Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on twitter:

"On President Volodymyr Zelensky’s initiative, I officially requested UNSC member states to immediately hold consultations under article 6 of the Budapest memorandum to discuss urgent actions aimed at de-escalation, as well as practical steps to guarantee the security of Ukraine."

The FSB publishes footage of destroyed Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicles that entered Russian territory to evacuate saboteurs.

Incident details:

- At about 6 am on Monday, near the village of Myatinskaya in the Rostov Region, Russian border guards discovered the penetration of a group of Ukrainian saboteurs - a total of 5 people;

- for their detention, the help of the military of the Southern Military District was requested, a clash began;

- to evacuate the sabotage group from Ukraine, two infantry fighting vehicles entered the territory of the Russian Federation;

- The Russian military destroyed armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and five saboteurs, there were no casualties among the border guards of the Russian Federation.

Source: Telegram Donbass channel

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to make a televised address to the Russian people on February 21st at 21.00 (Russian Time) according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Putin announced to sign decree on recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk Russian controlled territories.

Putin has informed leaders of France & Germany he intends to recognize Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk in near future and sign a decree. Macron, Scholz 'disappointed' by Putin's recognition of Ukraine rebels.

It will be very important to see whether the whole of the two provinces will be recognized, i.e. even territory and cities like Mariupol held by Ukraine.

Source: TASS

Wait Putin speech live here:
https://youtu.be/gJIowCeNPds

UNCONFIRMED –Ukraine introduce martial law by the decision of the National Security and Defense COUNCIL.

Vehicle convoy in Donetsk right now.

Putin Live speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjMnTo85S4A

"Ukraine is a part of our cultural space" - V. Putin

"Modern Ukraine was completely created by Russia" - V. Putin

"There is simply no independent state in Ukraine" - V. Putin

NOW - Putin signs the decree that recognizes the independence of DPR and LPR regions. Separatist leaders are in the room.

Donetsk now.

The heads of the European Commission and the European Council called the recognition of the independence of the DPR and LPR a violation of international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.