Fear mongering content became viral on social media this week, as Ukrainian civilians prepare for an imminent Russian attack. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

US military personnel have arrived in Romania ahead of a deployment of NATO troops expected in the country. Romania, a NATO member since 2004, borders Ukraine to the north.

Russian and Belarusian troops will continue their joint exercises near Ukraine, which were expected to end on Sunday, due to the "escalating situation" in Donbas.

Fear mongering content became viral on social media this week, as Ukrainian civilians prepare for an imminent Russian attack.

FRANCE 24 spoke to Sir John Sawers, the former head of Britain’s secret intelligence service. Sawers, who headed the MI6 between 2009 and 2014, said that if Russia’s President Vladimir Putin decides to take military action against Ukraine, it would be in his interest to limit an invasion to eastern Ukraine. But, he cautioned: “There is no doubt that Russia has the capability to carry out a full invasion, take over Kiev, and install a puppet regime.”

Experts say China has used the Olympics to reinforce political ties and influence its global and domestic reputation. Beijing says it is the boycott that has politicized the games.

Has war been declared? Following a day during which the Kremlin ratcheted up its rhetoric, François Picard’s panel weighs the consequences of the call in Moscow to recognise Ukraine’s pro-Russian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. They also discuss Vladimir Putin’s ultimate goal.

Russia's move to recognise the breakaway Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk has sent ripples through global markets on Tuesday, with falls across Asia, and in early trading in Europe. Oil prices also jumped, with the international benchmark Brent Crude hitting its highest level since mid-2014. Investors are now focusing on which sanctions the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union might impose on Russia in response.

Hong Kong is facing its toughest test yet in its "Dynamic Zero Covid" strategy. The number of cases this year is now higher than the number of infections seen in both 2020 and 2021. The city's health system is under pressure, suffering from a lack of hospital beds, inadequate testing capacities and over-strained quarantine centers. But the health crisis is turning political. For more on this, we turn to Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a political scientist at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, says the geopolitical volatility and limited supplies mean oil prices will continue to rise and are likely to pass well beyond the symbolic $100 per barrel level.

Experts say Beijing wants to avoid overtly taking sides, while looking for divisions in how Western countries respond to Russian aggression.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced sanctions against Russian banks and the country's wealthy elite after what he said was Moscow's launching of an invasion against Ukraine.