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Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference at his country residence of Novo-Ogaryova outside Moscow on March 4.
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Live Blog: Ukraine On The Brink

Summary

-- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Kyiv as U.S. officials announced Washington is preparing a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine.

-- Speaking at a press conference at his residence, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the change of government in Ukraine an "unconstitutional overthrow and an armed seizure of power."

-- Putin also said there are no considerations to annex Crimea and no intentions to provoke separatist sentiment. He said it is up to the citizens of Crimea to determine their own future.

-- In Crimea, there are standoffs between Russian and Ukrainian troops in their bases, with conflicting reports of ultimatums given to Ukrainian troops to surrender that come and pass.

-- Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has said that Ukraine's ousted President Viktor Yanukovych sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting that he use the Russian military to restore law and order in his country.

-- In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian demonstrators have occupied part of the regional government building in the city of Donetsk. Meanwhile, a few hundred pro-Russian activists tried but failed to force their way into the regional administration building in the southern city of Odesa.

NOTE: Live blog updates are listed according to local time in Kyiv

-- Glenn Kates / Luke Allnutt / Coilin O'Connor / Dan Wisniewski
11:31 20.2.2014
11:21 20.2.2014
11:08 20.2.2014
Graphic video. Protesters, carrying shields, apparently being shot one by one. Several appear to be critically wounded.

11:02 20.2.2014
Our Ukrainian Service spoke with a man who was wounded in central Kyiv during a clash with security forces. He said his injuries were caused by more powerful stun grenades than those previously used by government forces.

Wounded Man Describes Police Stun Grenade Attack In Kyiv
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Wounded Man Describes Police Stun Grenade Attack In Kyiv

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10:59 20.2.2014
Our Ukrainian Service taped security services firing assault rifles today.

10:54 20.2.2014
Via AP, Bogdana Matsotska, an Olympic skier, has left the games in "solidarity with the [opposition] fighters."

Oleh Matsotskyy, the coach and father of the skier, condemned Yanukovych in a post on Facebook:

"Instead of resolving the conflict through negotiations with the Maidan...he has soaked the latest hopes of Ukrainians in blood," he said.

10:47 20.2.2014
Via Reuters, apparent image of a protester using a sniper rifle.

10:41 20.2.2014
Images of automatic weapons being fired by police today.


10:37 20.2.2014
Via Interfax, the speaker of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Constantinov, says Crimea could secede from Ukraine if our country "collapses."

"The chance to save the country is still there. It is fleeting, but it's still there," he said.

Rob Coalson recently reported on growing separatism in the largely Russian region of Crimea.
10:32 20.2.2014
Photos of Ukrainian security services reportedly "captured" by protesters.

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