Ukraine's leader has accused Russia of declaring war on his country and warned the nation was on the "brink of disaster".
Appealing to the international community for help Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said: "This is the red alert, this is not a threat, this is actually a declaration of war to my country."
Ukraine has mobilised its military and called up all its reserves after Russia gave the go-ahead to send more troops into the country, in what has become the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.
It came as it was warned the deepening crisis is just "a pace away from catastrophe", where the smallest act could take it "over the edge".
Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called on Russia to de-escalate tensions.
"What Russia is doing now in Ukraine violates the principles of the United Nations charter. It threatens peace and security in Europe," he said.
Russian forces have taken over the Ukraine's southeast Crimea region where Moscow has a naval base, and more troops are on their way, prompting accusations of a "military invasion".
Despite mounting international condemnation, Russian President Vladimir Putin insists he has the right to protect Russian citizens and interests in Ukraine.
US president Barack Obama warned Mr Putin during a 90-minute phone call that Russia had flouted international law and urged him to withdraw forces.
In a sign of how fast-moving and volatile the crisis has become, it is reported hundreds of unidentified gunmen have surrounded a Ukraine military base, preventing soldiers form leaving.
The convoy blockading the site near the region's capital Simferopol includes at least 17 military vehicles, which have Russian registration plates.
Speaking about the Ukraine, former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, who served in the special forces, told Sky's Murnaghan programme: "I think we are a pace away from catastrophe at the moment.
"It would require one foolish act, I don't know, a trigger happy Russian soldier, a Ukrainian guard who acts aggressively at one of these institutions that has been taken over by Russia or Russian supporters.
"A foolish act now could tip us over the edge.
"The one thing that is absolutely essential now is that the West speaks with a single voice."
"The smallest tremor, the smallest act now could take us over the edge."
This was echoed by Sir Tony Brenton, the former British ambassador to Russia, who told Murnaghan: "It only requires one person to make a mistake for things to go very badly wrong."
Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind also warned of the dangers posed by the deepening crisis.
He told Dermot Murnaghan: "There is no doubt this is probably the most serious crisis since the Cold War.
"This has to be a defining moment in the West's relationship with Russia.
"There are very serious implications for the whole of Europe."
Ukraine's population is divided in loyalties between Russia and the West.
Much of western Ukraine advocating closer ties with the European Union. However, the eastern and southern regions look to Russia for support.
Crimea has 2.3 million inhabitants, most of whom identify themselves as ethnic Russians and speak Russian.
More follows...
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