Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans for February 16, following media reports that could be the day Russia invades Ukraine.
The predicted date of invasion comes from reports of officials in the US, with President Joe Biden reportedly having told his counterparts in the West that Russian leader Vladimir Putin could launch an attack on Wednesday, February 16.
Both Biden and UK prime minister Boris Johnson have urged citizens of their respective countries to leave Ukraine immediately as Russia continues to build up forces on the border.
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Multiple US officials confirmed to Politico that Russia could start its attack as soon as February 16, while Washington reportedly communicated to allies that the invasion could be preceded by a barrage of missile strikes and cyberattacks.
Following the reports, Zelensky said on Monday that February 16 should be considered a 'day of unity' in Ukraine.
In a video address to the nation, cited by Reuters, he said: 'They tell us Feb. 16 will be the day of the attack. We will make it a day of unity. They are trying to frighten us by yet again naming a date for the start of military action. On that day, we will hang our national flags, wear yellow and blue banners, and show the whole world our unity.'
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The Ukrainian government has released a decree calling for all villages and towns in the country to fly the national flag on Wednesday and for members of the public to sing the national anthem at 10.00am. It has also called for an increase in salaries of soldiers and border guards.
Government officials have stressed Zelenksy is responding sceptically to the reports of an attack on Wednesday, and the president himself has said that while he does believe Russia is threatening to invade, the likelihood of it being so imminent has been overstated by Western allies.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskiy's chief of staff, reiterated the scepticism as he told Reuters: 'It is quite understandable why Ukrainians today are skeptical about various 'specific dates' of the so-called 'start of the invasion' announced in the media. When the 'start of the invasion' becomes some sort of rolling tour date, such media announcements can only be taken with irony.'
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Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said it would not be 'smart' to get into a specific date, instead telling reporters that it was 'entirely possible that [Putin] could move with little to no warning'.
Russia has more than 100,000 troops massed near the border of Ukraine, with an estimated further 14 Russian battalions reported to be heading towards the border this week.
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Topics: Russia, World News, Vladimir Putin, Politics
Emily Brown