Ukraine Says Russia Has Sent In 6,000 Troops

Russia has been accused of sending 6,000 troops into the Ukraine despite calls by Britain and the US for Moscow to back off.

Reports suggest that Russian troops are trying to seize control of an anti-aircraft missile base and have taken control of airports in the Crimea region of the country.

Ukraine's border guard service said about 300 armed men were attempting to seize its main headquarters in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol.

Russian soldiers are guarding buildings in Crimea it has been confirmed

Russian helicopter gunships have also been seen in Ukrainian airspace.

The pro-Moscow Prime Minister of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, has appealed to Russia for help in keeping the peace there.

He has confirmed service personnel from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is based in Sevastopol, were guarding key buildings.

And in an apparent orchestrated move, a referendum on whether residents in Crimea want greater independence from Ukraine has been brought forward by two months to March 30.

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Ministry has claimed there had been an overnight attempt by "unidentified gunmen sent from Kiev" to seize the offices of Crimea's interior ministry.

After unrest in Kiev, tensions have shifted to the Crimea region

It said in a statement: "As a result of the treacherous provocation, there are wounded.

"With decisive actions by self-defence groups, the attempt to seize the interior ministry building was averted.

"This confirms the desire of prominent political circles in Kiev to destabilise the peninsula."

Russia's Lower House of Parliament, the Duma, has called on President Vladimir Putin "to take measures to stabilise the situation in Crimea".

A soldier stands next to a sign that says: "Crimea Russia"

And in a further ratcheting up of pressure on Ukraine, Russia said it saw "no reason" to extend a previously agreed gas discount due to unpaid debts.

To add to Ukraine's financial woes, the country's finance minister said it is unlikely to receive financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund before April due to the continuing turmoil.

US President Barack Obama has warned Moscow that any military intervention in Ukraine would be "deeply destabilising".

British Foreign Secretary William Hague says he has spoken to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov calling for a de-escalation in Crimea, and respect for Ukraine sovereignty.

France and Germany have also raised concerns over developments in Ukraine.

A man holds a Soviet Navy flag next to an armed patrol in Simferopol

Ukraine's Prime Minister said his country would not be drawn into a military conflict by Russian "provocations", and appealed to Moscow to halt military movements in the region.

Arseny Yatseniuk said: "It is unacceptable when armoured Russian military vehicles are out in the centre of Ukrainian towns."

Mr Obama has called on Russia to respect the independence and territory of Ukraine.

"Any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilising," he said.

"The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine."

Mr Hague will visit the country on Sunday and hold talks with Ukraine's new leaders.

Crimea has become a flashpoint for tensions between Russia and Ukraine after the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych, a Moscow ally, following months of protests which escalated into deadly violence.

Ukraine's population is divided in loyalties between Russia and the West, with much of western Ukraine advocating closer ties with the European Union while 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.

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