Os militares brasileiros devem estar excitadíssimos: fazia tempo que eles não tinham uma boa guerra, ou preparação para uma, para estudar nas suas aulinhas de Estado Maior.
Paulo Roberto de Almeida
Vladimir Putin 'has decided to invade Ukraine on WEDNESDAY': US and German spooks fear deadly bombardment of Kiev is just days away with UK and America ordering citizens out NOW 'while flights are still operating'
- Foreign Office updated its advice to tell UK nationals to 'leave now while commercial means are still available'
- Officials reportedly believe Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine and may launch offensive next week
- British advice comes a day after US President Joe Biden urged all American citizens to leave the country
- The European Union on Friday told non-essential staff from its diplomatic mission in Ukraine to leave
- Senior official said that the US is sending 3,000 more troops to Poland, to add to 1,700 already there
By Harry Howard and Chris Jewers and Nick Craven In Kyiv, Ukraine, For Mailonline
Published: 18:43 GMT, 11 February 2022 | Updated: 02:23 GMT, 12 February 2022
Thousands of Britons were tonight told to leave Ukraine immediately over fears of an imminent invasion by Russian forces that Washington spy chiefs warned could be ordered in a matter of days.
The Foreign Office updated its advice to tell UK nationals to 'leave now while commercial means are still available' amid mounting concerns they could get caught up in fighting - including a deadly 'aerial bombardment of Kiev' - should Putin give the go-ahead to his 130,000 troops currently massed near Ukraine's borders.
The urgent government update came less than 24 hours after the US also issued an evacuation order, as western analysts raised the alarm that Vladimir Putin was about to send in his forces.
The European Union also told non-essential staff from its diplomatic mission in Ukraine that they should leave the country, but stopped short of issuing a full evacuation order.
The heightened U.S. rhetoric followed new intelligence that suggested Russia is to launch an attack on Ukraine next Wednesday, February 16 - according to German newspaper Der Speigel.
Information received by the Secret Service, CIA and other intelligence services uncovered detailed plans, and went as far as to outline routes that will likely be taken by individual Russian units and the roles they might play.
On Friday, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington believes Vladimir Putin could invade Ukraine any day, and issued a warning to Americans in the country: Get out immediately because the U.S. will not be coming back to rescue anyone.
'We encourage all American citizens who remain in Ukraine to depart immediately,' Sullivan said. 'We want to be crystal clear on this point. Any American in Ukraine should leave as soon as possible and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours.
'The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that this is what prudence demands. If you stay you are assuming risk, with no guarantee that there will be any other opportunity to leave and there is no prospect of a U.S. military evacuation in the event of a Russian invasion.'
Further to this, PBS reporter Nick Schifrin tweeted on Friday: 'US officials anticipate a horrific, bloody campaign that begins with two days or aerial bombardment and electronic warfare, followed by an invasion, with the possible goal of regime change.'
And late on Friday night, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urgently warned the city's citizens about the danger of a Russian attack. The former heavyweight boxing champion's statement - the first serious warning to the city's population- was issued late last night on social media.
The mayor released a statement on Telegram about preparations underway in case of attack. They included securing communications in case the internet or phone network went down, increasing bomb shelter capacity, stockpiling fuel & agreeing plans for evacuation.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced fears 'for the security of Europe' during a call with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, whilst in a sign of the increasing tensions, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was yesterday involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who is currently in Russia, warned an invasion could come 'at any time', echoing Washington's warnings that the Kremlin has amassed enough troops at the border to call an attack.
Meanwhile, videos purportedly showing atomic canons being moved towards Ukraine sparked fears Putin may be sending nuclear armed military hardware within striking distance of major cities.
The video - showing huge 2S7 Pion guns - was captured in Vesela Lopan, Bolgorod in Western Russia and just 10 miles from the Ukrainian border, according to The Sun.
Known as the 'Soviet atomic cannon', the devastating weapon is one of the most powerful artillery cannons ever built. It can carry up to four 203 mm nuclear shells, which have the potential to annihilate large areas.
In a chilling press conference earlier this week, Putin warned that were Ukraine to join NATO, the risk of nuclear war would increase. Russia has demanded that the alliance completely rules out Ukraine from ever joining.
Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 10, 2022. Thousands of Britons were tonight told to leave Ukraine immediately over fears of an imminent invasion by Russian forces that Washington spy chiefs warned could be ordered in a matter of days
Videos purportedly showing atomic canons being moved towards Ukraine sparked fears Putin may be sending nuclear armed military hardware within striking distance of major cities. The video - showing huge 2S7 Pion guns (file photo) - was captured in Vesela Lopan, Bolgorod in Western Russia and just 10 miles from the Ukrainian border
Britons have been told to leave Ukraine immediately over concerns of a possible invasion by Russian forces. Pictured: Servicemen of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus take part in joint military exercises in Belarus on Friday
Pictured: Russian tanks during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as part of an inspection of the Union State's Response Force, at a firing range in Belarus, February 11
Russia is holding massive war games in neighbouring Belarus and insisting that the highly strained relations is not its fault
The Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday evening to tell UK nationals to leave Ukraine 'now while commercial means are still available' as Russia intensified its war games on its borders with Ukraine
This handout video grab released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 11, 2022 shows tanks during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus
Russia is operationally ready to conduct a wide range of military operations in Ukraine and the Kremlin just needs to make the call, the head of Norway's military intelligence service said Friday. Pictured: The Russian and Belarusian armed forces take part in Allied Determination-2022 military drill in Belarus on February 11
Pictured: Still grabs from video purportedly showing atomic canons, sparking fears Putin may be sending nuclear armed military hardware to its borders with Ukraine
US soldiers line up during the visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, near the Black Sea port city of Constanta, eastern Romania, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022
Military aid in the form of missiles delivered as part of the United States of America's security assistance to Ukraine, is unloaded from a plane at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine February 11, 2022
In the FCDO's updated advice, the government has said: 'British nationals in Ukraine should leave now while commercial means are still available. Since January 2022, the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine's borders has increased the threat of military action. The Embassy remains open but will be unable to provide in-person consular assistance. British nationals should leave while commercial options remain.'
A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority, which is why we have updated our travel advice. We urge British nationals in Ukraine to leave now via commercial means while they remain available.'
According to The Guardian, sources said the UK is not preparing an emergency airlift for British citizens because there are still commercial flights operating daily and the land border with Poland is open.
It is believed that the number of British citizens in Ukraine is in the low thousands, but many have strong ties to the country and are unlikely to leave.
The Foreign office's advice comes a day after US President Joe Biden urged all American citizens to leave the country. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Latvia, Norway and the Netherlands also told their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, while Israel said it was evacuating relatives of embassy staff.
The White House said Friday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could come within the week, possibly within the next two days, and urged Americans to leave the country now.
A call between Biden and Putin will take place on Saturday, a US official said tonight, as top US General Mark Milley spoke by telephone with his Russian counterpart General Valery Gerasimo. The pair 'discussed several security-related issues of concern,' an official said.
Meanwhile, a senior official said that the US is sending 3,000 more troops to Poland, as President Biden met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders on Friday to brief them on developments.
The new wave of US troops join 1,700 who already are assembling there to support NATO allies.
A Ukrainian tank moves during military drills close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday, February 10, 2022
Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was involved in testy exchanges with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States did not have definitive information that an invasion has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Washington warned that he has now amassed the necessary forces
Admiral Tony Radakin (L) and Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov (R) shake hands as UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace (2nd L), and Defence Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu (2nd R), look on inside the Russian Ministry of Defence building on February 11, 2022 in Moscow
The official, who provided the information on condition of anonymity before an official announcement, said the additional soldiers will depart their post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over the next couple of days and should be in Poland by early next week.
They are the remaining elements of an infantry brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. A further 8,500 U.S. troops are already on alert.
It also emerged on Friday that U.S. and European officials are finalising an extensive package of sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine that targets major Russian banks, but does not include banning Russia from the SWIFT financial system, according to U.S. and European officials.
A diplomatic source said the strategy now was to intensify efforts to spell out the cost to Putin of invasion.
'The message has to be that he cannot win,' the source told DailyMail.com.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States did not have definitive information that an invasion has been ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But he said all the pieces were in place for a major military operation that could start 'rapidly'.
'The risk is high enough and the threat is now immediate enough that prudence demands that it is the time to leave now,' Mr Sullivan said.
'We are not saying that a decision has been taken by President Putin,' Mr Sullivan added.
'What we are saying is that we have a sufficient level of concern based on what we are seeing on the ground, and what our intelligence analysts have picked up, that we are sending this clear message.'
He added that the possibility of an invasion taking place before the end of the Winter Olympics on February 20 is a 'credible prospect' and a 'very, very distinct possibility'.
