Russia-Ukraine tensions

A woman holds a poster against war in Kiev's Independence Square, March 6, 2014.

The Heads of State of the EU will meet Thursday in an emergency session in Brussels to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

The destroyed trade union offices which was burned in clashes seen in the background.

Kiev

A woman looks at flowers left at a memorial for people killed during clashes with police, in Kiev's Independence Square, March 6, 2014.

Kiev

People attend a funeral ceremony for Andryi Pozniak, 25,a self defense volunteer who was shot and killed by an unknown assailant two days ago near Kiev's Independence Square, March 6, 2014.

Odessa

Ukraine frigate Hetman Sahaydachy, background, enters the waters of the Black Sea port of Odessa, Ukraine, March 6, 2014. The Hetman Sahaydachny returned to Odessa in the Black Sea after taking part in NATO exercises.

Sevastopol

The sun sets as crew members of Ukrainian naval vessel Slavutich prepare to lower her flag, in Sevastopol, Ukraine, March 5, 2014. Since last weekend, Russian troops have taken control of much of Ukraine's Crimean Black Sea Peninsula.

Simferopol

A Ukrainian police officer gives instructions in front of the business class lounge of the airport in Simferopol, Ukraine, March 5, 2014.

Kiev

A woman walks past barricades set up by anti-Yanukovich protestors at Kiev's Independence Square, March 6, 2014.

Kiev

Pallbearers carry the coffin of Andryi Pozniak, 25, a self defense volunteer who was shot and killed by an unknown assailant near Kiev's Independence Square, March 6, 2014.

Sevastopol

People hold posters and chant slogans during a Pro-Russian rally in Sevastopol, Ukraine, March 5, 2014. The European Union prepared a $15 billion aid package for Ukraine, and European and Ukrainian diplomats outlined ways that all sides could step back from the brink of a new global conflict.

Simferopol

Members of Crimean self-defence units block a topless activist from the Ukrainian feminist group Femen, who is taking part in an anti-war protest near the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol, March 6, 2014.

European Union leaders were set to warn but not sanction Russia on Thursday over its military intervention in Ukraine after Moscow rebuffed Western diplomatic efforts to persuade it to pull forces in Crimea back to their bases.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Colonel Yuli Mamchor (C), commander of the Ukrainian military garrison at the Belbek airbase, leads his unarmed troops bearing the Ukrainian and regiment flags to retake the Belbek airfield from soldiers under Russian command in Crimea, in Lubimovka, Ukraine, March 4, 2014.

After spending a tense night anticipating a Russian attack following the expiration of a Russian deadline to surrender, in which family members of troops spent the night at the garrison gate in support of the soldiers, Mamchor announced his bold plan to his soldiers early this morning.

The Russian-led troops fired their weapons into the air but then granted Mamchor the beginning of negotiations with their commander. Russian-led troops have blockaded a number of Ukrainian military bases across Crimea.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Colonel Yuli Mamchor (C), commander of the Ukrainian military garrison at the Belbek airbase speaks with troops under Russian command occupying the Belbek airbase after Mamchor led over 100 of his unarmed, Ukrainian soldiers to confront the occupiers at the airfield in Crimea, March 4, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Colonel Yuli Mamchor (L), commander of the Ukrainian military garrison at the Belbek airbase, leads his unarmed troops to retake the Belbek airfield from soldiers under Russian command in Crimea in Lubimovka, Ukraine, March 4, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

A soldier under Russian command restrains a colleague after he fired his weapon into the air and screamed orders to turn back at an approaching group of over 100 unarmed Ukrainian troops at the Belbek airbase, in Lubimovka, Ukraine, March 4, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Troops under Russian command jump down from a truck with orders to shoot to kill anyone who advances further after over 100 unarmed Ukrainian troops confronted them at the Belbek airbase, which the Russian troops are occcupying, in Crimea, March 4, 2014, in Lubimovka, Ukraine.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Colonel Yuli Mamchor (C), commander of the Ukrainian military garrison at the Belbek airbase, and a colleague bearing the regiment flag, confront troops under Russian command occupying the Belbek airbase in Crimea on March 4, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

