Ukrainian soldiers install a machine gun at an outpost on the front line in the Luhansk region.
Welcome to our live briefing on the massive buildup of Russian military forces near Ukraine’s border, and the diplomatic efforts under way to prevent a possible invasion by Moscow.
Here’s an overview — updated throughout the day– of what we know about the standoff between Moscow and Kyiv and threats of a further Russian move against its western neighbor.
Have a question about the crisis? Let us know by e-mailing us at webteam@rferl.org. Your questions will inform our future reporting.
Here Are The Latest Developments
- U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that any incursion into Ukraine would be "a tragic miscalculation." Ukraine says Russian forces near its border are not yet large enough to conduct a full-scale invasion. The United States will send about 3,000 troops to Poland, Romania, and Germany this week, the Pentagon has said. The United States is prepared to hold talks with Russia on a reciprocal agreement over the deployment of ground-launched missiles or combat forces in Ukraine, according to documents published by the Spanish newspaper El Pais. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged the "immediate" de-escalation and withdrawal of troops by Russia from areas near Ukraine’s borders. More than 2,000 Russian intellectuals have urged the Kremlin to avoid starting an "immoral, irresponsible, and criminal" war.
As World Tenses For War, People Keep Dying In Eastern Ukraine Fighting 
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0:00 0:03:08 0:00 Tracking Down Advanced Russian Weaponry In The Eastern Ukraine Conflict Zone
When Russia’s ruling party urged the state last week to provide weaponry to separatists in eastern Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the proposal as "something new," claiming that such assistance had never been sent to the region before. However, open-source investigators in Ukraine have been documenting the presence of advanced Russian weapons there since the conflict began in 2014. Read the story by Serhiy Horbatenko here.
Russia Menaces And Ukrainians Heed Calls For Civil-Defense Training. There’s Just One Thing.
Ukrainians are turning to civil defense training as the drumbeat of a possible new Russian invasion grow louder. Some of the private paramilitary groups doing the trainings have dubious histories. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
‘Like Mice In A Frying Pan’: Civilians In Eastern Ukraine Take Their Fears To Social Media
After weeks of headlines warning an invasion could be imminent, and with more than 100,000 Russian troops massing across the border, many people have taken to online chats and forums based in eastern Ukraine to express their frustration, anger, and fear. Read the story by Donbas.Realities here.
Ukrainian Army Trains With New Anti-Tank Weapons 
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0:00 0:02:01 0:00 Why Is China Closely Watching How The West Handles The Crisis?
Beijing sees the crisis sparked by a huge buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine’s border as a litmus test for U.S. power and an opportunity to strengthen its ties with Moscow, analysts say. Read the story by Reid Standish here.
Can Ukraine’s Economy Withstand Russian Pressure? It’s Better Prepared This Time Around.
Ukraine was on the brink of default when Russia seized Crimea and backed anti-Kyiv forces in the Donbas in 2014, sending the country’s economy reeling. While it still suffers from structural problems and persistent corruption, the economy is in better shape as the threat of a new Russian offensive hangs over Ukraine. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
RFE/RL Interview: Blinken Says Moscow Faces ‘Massive Consequences’
Russia faces "massive consequences" if it chooses "the path of aggression" with Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, as he called on Moscow to engage in diplomacy to end a crisis brewing with Ukraine and the West. Read Mike Eckel’s interview here.
Ukrainian Schools Prepare Kids For The Worst 
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0:00 0:02:12 0:00 Ukraine Sees Russia’s Hand In A Spate Of Bomb Scares At Schools Nationwide
Since the New Year, there have been more than 300 incidents of false bomb threats targeting schools and kindergartens across Ukraine. The authorities assert that Russian secret services are conducting a "special operation" aimed at disrupting society and sowing panic. Read the story by Nina Bakhmach here.
A Russian Naval Assault Could Mean ‘Total Disaster’ For Ukraine’s Economy 
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0:00 0:04:07 0:00 Could Ukraine Survive A Russian Onslaught?
By all accounts, Ukraine’s armed forces are qualitatively better than they were seven years ago, when the military’s sorry shape was on display against Russia-backed fighters in the Donbas. But experts disagree how broad and deep the improvements are, and how much is possible when a country is still technically at war. Read the by Mike Eckel here.
Images From The Front Lines: Our Galleries
- Ukrainian Soldiers And Civilians Endure Cold, Wait For A Possible War Ukrainian Photojournalists Describe The Mood On The Front Lines Drills, Diplomacy, Defense: The Latest Photos From The Ukraine Crisis Prayers And Weapons: Ukraine Prepares As World Holds Breath
What Are The Ukrainian Military’s Strengths? 
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0:00 0:03:02 0:00 Comparing Ukraine And Russia's Military Might
Want To Know More About The Big Picture?
- Satellite photos taken on January 19 show a massive Russian military buildup and drills taking place near Ukraine’s border. See the gallery here. Did the West really promise Moscow that NATO would not expand? Well, it’s complicated. Read Mike Eckel’s story here. What is SWIFT and what happens if Russia is cut off from it? Is it the "nuclear option" some claim it to be? Read the story by Todd Prince here. Are Ukraine’s bomb shelters ready for war? In one bunker, the telephones were not working, while another had been taken over by a tattoo parlor. Watch the video by Borys Sachalko, Current Time, and Ray Furlong here.