Russia is preparing to launch a devastating full-scale invasion of Ukraine within the next 48 hours, according to the United States. US President Joe Biden issued the chilling warning to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and claimed Russian warplanes were already carrying short reconnaissance missions over his country’s airspace.
It comes as a state of emergency was declared in Ukraine amid fears of an imminent Russian invasion. Vladimir Putin has already sent tanks and 10,000 troops into two breakaway pro-Russian provinces of Ukraine – Donetsk, and Luhansk – while Moscow has warned its troops will not stop there.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden’s administration has informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia is preparing a full-scale invasion of his country within 48 hours. “The President of Ukraine has been warned Russia will highly likely begin an invasion within 48 hours based on US intelligence,” a US official told Newsweek.
The leaders of two separatists regions in eastern Ukraine have requested assistance from Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming they need to “repel aggression” from the Ukrainian military. The leaders of the separatists regions pointed to an escalation of the crisis in Donbas, claiming they were currently under threat from the government in Kiev.
The news comes as Russia has moved troops into eastern Ukraine under the guise of keeping peace after Putin recognized the two region’s claims of independence from the Ukrainian government, stoking fears that the move could be a pretext for a larger full scale invasion of Ukraine.
“This means it’s on. Russian forces will initiate the military offensive operation now,” former DIA intelligence officer Rebekah Koffler, who also authored ‘Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America,’ told Fox News Digital Wednesday.
Ukraine on Wednesday has started conscripting reservists aged 18-60 following a decree by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the armed forces said in a statement. The maximum service period is one year. Zelenskiy on Tuesday said he was introducing the conscription of reservists but ruled out a general mobilization after Russia announced it was moving troops into eastern Ukraine.
