Reuters first to report Russia’s Putin authorizes ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine; market reacts

Reuters was first to report that Vladimir Putin had authorized a ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine on Thursday morning to eliminate what he called a serious threat, saying his aim was to demilitarize Russia’s southern neighbor. Stock markets around the world were hit hard. Oil jumped above $100 for the first time since 2014, and traditional safe havens like the Swiss franc and gold jumped as well. Ahead of the invasion, Reuters was also first in reporting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stopping the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Putin saying he would recognize the independence of two breakaway republics in east Ukraine and separatist leaders in those republics announcing they were evacuating citizens.