Putin

Moscow set to release its official response on referendums as calls for Donetsk and Luhansk's accession to Russia rise.

Paranoia permeates key AK party meeting over presidential candidate for first direct elections in August

Russia warns it is weighing options after getting pleas for help from pro-Russian protesters as Donetsk, Slovyansk, Luhansk on the boil.

Russia's defence minister says military activities of Nato and US near Russian borders 'unprecedented'.

EU diplomats set to discuss further measures against Moscow and likely to blacklist 15 more Russian individuals.

Leaders of G7 nations to 'move swiftly' in imposing new sanctions on Moscow over the intensifying Ukraine crisis.

Kiev sees Russia's move as attempt to thwart drive against separatists.

Moscow's foreign minister warns Kiev that Russian forces would retaliate if they are attacked by Ukrainian troops.

Pavel Durov hints at crackdown on dissent following abrupt dismissal from Russia's largest social network

Kiev operation to recapture government buildings in Donetsk and other regions will resume after holidays.

Scores of Russian soldiers are reportedly entering Ukraine through eastern borders amid escalating crisis.

Kiev's deadline to pro-Russian protesters to relinquish weapons passes as tensions continue to build up in east Ukraine.

One Ukrainian reported killed in operation to re-take police station, while Russia claims that USA has mercenaries on the ground.

Pro-Russian protesters thought to be behind latest standoff in Slaviansk.

US widens sanctions against Russia over Ukraine crisis blacklisting six Crimean officials and a gas company.

Russians with cancer have a right to live without the indignity of treatable pain - but they suffer neglect at every level.

Ukraine's proposal to reverse gas from Europe could require the approval of Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Anti-Kiev demonstrators call for Crimea-style referendum to decide autonomy from Ukraine.

Moscow to give special training to mammals in hunting enemy forces under water and retrieving sunken objects.

More than six in ten businesses based in Russia said they have no plans to reduce staff numbers.

Now not the time to show weakness and indecision, warns former chief of staff

Local agencies say Russian Prime Minister Medvedev told Vladimir Putin about the debt in a meeting

Anger at United Nations as Russia vetoes resolution on Crimea, while pro- and anti-Putin crowds march in Moscow.

Russia says ousted president Yanukovich requested Moscow to send troops to Ukraine

Russian troop deployment and war of words between Vladimir Putin, John Kerry and William Hague hurt Moscow markets.

Sharp increase in asylum requests since Viktor Yanukovich's removal.

Nato's North Atlantic Council set to hold emergency meeting following Kiev's request as Ukrainian forces remain on full combat alert.

As Russian troops reported on ground, President Obama warns Moscow of "destabilising" consequences of military action.

Pro-Russian PM of Crimea Sergey Aksenov orders all armed forces to answer only to him and tells others to flee peninsula.

Nato's top military commander has declared that no contingency plans have been made by US or NATO if Russia invades Crimea.