“I have decided to conduct a special military operation,” Putin said in a statement to RIA Novosti.
He explained that such a decision was made due to the fact that earlier the heads of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik turned to Russia with a request to assist in repelling aggression from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The President of Russia explained that in making the decision he was also guided by Art.
51, part 7 of the UN Charter, sanctioned by the Federation Council and ratified by the Federal Assembly of treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with the DPR and LPR.