Tonight, the world watches as Vladimir Putin declares parts of Ukraine belong to him in a televised

tirade, and he orders Russian military into the region and what Putin calls peacekeeping operations.

Russia's president, defiant, recognizing the independence of two rebel regions in Ukraine,

why some fear that's the first step toward a bloody war. We're on the ground tonight from the Donbass region. They say that it's

recently been targeted with artillery by the Russian-backed separatists. Jury deliberations

began in the federal hate crimes trial of the three men convicted of murdering

Ahmad Aubrey, why prosecutors called the defendants vigilantes motivated by racial anger.

Back-to-back winter storms were tracking two weather systems bringing heavy snow and ice.

Royal Health scare, Queen Elizabeth, test positive

as England prepares to repeal all of its COVID restrictions. Struggling restaurants, how the

Omicron surge forced small businesses nationwide to close, many still fighting to reopen.

Rats found at Family Dollar Warehouse. More than 400 stores have temporarily shut down as the FDA warns of rodent related health risks. Big fight

in the Big Ten. The investigation tonight after coaches lose their cool in a post-game

brawl. And a school teacher makes history after decades of collecting it. We'll tell you how.

This is the CBS Evening News with Nora O'Don, reporting from the nation's capital.

Good evening, and thank you for joining us. I'm Jerika Duncan in for Nora.

War in Eastern Europe is getting closer after Russian President Vladimir Putin declares the independence of two breakaway regions in Ukraine.

After the announcement, Putin ordered a, quote,

peacekeeping operation to begin in the two regions.

That would mean the deployment of Russian troops and weapons into those areas.

And tonight, we want to show you these unconfirmed pictures that appear to show

Russian forces being bust into eastern Ukraine.

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