A soldier (L) under Russian command watches as a group of ten Ukrainian troops pass to take positions in the airfield control after over 100 hundred unarmed Ukrainian troops marched up the Belbek airbase, which the Russian troops are occcupying, in Crimea, March 4, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Unarmed Ukrainian troops stand at a road on the Belbek airfield after they confronted soldiers under Russian command occupying the base in Crimea, March 4, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Unarmed Ukrainian troops, including two bearing the regimental and Ukrainian flags, stand at the Belbek airfield after they confronted soldiers under Russian command occupying the base in Crimea, March 4, 2014.

Crimea

A Russian soldier aims his grenade launcher as a cameraman films at the Belbek air base, outside Sevastopol, Ukraine, March 4, 2014. Russian troops, who had taken control over Belbek airbase, fired warning shots in the air as around 300 Ukrainian officers marched towards them to demand their jobs back.

Kiev

People listen to a political speech on a stage in Kiev's Independence Square, March 3, 2014.

Kiev

Ukrainian recruits line up as they receive military instructions from a commander in a recruitment self defense quarter at Kiev's Independence Square, March 4, 2014.

Simferopol

Armed men take up positions around the regional parliament building in the Crimean city of Simferopol, March 1, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers at the Belbek military base stand inside the base entrance in Lubimovka, Ukraine, March 3, 2014.

Kiev

A woman passes by Ukrainian recruits receiving military instructions in Kiev's Independence Square, March 4, 2014.

Sevastopol

A Ukrainian national flag flies on the Ukrainian navy ship Slavutich, in Sevastopol, Ukraine, March 4, 2014.

Lubimovka, Ukraine

Unarmed Ukrainian troops listen to their commander speak before they marched to confront soldiers under Russian command occupying the nearby Belbek airfield in Crimea, March 4, 2014.

Kiev

Ukrainians stand at the funeral of Volodymyr Topiy, 59, who was found burned in the house of trade unions in Kiev's Independence Square during recent clashes with police, Ukraine, March 4, 2014.

Crimea

Pro-Russian soldiers block the Ukrainian naval base in the village of Novoozerne, west of the Crimean capital Simferopol, Ukraine, March 3, 2014.

Ukraine says Russian forces controlling the strategic region of Crimea are demanding that the crew of two Ukrainian warships in Sevastopol's harbor must surrender.

Sevastopol

Ukrainian seamen stand guard on the Ukrainian navy ship Slavutich at harbor of Sevastopol, Ukraine, March 3, 2014.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that Russian forces that have overtaken Ukraine's strategic region of Crimea are demanding that the ship's crew surrender.

Kerch

A pro-Russian soldier stands by a billboard with a map of Crimea bearing the words "Autonomous Republic of Crimea" in the port of Kerch, Ukraine, March 3, 2014.

Pro-Russian troops controlled a ferry terminal on the easternmost tip of Ukraine's Crimea region close to Russia on Monday, intensifying fears that Moscow will send even more troops into the strategic Black Sea region in its tense dispute with its Slavic neighbor.

Kiev

A woman wearing a Ukrainian flag stands at the entrance of a tent erected by anti-Yanukovych protesters in Kiev's Independence Square, March 3, 2014.

The U.S. and its allies are weighing sanctions on Moscow and whether to bolster defenses in Europe in response to Russia's military advances on Ukraine.

