Jim Heintz, The Associated Press

Ukraine

‘We are facing war and horror’: Ukraine vows to fight on as Russia attacks.

World leaders condemned the attack Thursday, with the U.S. and its allies promising severe sanctions, even as Russian forces remained on the move across Ukraine.

Ukraine

Russia attacks Ukraine as defiant Putin warns US, NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming it’s intended to protect civilians.

Ukraine

Extended Russian deployment part of invasion ‘playbook,’ US says

The United States and many European countries have charged for months that Russia is trying to create pretexts to invade Ukraine.

Russia extends troop drills near Ukraine as violence spikes

The presence of Russian troops in Belarus raised concern that they could be used to sweep down on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Ukraine

Navy disputes Russia’s claims that it chased a US sub out of its waters

The Russians claim a U.S. submarine was operating in an area where Russia's Pacific fleet was conducting an exercise in Russian Federation national waters near the island of Urup in the Kuril archipelago. The U.S. Navy denied there was any encounter between the two forces.

Russia moves planned naval exercise away from Irish coast

The Feb. 3-8 exercises were to be held 150 miles off southwestern Ireland — in international waters but within Ireland’s exclusive economic zone.

US ambassador visits Marine veteran imprisoned in Russia

The U.S. ambassador to Russia on Monday visited a former Marine who is imprisoned for assaulting police officers in Moscow, calling his conviction a mockery of justice.

Russia calls US move to protect Syrian oil ‘banditry’

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday harshly criticized the United States decision to send armored vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to protect oil fields, calling it “banditry.”

Russia and Ukraine swap prisoners

Among those Russia returned was Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, whose conviction for preparing terrorist attacks was strongly denounced abroad, and 24 Ukrainian sailors taken with a ship Russian forces seized last year.

At odds on many fronts, US and Russia hope for better ties

Russia and the United States voiced hope Tuesday that badly strained relations could begin to improve despite wide differences on multiple fronts and deep mutual suspicion deepened by Russian meddling in American elections.