Zelensky says Kyiv has already proven its fitness for world's largest military alliance on battlefield; moves set countries on high-stakes collision course

No travel warning declared, however, as Jerusalem continues to tread lightly; IDF soldiers with Russian citizenship reportedly barred from traveling there

Russian leader signs treaties after referendum derided in West as sham, says residents of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are its 'citizens forever'

Oleg Deripaska accused of lying to evade penalties 'despite cozy ties with Kremlin'; another three charged in scheme to ensure his child born in US

Putin to lead ceremony in Kremlin that will formally incorporate Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas into Russian territory, spokesperson says

'The mobilization is a first sign that something worse might happen,' says Oleg, a bar owner from Moscow; around 17,000 Russians have left to Finland over the weekend

The Russian president has threatened to use battlefield nukes in Ukraine, but such a move would achieve little and could set in motion unstoppable full-scale nuclear war with West

Thousands of Russians bolt in the week since Putin announced reserve call-up to bolster struggling Russian forces in Ukraine; long lines of those trying escape clog highways

Recent incidents include talk show host listing the names of Jews faulted for lacking patriotism, veteran columnist compiling list of known Jews, branding them 'foreign agents'

Former Russian president charges Ukraine's allies would not risk nuclear war if Kremlin decided to use weapon; Washington has warned of 'catastrophic consequences'