, where Russian separatists occupy the Donbas and Luhansk regions.

This afternoon it was reported that Russian troops had taken Antonov airport just 25km fron Kiev. 

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said the UK and its allies would agree a "massive package of economic sanctions" in a bid to "hobble" the Russian economy.

Mr Johnson also said that the UK stands by Ukraine and its people.

Now Sir Robert Buckland has called for the UK and its western partners to follow up and hit Russia where it hurts with economic sanctions.

The former justice secretary said: “It is vital that the West now comes up with a comprehensive and hard-hitting programme of sanctions that will have an immediate impact on Russia.

“We need to match verbal support for Ukraine with assistance in the defence of the country against Russian aggression.”

Sir Robert also called for Mr Putin to immediately withdraw troops from Ukraine and strongly condemned the action taken by the Kremlin.

A march in support of Ukraine is being held in Swindon Town Centre this Saturday at noon, full details here.