Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

In cities across America, car jacking is on the rise. Sometimes drivers are relieved of

their cars that are then used for a joy ride. Sometimes they're used in far more serious

crimes and in all cases there are more and more young people involved.

But first we turn to the situation in Ukraine.

An air raid siren in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev marked the beginning of war. At 5am local

time Russia began shelling military locations across the country.

By 6am Russian President Vladimir Putin had made it official.

On Russian state television he announced a special military operation saying that Russia had been

left with no choice but to defend the people of Ukraine from what he called a genocidal

government. In the eastern regions of the country, unconfirmed videos showed Russian forces

rolling across the border and in the early hours strikes were heard in Kiev.

Shortly after Ukraine's president Vladimir Zelensky made a hastily arranged address to the nation.

He called for calm Ukrainian people and said he had spoken to American president Joe Biden

who was gathering international support for the country. By 7am the economist Richard Enzor

watched as some people began to flee.

I'm looking at something that I can't believe. It is the biggest traffic jam I've ever seen.

The road out of Kiev is completely packed for miles and miles and miles.

World leaders have lined up to condemn Russia's actions and promises of biting sanctions

are multiplying. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen announced plans for

massive and targeted sanctions aimed at the Kremlin.

...