Fears are rising that an increasingly desperate Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to seize Kyiv within the next 24 hours — by any means necessary.

Russian forces face fierce resistance as Ukraine arms volunteers to help nation’s defense and Western economic measures against Moscow mount

Thousands of civilian fighters volunteer their service, including many from abroad, as authorities distribute rifles and others assemble Molotov cocktails and coordinate support

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Monday evening that he would recognize the independence of two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine.

Moscow insists it has no plans to invade, but is demanding wide-ranging security guarantees — including a ban on Ukraine ever joining NATO — in exchange for de-escalation