A US SPY plane had an "extremely close encounter with Russian military jets" over the Meditteranean Sea, officials have said.
Maneuvers by the Russians were described by sources to CNN as "unsafe and unprofessional."
Initial reports indicate that there was a subsequent additional encounter after that between US and Russian jets, but no other information has been provided.
Officials told the outlet that there is video of the incident. It is unclear whether it will be released or not.
US officials continue to say that close and unexpected encounters risk a miscalculation that could lead to a military incident.
It comes as US intelligence fears a full-scale Russian invasion could be launched within hours, starting a conflict the scale of which has not been seen since World War 2.
However – as last minute and high level diplomatic talks continue in a frantic bid to avert a devastating war that could kill millions – for now the region remains in a fragile state of calm.
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Russia insisted that it was returning more troops and weapons to bases and put out video showing tanks as well as other vehicles leaving the Crimean peninsula.
The move is being treated with scepticism with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg saying that "on the contrary" more troops were being built up.
Speaking at a Nato meeting in Brussels, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace urged serious caution, warning Russia was still geared up to invade and said it should be judged on its actions.
“Russia has the size of forces now gathered and at readiness, locked and loaded to some extent, ready to go should they wish to do so from yesterday, and that has proved to be exactly right," he said.
Wallace said latest intelligence shows that 60 per cent of Russian land combat power remains on the Ukrainian border along with significant naval forces at sea.
“I think what we haven’t seen is evidence of withdrawal which has been claimed by the Kremlin," he said.
“Instead we have seen strategic build-up of things like field hospitals and strategic weapons systems.”
The Russian gesture appeared to be aimed at allaying invasion fears – even as the U.S said the threat of attack remained.
But Mr Stoltenberg said Russia seemed to be in fact building up its forces towards its border with Ukraine.
"We have not seen any de-escalation on the ground. On the contrary, it appears that Russia continues their military build-up," Stoltenberg said, ahead of a crunch meeting of the alliance.
Russia denies all aggressive intent to Ukraine.
It is feared today could be the day for a "false flag" attack by Russia – a staged incident that would be used as justification for an invasion.
Dawn broke over Ukraine without a shot being fired or the first missiles falling, but the atmosphere remains tense.
Plans are today in place for a “Day of Unity” vigil across the nation.
Ukrainians will be urged to stand together defiantly at 10am to sing the national anthem.
It comes as:
- Russia is still feared to invade Ukraine "at any time" as the US predicted an attack TODAY
- Putin insisted he does not want war as Russia claimed it was pulling back troops
- Ukraine was hit by a wave of cyber attacks – knocking out the websites of the military and major banks
- Boris Johnson warned Russia was continue to build up forces and construct field hospitals
- Liz Truss said that Putin "won't stop" with Ukraine amid renewed fears over the Baltic states
- It was warned a war between Russia and Ukraine would be "bloody and grimy"
- Ukraine unveiled a fearsome "Punisher" drone to help defend against Russia
- Priti Patel moved to axe golden tickets for foreign billionaires in a move aimed at Russian oligarchs
- Europe was warned to be at its closest to war for 70 years
Kyiv has called for calm as preparations have continued for a possible invasion by Russia – with everyday people taking up arms.
Western warnings of a night strike by Russia at around 3am came and went without incident amid the ever changing and volatile situation.
The fog of war has well and truly descended over the region.
Putin is keeping the West guessing for his next move as Nato defence ministers will today meet in Brussels.
Russia continues to have around 130,000 remain on Ukraine’s eastern and southern borders with around 40,000 pro-Putin forces in Belarus to the north.
And another 30,000 pro-Russian separatists were facing Ukrainian defenders in the separatist Donbas enclave.
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