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Ukraine began military drills as Russian forces tightened their hold on the Crimean peninsula and the Foreign Ministry in Moscow warned of lawlessness in the former Soviet republics eastern provinces.

Ukraines armed forces are testing the combat-readiness of troops, the Defense Ministry said today on its website, reiterating the governments desire for a peaceful end to the standoff in Crimea. Russia, which has vowed to defend the ethnic Russians that dominate Crimea after an uprising in Kiev, accused Ukraine of ignoring radicals in the nations east.

Russia is wresting control of Crimea, home to its Black Sea Fleet, from Ukraine following last months ouster of the former Soviet republics Moscow-backed president, Viktor Yanukovych. Ukraine says its neighbor has almost 19,000 soldiers in the region, which will vote on joining Russia on March 16. The crisis is the worst between Russia and the West since the Cold War, with the European Union and the U.S. imposing sanctions.

More on the Crisis in Ukraine:

In Europe we have spent the last 70 years working to keep the peace, and we know from history that turning a blind eye when nations are trampled over stores up greater problems for the longer term, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron told lawmakers in London today. We must stand up to aggression, uphold international law, and support the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people who want the freedom to choose their own future.

Ukrainian soldiers peer out of the main entrance of barracks Ukrainian military base in... Read More

Ukrainian soldiers peer out of the main entrance of barracks Ukrainian military base in Eupatoria, taken under control by Russian army forces in Crimea on March 5, 2014. Close

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Ukrainian soldiers peer out of the main entrance of barracks Ukrainian military base in Eupatoria, taken under control by Russian army forces in Crimea on March 5, 2014.

Ukraine sent troops to training grounds after alleging that Russian soldiers seized a missile unit at Chornomorskoe in Crimea. Ukraines border service said Russian forces control 13 border bases and the ferry crossing across the Kerch Strait to Russia.

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Ukraine Starts Military Exercises as Russia Warns on East