TK

LUBIMOVKA, UKRAINE - MARCH 04: Unarmed Ukrainian troops rest on the Belbek airfield after they confronted soldiers under Russian command occupying the base in Crimea on March 4, 2014 in Lubimovka, Ukraine. The Ukrainians are stationed at their garrison nearby, and after spending a tense night anticipating a Russian attack following the expiration of a Russian deadline to surrender, in which family members of troops spent the night at the garrison gate in support of the soldiers, their commander Colonel Yuli Mamchor announced his bold plan this morning to retake the airfield by confronting the Russian-lead soldiers unarmed. The Russian-lead troops fired their weapons into the air but then granted Mamchor the beginning of negotiations with their commander. Russian-lead troops have blockaded a number of Ukrainian military bases across Crimea. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Kiev

A woman reacts, during a rally in Kiev's Independence Square, March 2, 2014. Ukraine's new prime minister urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to pull back his military Sunday in the conflict between the two countries, warning that "we are on the brink of disaster."

Perevalne

Russian solders walk as a local resident waves a Russian flag outside of a Ukrainian military base in the village of Perevalne, outside of Simferopol, Ukraine, March 2, 2014.

Hundreds of armed men in trucks and armored vehicles surrounded the Ukrainian military base Sunday in Crimea, blocking its soldiers from leaving.

Lyubimovka

A woman kisses a Ukrainian serviceman through the gate as he stands on the territory of a military unit located in the village of Lyubimovka near a local airfield, southwest of Simferopol, Crimea's capital, March 3, 2014.

Russia took a financial hit over its military intervention in neighboring Ukraine, with its markets and currency plunging on Monday as President Vladimir Putin's forces tightened their grip on the Russian-speaking Crimea region.

Ukraine said Russia was building up armored vehicles on its side of a narrow stretch of water closest to Crimea after Putin declared at the weekend he had the right to invade his neighbor to protect Russian interests and citizens.

Perevanie

A young Ukrainian soldier stands behind the gate inside a Ukrainian military base that was surrounded by several hundred Russian-speaking soldiers in Crimea, March 2, 2014, in Perevanie, Ukraine.

Perevalnoye

Ukrainian servicemen gather on the territory of their military unit in the village of Perevalnoye, outside Simferopol, March 3, 2014.

Perevalnoye

Military personnel, believed to be Russian servicemen, walk outside the territory of a Ukrainian military unit in the village of Perevalnoye, outside Simferopol, March 3, 2014.

Perevalnoye

A Ukrainian girl looks at military personnel, believed to be Russian servicemen, standing outside the territory of a Ukrainian military unit in the village of Perevalnoye, March 3, 2014.

Perevalnoye

A military personnel member, believed to be a Russian serviceman, stands guard outside the territory of a Ukrainian military unit in the village of Perevalnoye , outside Simferopol March 3, 2014.

Kiev

Ukraine's Acting President Oleksander Turchinov (L), Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk (R) and Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh address journalists in Kiev, March 1, 2014. Ukraine put its armed forces on full combat alert on Saturday and warned Russia that any military intervention in the country would lead to war.

Donetsk

Pro-Russian protesters with Russian flags take part in a rally in central Donetsk, Ukraine, March 1, 2014.

Balaclava

An armed serviceman stands near a Russian army vehicles outside a Ukrainian border guard post in the Crimean town of Balaclava, March 1, 2014.

Balaclava

A couple stands next to armed servicemen outside a Ukrainian border guard post in the Crimean town of Balaclava, March 1, 2014.

Kharkiv

Pro-Russian protesters drag a wounded man during clashes with supporters of Ukraine's new government in central Kharkiv, March 1, 2014. Pro-Russia activists clashed with supporters of the new Ukrainian government in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday and tried to seize the regional governor's headquarters, Interfax news agency said.

Kharkiv

Wounded supporters of Ukraine's new government sit on the ground, in an area protected by the police, after clashes with pro-Russian protesters in central Kharkiv, March 1, 2014.

Kharkiv

A wounded supporter of Ukraine's new government is seen after clashes with pro-Russian protesters in central Kharkiv, March 1, 2014.

Kharkiv

Pro-Russian protesters drag a wounded man during clashes with supporters of Ukraine's new government in central Kharkiv, March 1, 2014.