The Shiveluch volcano spewed an ash column as high as 5 mils above sea level and released a gush of lava, TASS reported Sunday morning.

One of Russia’s most active volcanoes has erupted, spewing plumes of ash 3 miles into the sky over the far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula and briefly triggering a “code red” warning for aircraft

Russia is scrambling to shore up its defenses more than a week into Ukraine’s shock, lightning attack across the border on the southern Kursk region. US officials told CNN that Russia has diverted thousands of troops from occupied territory inside Ukraine to counter the threat.

Ukraine is pushing in its efforts to turn the tables on Russia, its military crossing over the border and taking control of multiple towns. Leaders in Ukraine tell NBC News’ Erin McLaughlin it’s part of an effort to get Putin to refocus his forces on defending Russian land and abandon the position they have inside Ukraine.

Ukraine launched the biggest invasion of Russia since World War Two when it breached Russia's Kursk region. Russia appears to have been taken by surprise.