Ukraine's Defence Minister says Moscow has sent 6,000 troops into the country, as it was confirmed Russian soldiers are on the streets in the southeastern region of Crimea.
The country's military are on high alert amid the deepening crisis, with reports Russian forces are trying to seize control of an anti-aircraft missile base.
The pro-Moscow Prime Minister of Crimea Sergei Aksenov, who appealed to Russia for help in keeping the peace there, has confirmed service personnel from the Black Sea Fleet, which is based in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, were guarding key buildings.
Russian soldiers are guarding buildings in Crimea it has been confirmed 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.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has also claimed there had been an overnight attempt by "unidentified gunmen sent from Kiev" to seize the offices of Crimea's interior ministry.
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."
After unrest in Kiev, tensions have shifted to the Crimea region Russia's Lower House of Parliament, the Duma, has called on President Vladimir Putin "to take measures to stabilise the situation in Crimea".
US President Barack Obama has warned Moscow that any military intervention in Ukraine would be "deeply destabilising".
It came after armed men, suspected of being Russian soldiers, took control of key airports and other sites in Crimea.
Russian helicopter gunships have also been seen in Ukrainian airspace.
A soldier stands next to a sign that says: "Crimea Russia" 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."
A man holds a Soviet Navy flag next to an armed patrol in Simferopol British Foreign Secretary William 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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