He said new Russian forces were arriving at the border and they are in a position to 'mount a major military operation in Ukraine any day now', which could include a 'rapid assault on the city of Kyiv' or on other parts of the country.
Speaking from the White House, Mr Sullivan said Russia could choose 'in very short order to commence a major military action against Ukraine', but stressed the US does not know whether Mr Putin has made a final decision.
Mr Sullivan said the 'threat is now immediate enough' to urge Americans to leave Ukraine 'as soon as possible and in any event in the next 24 to 48 hours'.
He did not mince words for those who choose to remain: 'The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to.'
Sullivan spoke shortly after Biden and six European leaders, the heads of NATO and the European Union held talks on the worst crisis between the West and Russia since the end of the Cold War.
In a call lasting around 80 minutes, Downing Street said Mr Johnson urged Nato allies to make it clear to Moscow there is a 'heavy package of economic sanctions ready to go'.
'The Prime Minister told the group that he feared for the security of Europe in the current circumstances,' a No 10 spokeswoman said, in an account of the call that included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, as well as EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel.
Mr Johnson warned that the penalties would be 'extremely damaging' to Russia's economy and urged that allies must reinforce Nato's eastern frontiers.
Russia is holding massive war games in neighbouring Belarus and insisting that the highly strained relations is not its fault.
Moscow denies planning to invade Ukraine, but says it could take unspecified 'military-technical' action unless a series of demands are met, including promises from NATO never to admit Ukraine and to withdraw forces from Eastern Europe.
The West has said those main demands are non-starters. The EU and NATO alliance delivered responses this week on behalf of their member states.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said it wanted individual answers from each country, and called the collective response 'a sign of diplomatic impoliteness and disrespect'.
The U.S. is set to send 3,000 more troops to Poland in the coming days to try to reassure NATO allies, fource U.S. officials told Reuters news agency on Friday.
Earlier, Mr Blinken outlined what he said were 'very troubling signs of Russian escalation.
'We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time – and to be clear, that includes during the Olympics,' he said.
Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today warned Russia that an invasion of Ukraine will have 'tragic consequences' as he continued the diplomatic blitz in Moscow.
He stressed the importance of keeping lines of communication open as he held talks with counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
The Foreign Office's advice to Britons in Ukraine
The Foreign Office said on its website on Friday: 'Since January 2022, the build-up of Russian forces on Ukraine's borders has increased the threat of military action.
'The Embassy remains open but will be unable to provide in-person consular assistance. British nationals should leave while commercial options remain.
'If you are in need of assistance to leave Ukraine, you should call +380 44 490 3660 or +44 (0)1908 516666 and select the option for 'consular services for British nationals'.
'Any Russian military action in Ukraine would severely affect the British Embassy Kyiv's ability to provide any consular assistance.
'British Nationals should not expect increased consular support or help with evacuating in these circumstances.
'If you decide to remain in Ukraine, you should remain vigilant throughout due to potential combat operations, keep your departure plans under constant review and ensure your travel documents are up to date.
'You should monitor the media and this travel advice regularly, subscribe to email and read our advice on how to deal with a crisis overseas.'
US and EU finalising sanctions package should Russia invade Ukraine
U.S. and European officials are finalizing an extensive package of sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine that targets major Russian banks, but does not include banning Russia from the SWIFT financial system, according to U.S. and European officials.
The sanctions on the table also include export controls on components produced by Russia for the tech and weapons sectors, and sanctions against specific Russian oligarchs, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.
One U.S. official said the Russian banks targeted with sanctions could include state-backed VTB and Sberbank, the largest financial institutions in Russia.
Both institutions are already subject to sectoral sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region that limit their ability to raise capital in the United States, but the full blocking sanctions in sight now would have far more significant consequences, said one sanctions expert.
They would likely be accompanied by certain waivers and wind-down periods to limit harm to U.S. companies and those of allies.
Three sources familiar with the talks said banning Russia entirely from the SWIFT financial transaction system was not under active consideration after running into major objections from European countries.
European lenders have expressed concern that banning Russia from SWIFT would mean that billions of dollars of outstanding loans they have in Russia would not be repaid.
Sanctions against major Russian banks would still have a significant impact on the Russian financial sector and economy, one of the sources said. VTB and Sberbank's share prices have been volatile in recent weeks, as investors worry Washington could ban Americans from holding debt or equity in the institutions.
'The goal is to design sanctions that would really hit the Russians while keeping an eye on the collateral damage to those imposing them, recognizing that sanctions would clearly hit Europe harder,' said one of the sources.
