Shock, horror and bewilderment in Moscow
Shock, horror and bewilderment - three words which could describe the mood of many in the Russian capital Moscow this morning.
As soon as the news of the military assault against Ukraine emerged, Muscovites began exchanging messages, asking each other what they should be doing - stock up on food or on US dollars?
Others question what will happen to the rouble after the Moscow Stock Exchange paused trading.
There are queues at banks and currency exchange points and the police presence in the streets has also increased.
Those opposed to the war against Ukraine are discussing the possibility of holding a rally in Moscow this evening.
Permission for such a rally is unlikely to be granted. Individual protesters who had been picketing in the past few days were quickly detained by police.
Opinion polls conducted before the military action began indicated around half of all Russians did not believe a war with Ukraine was possible.
A vast majority of those questioned blamed the current escalation of tensions with the West on Nato.
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