Ukraine's security service has reportedly detained 10 Russian citizens with intelligence backgrounds, as Vladimir Putin accused Kiev of plunging the country into an "abyss".
The crisis appeared to deepen as talks between Ukraine, Russia, the US and the European Union got under way in Switzerland.
At the Geneva summit, US Secretary of State John Kerry was meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia and EU foreign chief Catherine Ashton.
Russia wants Ukraine to adopt a new constitution which would devolve some powers to eastern Ukraine and Russian-speaking people there.
The US, EU and Ukraine are looking at the diplomatic gathering as an opportunity to de-escalate the crisis, warning Russia that if it does not, it faces the threat of co-ordinated trade and economic sanctions.
Meanwhile, Mr Putin's annual televised phone-in with the nation got under way during which he rejected the presence of Russian forces in eastern Ukraine as "nonsense", and welcomed the diplomatic efforts to defuse the situation "through dialogue, not force".
However, he admitted for the first time the presence of Russian forces in Crimea - before and during the referendum to join Russia.
John Kerry with Sergei Lavrov in Geneva He said: "Our goal was to ensure the conditions for a free vote ... behind the local defence forces were our soldiers. They acted correctly, but decisively and professionally. We had to protect people from possible use of weapons."
And he did not rule out sending troops across the border again, saying he hoped he would not have to.
Mr Putin also raised the issue of gas supply and gave Ukraine a month to pay the $2.2bn (£1.3bn) Moscow claims Kiev owes for gas supplies before it demanded upfront payments.
There was also a surprise question in English on surveillance from Edward Snowden, the whistleblower and former CIA operative who has been granted asylum in Russia.
Armed men stand guard outside a building occupied by pro-Russia militia Earlier, Barack Obama warned his counterpart: "Mr Putin's decisions are not just bad for Ukraine, over the long term they're going to be bad for Russia.
"Each time Russia takes these kinds of steps that are designed to destabilise Ukraine and violate their sovereignty, there are going to be consequences."
Mr Obama added: "They are not interested in any kind of military confrontation with us, understanding that our conventional forces are significantly superior to the Russians."
US President Barack Obama has threatened Russia with further sanctions In recent days tensions have increased with pro-Russian separatists stepping up activities in the east of Ukraine.
The well-armed militias have seized armoured vehicles and weapons from Ukrainian forces and occupied a number of government buildings in towns and cities.
It has also been reported three pro-Russian separatists had been shot dead at a Black Sea military base.
The circumstances of the shooting overnight, at a base of the Ukrainian National Guard in Mariupol, are not yet known.
In a post on Facebook, interior minister Arsen Avakov said: "According to preliminary data, three attackers were killed, 13 wounded and 63 detained."
He said the separatists had thrown Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices during the clashes.
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