Putin: 'I Hope Force Won't Be Needed' In Ukraine

Ukraine: Russian Troops Fire Warning Shots

Updated: 11:43am UK, Tuesday 04 March 2014

Russian soldiers have fired warning shots into the air as around 300 Ukrainian troops marched on the seized Belbek air base in Crimea.

It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken for the first time since the crisis began, warning he will use "all means" to protect Russian citizens against what he called an "unconstitutional coup".

At the Belbek base, around a dozen Russian soldiers warned the unarmed Ukrainian servicemen to back away as they approached the base.

The Russians then fired several shots into the air, saying they would shoot the Ukrainians if they continued to approach the base.

A video of the confrontation shows a Russian soldier saying to the Ukranians: "I want your officer here. We'll be shooting your legs."

A Ukrainian soldier responds: "You will pay for this. You'll be responsible."

"America stands with us," a Ukrainian soldier says.

The Russian soldier later replies: "Commander, clam down your crowd."

Sky's Katie Stallard, who is at the air base, said wives and mothers of the Ukrainian servicemen were standing between the two lines to prevent any bloodshed.

She said: "There are around a dozen women, wives and mothers, standing in front of their men because they believe they (Russian soldiers) will be more reluctant to fire on them." 

The US has suspended all military engagements with Russia over its deployment of troops in Crimea.

Some 16,000 Russian troops are on the ground in the region - a move that the US said is in a clear violation of international law.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said all military exercises, port visits, bilateral talks and planning conferences between Russia and the US are on hold because of Moscow's actions.

Mr Putin has ordered troops taking part in military exercises close to the Ukrainian border in western Russia to return to their permanent bases on Tuesday.

But hundreds of Russian soldiers have remained at a military base near the Crimean capital Simferopol, preventing Ukrainian soldiers from going in or out.

Russian forces have also seized a border checkpoint on the Ukrainian border between Russia and Crimea, Reuters reported.

Moscow's UN envoy told a stormy meeting of the UN Security Council that Ukraine's ousted leader Viktor Yanukovych had sent a letter to Mr Putin requesting that he use Russia's military to restore law and order in Ukraine.

Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin, reading from an unofficial translation of the letter he said was dated March 1, said: "The country has plunged into chaos and anarchy.

"The country is in the grip of outright terror and violence driven by the West. People are persecuted on political and language grounds.

"In this context, I appeal to the President of Russia Vladimir V Putin to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation to re-establish the rule of law, peace, order, stability and to protect the people of Ukraine."

But US President Barack Obama warned Moscow it would find itself "on the wrong side of history" - and that Russia's deployment of troops in Ukraine violates international law.

He spoke shortly after Mr Putin's aides were forced to deny reports that Russian forces have given the Ukrainian navy until 3am (5am local time) on Tuesday to surrender.

America said any threat by Russia to Ukraine forces would represent a "dangerous escalation" in the crisis, and Moscow would be held responsible.

Moscow has also threatened it could be forced to drop the dollar as a reserve currency and refuse to pay off loans to US banks if the US imposes sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

British Prime Minister David Cameron called for the world to send Russia a "clear message" about its actions.

US Senator John McCain has criticised Mr Obama's handling of the crisis and described him as "totally naive".

He told Sky News it was time the US had a "cold-eyed view of Putin" and said it should immediately impose "severe economic sanctions" on Moscow and reinstall missile defence systems in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Nato will hold more emergency talks on the crisis on Tuesday after Poland requested consultations with its allies on the threat posed by Moscow.

The Russian foreign ministry said Nato's criticism of its actions in Crimea "will not help stabilise" the situation in Ukraine.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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