Over 1,000 days of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned Kyiv’s Western allies of dire – potentially nuclear – consequences if they “escalate” the war by giving Ukraine the weapons it needs to defend itself.

Russian forces have launched a major assault on Ukraine, firing missiles on cities and military targets. The invasion by land, air and sea began after a pre-dawn TV address where Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine's military lay down its arms.

The head of Britain's foreign intelligence service said Friday that Russia is conducting a "staggeringly reckless" sabotage campaign against Ukraine's Western allies, and that his spies are working to stop the consequences from spiraling out of control.