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As Ukraine's new leaders accused Russia of declaring war, Russia's Prime Minister warned
Sunday that blood could be spilled amid growing instability in the neighboring nation.
Kiev mobilized troops and called up military reservists in a rapidly escalating crisis
that has raised fears of a conflict. And world leaders pushed for a diplomatic solution.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the
recent ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych a "seizure of power."
"Such a state of order will be extremely unstable," Medvedev said. "It will end with the new revolution.
With new blood." Officials said signs of Russian military intervention
in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula were clear. Russian generals led their troops to three
bases in the region Sunday, demanding Ukrainian forces surrender and hand over their weapons,
Vladislav Seleznyov, spokesman for the Crimean Media Center of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry,
told CNN. By late Sunday, Russian forces had "complete
operational control of the Crimean Peninsula," a senior U.S. administration official said.
The United States estimates there are 6,000 Russian ground and naval forces in the region,
the official said. "There is no question that they are in an
occupation position -- flying in reinforcements and settling in," another senior administration
official said. Speaking by phone, Seleznyov said Russian
troops had blocked access to bases but added, "There is no open confrontation between Russian
and Ukrainian military forces in Crimea" and said Ukrainian troops continue to protect
and serve Ukraine. "This is a red alert. This is not a threat.
This is actually a declaration of war to my country," Ukrainian interim Prime Minister
Arseniy Yatsenyuk said. Speaking in a televised address from the parliament
building in the capital, Kiev, he called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "pull
back his military and stick to the international obligations."
"We are on the brink of the disaster." Kerry heading to Kiev
Speaking on the CBS program "Face The Nation," Kerry -- who is set to arrive in Kiev on Tuesday
-- said several foreign powers are looking at economic consequences if Russia does not
withdraw its forces. "All of them, every single one of them are
prepared to go to the hilt in order to isolate Russia with respect to this invasion," he
said. "They're prepared to put sanctions in place, they're prepared to isolate Russia
economically."