Ukrainian military officials take cover in bomb shelter after shelling at separatist front

Top Ukrainian military officials were forced to take cover in a bomb shelter on Saturday after a shelling attack in eastern Ukraine on the front of the separatist conflict in the country.

The military officials were touring the region amid rising fears over an impending Russian invasion. 

U.S. officials estimate the Russian military has amassed between 160,000 and 190,000 troops at the border of the former Soviet state. 

When the bombing occurred, an Associated Press journalist on the scene reported that the officials were hustled away from the area after holing up inside a bomb shelter.

The news is just the latest in a smattering of reported skirmishes at the front in recent days. Earlier this week, the Ukrainian military reported that shells fired by the separatist forces hit a kindergarten, though no one was killed in the event. 

President Biden held a press conference and said he was “convinced” that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade the country. Biden said on Friday that Russia could invade the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, a city with 2.8 million “innocent people,” in a takeover operation.

“The entire free world is united,” Biden said. “Russia has a choice between war and all the suffering it will bring, or diplomacy.”

Also on Saturday, Russia launched a nuclear exercise in an apparent show of strength, and Russian-backed separatist forces signed a decree for a general mobilization, which will activate the military reserves.