On Wednesday evening, widespread artillery bombardment of Donetsk and Luhansk started, and it hasn't stopped since.  It is being called "the most intense artillery bombardment for years", and it should be making front page headlines all over the globe.  According to one diplomatic source, "everyone and everything" is being targeted…

A diplomatic source with years of experience of the conflict described Friday's shelling in east Ukraine as the most intense since major combat there ended with a 2015 ceasefire. "They are shooting – everyone and everything," said the source.

It is also being reported that mobile phone service is down throughout Donetsk and Luhansk.

Needless to say, a communications disruption often occurs just before an invasion.