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Significant rainfall in South Australia has filled the wondrous, free-flowing catchments of the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Basin, bringing with it colour and life.

Australia's inland Channel Country has welcomed the rain and the rare sight of water filling the usually dry lake.

As the various rivers flood and flow, the salt-encrusted Lake Eyre landscape transforms.

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The great salt lake lies in the south-western corner of the Great Artesian Basin, a closed inland basin about 1,140,000-square-kilometres in area that is drained only by intermittent streams.

Lake Eyre fills completely only an average of twice in a century, but partial, minor fillings happen more often during wet weather events.

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Evaporation rates in the region are so high that most of the rivers in the basin dry up before reaching the lake.

The waters of the Diamantina and other lifeline rivers can feed the lake only when they are in flood after heavy rains.

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Neighbours of arrested fugitive Graham Potter have spoken of their shock after learning they were living next to one of Australia's most wanted alleged criminals.

Potter, 64, went on the run after failing to appear on conspiring to murder charges in a Melbourne court in 2010 and had evaded police for 12 years.

After escaping an arrest attempt in Tully in 2010, police believed Potter was hiding out in rural Far North Queensland, where he used an array of disguises, like wigs and fat-suits, to evade capture.

Yesterday, after receiving a witness report, Potter was discovered and arrested at a run-down Ravenshoe home, two hours drive southwest of Cairns in Queensland's Tablelands region.

He was discovered living with a woman, Sandi Feller, who told 9News this morning she knew Potter was a wanted fugitive.

Ms Feller did not reveal the nature of her relationship with Potter.

Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said investigators were working to determine if charges would be laid.

"There's work to be done when Victorian Police get here to ascertain if charges will be laid against any other person who may have been harbouring Potter while he was in Queensland," he said.

"We believe he has been in the area for the last 12 years at least."

A neighbour, Jack, said the house was noticeably neglected.

"They kept it so hidden but it was such a rat nest, any night you'd see so many rats and cats running out of that place," he said.

"In a little town like this, you can hide, you just do it – it's so easy.

"The biggest hidden secrets are in small towns.

"We don't even have a traffic light, a roundabout or a zebra crossing."

Russell Kidd, who lived next door to Potter, said he had never seen the man in the six months he lived there.

"It's scary, like to know that he was right beside. I've got a four-year-old son," he said.

"I was inside after the police came and I just heard a heap of commotion.

"Didn't think it would happen in Ravenshoe."

The manager of the Club Hotel, Laith Pignatt, said Potter seemed like a normal person, adding he had been questioned about the fugitive by police previously.

"I was interviewed by police eight years ago. He was coming through the bottle-o buying alcohol and they came and got footage of him and questioned me about him," Mr Pignatt said.

"I was surprised he was still around.

"I thought he would've disappeared a long time ago.

"I thought he might have been in the hills or something, somewhere right in the wilderness somewhere, not in the middle of town, 800 metres away, if that."

Police have confirmed Potter gave them the name "Josh" when arrested, but went by the name of "Ned" in the town.

"He's certainly been keeping a low profile. He's assimilated at some points within the community," Detective Goan said.

"The exchange of info, info from members of the public who have reported sightings has been significant."

Potter is expected to be extradited to Victoria tomorrow, with police still investigating who else was involved and how he evaded capture.

"We know he's taken to flight on previous occasions when approached… if he can outrun one of those German shepherds, good luck to him," Detective Goan said.

"North Queenslanders have a tolerance for what they're prepared to accept in their home environment and we can accredit his capture with some people who had a suspicion he was living there."

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Australia's remaining diplomatic staff in the Ukrainian city of Lviv will leave and move to eastern Poland and Romania.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has confirmed "due to the increased risk" the Australian officials have been directed to depart the country amid rising concerns about armed conflict.

"Australia stands in solidarity with Ukraine and continues to call on Russia to cease and reverse its unprovoked assault on its democratic neighbour," Ms Payne said.

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It comes as the Australian Government condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration today that the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine are independent states.

"This flagrantly undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and has no validity under international law," Ms Payne said.

"We also condemn President Putin's announcement that Russia is deploying so-called 'peacekeepers' to eastern Ukraine.

"These personnel are not peacekeepers."

READ MORE: US demands Putin withdraw from Ukraine

https://twitter.com/jekearsley/status/1495976679344599042

Prime Minister Scott Morrison echoed this today as he declared earlier Russia "should step back".

Mr Morrison described the suggestion that troops were being ordered into the Moscow-backed separatist territories to maintain peace as "nonsense".

"It should unconditionally withdraw back behind its own borders and stop threatening its neighbours," Mr Morrison said of the move, which appears to be a precursor for full-blown invasion.

EXPLAINED: Why Russia-backed rebels are a thorn in Ukraine's side

"It's unacceptable, it's unprovoked, it's unwarranted," he said.

Ms Payne said the Australian Government is coordinating closely with the US, UK, European Union and other governments around the world "to ensure there are severe costs for Russia's aggression".

"Along with our partners, we are prepared to announce swift and severe sanctions that would target key Russian individuals and entities responsible for undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," she said.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott warned Russia could try to invade Poland and the Baltic states if it succeeds in Ukraine.

Speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Abbott said Russia could be on the brink of bringing down a "new Iron Curtain" on eastern Europe.

Mr Morrison said he was "aware" of Mr Abbott's comments but that he was focused on immediate developments.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has also condemned the action and called for Russia to respect Ukraine's sovereignty.

"We condemn Russia's unilateral recognition of breakaway territories in Ukraine," Mr Albanese said from Tasmania.

"We respect the sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia should do that too, in accordance with international law.

"There is no place in 2022 for nation-states to try to carve off sections of another sovereign nation-state, which is what we're seeing here."

Mr Albanese called on other nations to join in the condemnation of Russia's actions.

"We also think that China and other countries need to speak out in support of the sovereignty of Ukraine," he said.

Kevin Rudd, who preceded Mr Abbott as prime minister, also hit out at Moscow.

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a gross violation of international law demanding universal condemnation by all, including China," he wrote on Twitter.

"Respecting the integrity of national borders is axiomatic to global order.

"It also happens to be a core precept of China's stated foreign policy doctrine."

Earlier today Mr Putin recognised the two pro-Moscow territories – the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic – as independent.

US to hit breakaway regions with sanctions

President Joe Biden plans to impose new sanctions on trade and financing in the two territories.

Mr Biden's executive order will also allow the US to impose sanctions on anyone operating in those areas.

The White House said it would "soon announce additional measures related to today's blatant violation of Russia's international commitments."

NATO and European officials also condemned Mr Putin's actions in statements. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the move "further undermines" Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Mr Putin's recognition of the separatist regions was an "ill omen and a very dark sign."

The UK plans to announce new sanctions on Russia on Tuesday (local time), UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Twitter.

Mr Biden has consulted with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on a call today.

He also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

With CNN