Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into two rebel-held regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent states.
Russia said the troops would engage in peacekeeping in the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics.
The two regions are home to Russian-backed rebels who have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.
Ukraine’s president accused Russia of intentionally violating its sovereignty while the US accused Russia of creating a pretext for war.