U.S. officials said strong progress was made on the sanctions package during meetings with their counterparts in Germany, France and Britain this week.
The U.S. and European allies have focused on sanctions that would be imposed in the event of a physical Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to U.S. and European officials. They would need to coordinate further on any sanctions response short of a full military invasion, such as big cyber attack.
'A lot of the issues have been resolved,' said one U.S. official familiar with the talks, adding, 'I wouldn't say there's 100% agreement, but most of the concerns raised' by Germany in particular have been addressed.
Visiting German chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Washington Monday he was aligned with the United States on actions on Russia, but did not mention the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that the U.S. has vowed to shut of Russia invades.
Reporting by Reuters
Officials reportedly believe that the Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine and could launch an offensive next week. Above: A Ukrainian soldier is seen manning defensive positions in his country on Friday
A Ukrainian soldier is seen out of Svitlodarsk, Ukraine on February 11, 2022
US Navy fighter jets fly during the visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, near the Black Sea port city of Constanta, eastern Romania, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022
British nationals have been urged by the Foreign Office to leave Ukraine immediately 'while commercial means are still available'. Pictured: A Russian tank takes part in drills in a photograph released by the Russian Defense Ministry
At a press conference after the meeting Mr Wallace said he had been assured that Russia has 'no intention' of invading - but pointed out that the huge military build-up on the border meant it could do so 'at any time'.
'I heard clearly from the Russian government that they had no intention of invading Ukraine,' Wallace told reporters in Moscow. He added: 'We will judge that statement on the evidence.'
He said he was becoming less optimistic about defusing the situation, observing that the 'direction of travel' was against a diplomatic resolution.
But Mr Wallace also insisted there was 'absolutely no deafness' in his discussions, after Moscow's foreign minister swiped about his 'deaf and mute' conversation with Liz Truss yesterday.
The trip is the latest effort to turn down the temperature on the crisis and persuade Vladimir Putin to step back from the brink.
Talks in Berlin between Ukraine and Russia, joined by France and Germany, at first held hope for some progress as they lasted into Friday morning, but at the end, nothing palpable emerged.
'Unfortunately, almost nine hours of talks have ended without any significant results,' Russian deputy chief of staff Dmitry Kozak said. It remained unclear when and how the next attempt at a breakthrough would be made.
President Biden said the situation 'could go crazy quickly' and US troops will not be sent to help because that risks triggering a world war.
The head of Norway's military intelligence service said on Friday that Russia's forces are in position and ready to invade Ukraine.
The Russians 'have all they need to carry everything out, from a minor invasion in the east to minor attacks here and there in Ukraine, or a complete invasion, with, possibly, an occupation of all or parts of Ukraine', vice admiral Nils Andreas Stensones said.
'Now, it is up to President Putin to choose if he wants to proceed or not', he added.
Stensones made his remarks at the presentation of the Norwegian intelligence services' annual threat assessment report.
According to him, Russia has 'more than 150,000 combat troops' massed at the Ukraine border, along with the country's 'most advanced weapons' and all the necessary logistics.
A satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies shows a Russian deployment at Zyabrovka airfield in Gomel, Belarus, less than 15 miles from the border with Ukraine
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of a the tent camp and equipment at Oktyabrskoye airfield in Crimea, on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022
This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows equipment and new deployments at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022
This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows atillery training at Novoozernoye in Crimea on February 9, 2022
'It's very difficult to say if (an offensive) is likely or unlikely, because it is solely up to the Russian president to make the decision', he said.
U.S.-based Maxar Technologies - which has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces - said satellite images taken on Wednesday and Thursday showed large new deployments of troops, vehicles and warplanes at several locations in western Russia, Belarus and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
According to the Military Times, 500 troop tents and hundreds of armoured vehicles were shown at Oktyabrskoye airfield - an abandoned airfield found north of Simferopol, the Crimean peninsula's second largest city.
Other images showed training activities, artillery deployments and a new deployment in Slavne, also in Crimea.
And north of Ukraine in Belarus, military vehicles and helicopters were also identified at an airfield near Gomel, about 15 miles from its border with its southern neighbour.
Troops are also stationed near Rechitsa in Belarus, some 28 miles from Ukraine.
The satellite images also showed additional equipment had arrived at a Kursk training area in western Russia - a new development since Maxar began releasing images of Russia's military build-up in December.
Conflict has been festering in eastern Ukraine since 2014 between Russian-backed separatists and Kyiv forces.
