Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to “maintain peace” in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on 21 February, warning Kyiv of a “bloodbath” if it resists.

The deployment was not the full-scale Russian invasion that Washington was warning would occur and equipment sightings on social media and satellite imagery showed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to “maintain peace” in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on 21 February, warning Kyiv of a “bloodbath” if it resists.

The deployment was not the full-scale Russian invasion that Washington was warning would occur and equipment sightings on social media and satellite imagery showed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to “maintain peace” in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on 21 February, warning Kyiv of a “bloodbath” if it resists.

The deployment was not the full-scale Russian invasion that Washington was warning would occur and equipment sightings on social media and satellite imagery showed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to “maintain peace” in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on 21 February, warning Kyiv of a “bloodbath” if it resists.

The deployment was not the full-scale Russian invasion that Washington was warning would occur and equipment sightings on social media and satellite imagery showed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to “maintain peace” in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on 21 February, warning Kyiv of a “bloodbath” if it resists.

The deployment was not the full-scale Russian invasion that Washington was warning would occur and equipment sightings on social media and satellite imagery showed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to “maintain peace” in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on 21 February, warning Kyiv of a “bloodbath” if it resists.

The deployment was not the full-scale Russian invasion that Washington was warning would occur and equipment sightings on social media and satellite imagery showed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republic forces.