Russia's President Vladimir Putin has announced his country's nuclear deterrent forces are on special alert.
A situation condemned by NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.. The increased alert level has come on the same day as Ukraine agreed to hold peace talks with Russia at the Ukraine-Belarus border.
While it is quieter in Kiev In Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv heavy street fighting is being reported.
BBC Kyiv Correspondent James Waterhouse spoke to Corin Dann.
