United States officials are warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin may escalate the violence in Ukraine over frustrations of the military operation so far.
US officials have reportedly said Putin is expressing anger towards his inner circles over the state of the military campaign and the worldwide condemnation of his actions, which they say is unusual because Putin usually keeps his emotions in check.
"He is no longer the same cold-blooded, clear-eyed dictator that he was in 2008," former CIA Director John Brennan told NBC News.
Brennan told the outlet there may be an "emotional spiral" for Putin soon, as his pre-invasion moves were a "bad miscalculation".
"He's never faced something like this before. I'm sure he's lashing out at advisers, ministers, and others... He is being crippled on the battlefield and the financial front, and he has no good options."
Despite the Russian attacks, Ukrainian forces have fought back and said they continue to hold Kharkiv, the country's second-biggest city, while fighting continues on the outskirts of Kyiv.
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Outside of Ukraine, many countries have condemned Russia's actions by imposing sanctions on the country, dealing a crushing blow to its economy.
"I do worry that he's been backed into a corner. I do worry that there is no obvious exit ramp," US senator and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Mark Warner told MSNBC.
Warner said Putin has "isolated" himself and is hardly going in the Moscow Kremlin which is the official residency for Russian presidents.
"This is somebody that's clearly been caught off-guard by the size of the Ukrainian resistance," Warner told the outlet.
On Monday, Russia put its nuclear forces on high alert, threatening to heighten their attack.
"Russia is escalating its aggression by its decision to increase the readiness of its nuclear weapons. Russia's actions are nothing short of the acts of a bully," New Zealand's permanent representative at the United Nations Carolyn Schwalger said.
US Senator Mark Rubio says Putin's decision is a response to the economic and military frustrations.
"Now the economy is in shambles & the military is being humiliated & his only tools to reestablish power balance with the West is cyber & nukes," Rubio wrote on Twitter.
