NOTE: This episode was recorded before Putin’s declaration on Wednesday evening that Russia would conduct what he called a “special military operation” in Eastern Ukraine.

For months, tensions have been escalating between Russia and Ukraine. But this week, they ratcheted way up after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the expanded territorial claims of two Russian-controlled breakaway regions in Ukraine and ordered troops into the two territories.

Today, Andrew Roth, The Guardian’s Moscow correspondent, joins us to break down a major week in the Russia-Ukraine crisis.