Journalism of Courage
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy examines weapons as he attends tactical military exercises held by the country's armed forces at a training ground in the Rivne Region, Ukraine February 16, 2022. The United States and NATO Wednesday said Russia was still building up troops around Ukraine a day after Moscow said it was pulling back the army near the border. (AP)
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for a Day of Unity, with Ukrainians encouraged to raise Ukrainian flags across the country. In Pic: Ukrainians gather to celebrate a Day of Unity in Odessa, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP)
Ukrainian Army soldiers pose for a photo as they gather to celebrate a Day of Unity in Odessa, Ukraine, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP)
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signaled he wants a peaceful path out of the crisis. (AP)
Russia's Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that some units participating in military exercises would begin returning to their bases. In Pic: Russian armored vehicles loaded onto railway platforms after the end of military drills in South Russia.(AP)
A tank of the Ukrainian armed forces fires during tactical military exercises at a training ground in the Rivne region, Ukraine on Wednesday. (AP)
It wasn't immediately clear where exactly Russian troops were deployed or how many were leaving. According to reports, Russia has massed more than 130,000 troops near Ukraine. In Pic: A Ukrainian serviceman fires an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise in the Joint Forces Operation, in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (AP)
A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the armor and artillery loaded on flatcars and railyard in Yelnya, Russia, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of the border with Ukraine on 13 February 2022. (Via AP)
While the US has warned that Russia could invade Ukraine any day, many scholars don't think that President Vladimir Putin will launch the attack on its ex-Soviet neighbor. In Pic: Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army prepare for deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg, N.C. on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. They are among soldiers the Department of Defense is sending in a demonstration of American commitment to NATO allies worried at the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine. (AP)
Amid the developments, the Indian embassy in Kyiv issued a statement Tuesday asking citizens whose stay in Ukraine is non-essential to consider leaving the country “temporarily”. (AP)
A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a closer view of the battle group in formation in Soloti, Russia, east of the border with Ukraine on 13 February 2022. (Via AP)
At a meeting with Putin on Monday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that Russia was ready to keep talking about the security grievances that have led to the crisis. In Pic: Ukrainian servicemen survey the impact area of a rocket that landed close to their positions during the night on a front line outside Popasna, Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (AP)
A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the closer view of new Su-34 fighter deployment at Primorsko Akhtarsk Airbase, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, south of the border with Ukraine. (Via AP)
A Ukrainian serviceman carries an NLAW anti-tank weapon during an exercise in the Joint Forces Operation, in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (AP)
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss arrives with Tim Barrow (left), Political Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in Downing Street, London, ahead of a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee on the situation in Ukraine. Truss said a Russian invasion of Ukraine "could be imminent," but there's still time for Putin" to step away from the brink. Truss said an invasion might involve "an attack on Kyiv" as well as "an attack from the east." (Via AP)
