"I urge my fellow citizens who are in the reserves to come to military conscription offices. Today I signed a decree on general mobilization," Denis Pushilin, leader Donetsk People's Republic, said in a video statement according to the AFP.

The Lugansk separatist republic published a similar mobilization decree, citing that the rebel forces are busy "repelling aggression" and need additional assistance. 

At this point both sides on the ground are accusing the other of seeking to provoke a justification for rapid escalation, at a moment Russia has continued with its large troop presence on the other side of the border, which the US has in the recent days put at anywhere between 130,000 to up to 190,000 troops - including inside Belarus. Washington too has continued pushing its 'Russian false flag' narrative. 

Given the rapidly intensifying ground-level situation in Ukraine's east, officials in Washington have expressed surprise that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is traveling to Munich to attend the major international security conference which is ongoing there. Representing the US at the Munich Security Conference is Vice President Kamala Harris.

CNN reports that "Biden administration officials have privately urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to leave Ukraine and visit Munich on Saturday given concerns about a possible incursion from Russia, according to three US officials and one senior Ukrainian official."