Ukraine-Russia-AP (WBAP/KLIF) – Amid its tensest standoff with the West since the Cold War, Russia plans to demonstrate its nuclear might this weekend.
Multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles set for Saturday follow a warning from U.S. President Joe Biden that Russia could invade Ukraine within days.
Russia says the drills involving its strategic nuclear forces are routine.
NATO says Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to keep his promises of withdrawing troops deployed near Ukraine.
The United States and other alliance members kept up the diplomatic pressure on Moscow while NATO continued beefing up its eastern regions.
Meantime, shells struck by the hundreds along the tense front lines in eastern Ukraine. A school was hit. No one was injured.
Drones monitoring a fragile cease-fire lost their way when the GPS signal they rely on was jammed. Then the cellphone network went dark.
In a sliver of land where pro-Russian separatists have battled for years against Ukrainian government forces, a group of international monitors tasked with keeping the peace reported more than 500 explosions in the 24 hours ending Thursday midday.
As the world warily watches Russian troops massing near Ukraine’s borders for signs they’re preparing to invade, Western officials have warned that the spark could come from the volatile east. The U.S. has said the simmering conflict there could provide cover or an excuse for Russia to roll across the border.
