A woman with a boy walk past an old destroyed building in small town of Krasnogorivka, Donetsk region on February 22, 2022. Russian President said on February 22, 2022 that Western-brokered peace agreements seeking to end a conflict in eastern Ukraine no longer existed. Russian President recognised the independence of the ex-Soviet country’s separatist regions despite the West repeatedly warning him not to and threatening Moscow with a massive sanctions response. (Photo by Aleksey Filippov/AFP Photo)
Protesters hold posters in front of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Russia says that its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces. That announcement Tuesday further raises the stakes amid Western fears that a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine is imminent. (Photo by Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo)
Russian armoured vehicles stand on the road in Rostov region, Russia, 22 February 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin on 21 February convened an extraordinary large meeting of the Russian Security Council, which discussed the recognition of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR). On the same day, the president made a decision and, during his video message to the citizens of the Russian Federation, signed a decree recognizing the independence of the republics of Donbass, as well as an agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance. The President instructed the Russian Defense Ministry to ensure the maintenance of peace by the Russian armed forces. The Russian Foreign Ministry should establish diplomatic relations with the DNR and LNR. (Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA/EFE)
Dogs look at an elderly woman who shared food with them while waiting to cross from Ukrainian government controlled areas to pro-Russian separatists’ controlled territory in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Russia says its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces. The statement Tuesday further raises the stakes amid Western fears that Moscow could follow up to Monday’s recognition of rebel regions with a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)
Ukrainian National Guard servicemen stay in guard after activists set symbolic tomb crosses with the inscription “Russian occupier” during the rally called “Empire must die” outside Russian embassy in Kyiv on February 22, 2022. The recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk rebel republics effectively buries the fragile peace process regulating the conflict in eastern Ukraine, known as the Minsk accords. Russian President recognised the rebels despite the West repeatedly warning him not to and threatening Moscow with a massive sanctions response. (Photo by Sergei Supinsky/AFP Photo)
A woman pushes a wheelchair carrying an elderly woman holding a dog from pro-Russian separatists’ controlled territory to Ukrainian government controlled areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Russia says its recognition of independence for areas in eastern Ukraine extends to territory currently held by Ukrainian forces. The statement Tuesday further raises the stakes amid Western fears that Moscow could follow up to Monday’s recognition of rebel regions with a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)
An Ukranian serviceman checks situation on the position near the Zaytseve village not far from pro-Russian militants controlled city of Gorlivka Donetsk area, Ukraine, 21 February 2022 (made available 22 February). Russia on 21 February 2022 recognized the eastern Ukrainian self-proclaimed breakaway regions as independent states and ordered the deployment of peacekeeping troops to the Donbas, triggering an expected series of economic sanctions announcements by Western countries. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR) declared independence in 2014 amid an armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. (Photo by Alisa Yakubovych/EPA/EFE)
A woman carries a child as they are evacuated from the Donetsk region, the territory controlled by pro-Russia separatist government in eastern Ukraine, as they leave a train to be taken to temporary accommodations, at the railway station in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Tuesday, February 22, 2022. A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be imminent, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. (Photo by Roman Yarovitcyn/AP Photo)
Demonstrators march along the street near the Russian embassy to protest against the escalation of the tension between Russia and Ukraine in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, February 22, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the country’s parliament for permission to use military force outside the country. That could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there. (Photo by Markus Schreiber/AP Photo)
A Ukraine army soldier walks in the town of Schastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk, on February 22, 2022, a day after Russia recognised east Ukraine’s separatist republics and ordered the Russian army to send troops there as “peacekeepers”. The recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk rebel republics effectively buries the fragile peace process regulating the conflict in eastern Ukraine, known as the Minsk accords. Russian President recognised the rebels despite the West repeatedly warning him not to and threatening Moscow with a massive sanctions response. (Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP Photo)
People gather following a vigil and march in solidarity with Ukraine outside the White House in Washington, Sunday, February 20, 2022. (Photo by Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)
Three women run for cover during shelling in the town of Schastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk, on February 22, 2022, a day after Russia recognised east Ukraine’s separatist republics and ordered the Russian army to send troops there as “peacekeepers”. (Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP)
People take part in a shooting training course at a shooting complex outside Lviv on February 22, 2022. (Photo by Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP Photo)
