Troops in unmarked uniforms, but clearly with Russian equipment, have seized control of most of the Crimea, from Ukraine.
Ukrainian troops have been besieged, on their own bases, by around six thousands of these troops.
Russia has threatened to invade eastern Ukraine, though they claim that it would be to "protect Russians" in the country.
Their national press has issued reported of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians rushing to the border seeking "their protection", however pictures from the border show it to be all but deserted.
One hundred and fifty thousand Russian troops are conducting "war games" not far to the east of the border, but have not shown any attempts to cross.
Matters have not been helped, as pro Russian protests have sprung up in some cities, such as Kharkiv, which lies near the border.
Ukrainians blame the Russians for causing the protests, which had mostly had not existed until the unmarked troops began spreading from near Russian rented bases in Crimea.
Meanwhile, the western world has warned Russia to back off and not escalate matters.
The US has threatened to impose sanctions if Russia continues down this path, but it is unclear if the EU would even respond with similar measures.
None of the western countries are even considering any kind of military response to a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and therefore not giving Russia any real reason not to continue.
Ukraine is not an official member of NATO, so an invasion would not require NATO to come to it's aid, however Ukrainian troops have aided NATO in the past.
