Build up to WW3 - SHOTS FIRED as RUSSIAN TROOPS Storm UKRAINE Air Force Base in CRIMEA

Pro-Russian troops consolidated Moscow's control over Crimea Saturday, seizing a Ukrainian air base and naval base, as well as two flagship vessels, one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed laws completing Russia's annexation of the peninsula.

Troops stormed the Ukrainian air force base at Belbek, firing shots and smashing through concrete walls with armored personnel carriers (APC). Two officers were injured by gunshot wounds in the assault, a Ukraine Defense ministry official confirmed to Fox News.

Several journalists, including foreign press, were beaten by Russian forces, officials told Fox News.

An APC also smashed open the front gate of the Belbek base near the port city of Sevastopol, according to footage provided by the Ukrainian defense ministry. Two ambulances arrived and then departed shortly after. At least one of them was carrying what appeared to be a wounded person.

After the takeover, Belbek base commander Col. Yuliy Mamchur called together his men, who sang the Ukrainian national anthem and then stood at ease. He then told his men to put their weapons in the base's armory.

Pro-Russian forces stormed a Ukrainian air force base in Crimea, firing shots and stun grenades and smashing through concrete walls with armored personnel carriers. At least one person was wounded, the base commander said.

An APC also smashed open the front gate of the Belbek base near the port city of Sevastopol, according to footage provided by the Ukrainian Defense ministry. Two ambulances arrived and then departed shortly after, and at least one of them was carrying what appeared to be a wounded person.

Elsewhere, more than 5,000 pro-Russia residents of a major city in Ukraine's east demonstrated in favor of holding a referendum on whether to seek to split off and become part of Russia.

The rally in Donetsk came less than a week after the Ukrainian region of Crimea approved secession in a referendum regarded as illegitimate by Western countries. After the referendum, Russia formally annexed Crimea.

The Ukrainian commander of the Belbek base, Col. Yuliy Mamchur, said there was at least one injury. He called his men together, they sang the Ukrainian national anthem and then stood at ease. He then told his men to put their weapons in the base's armory.

On Sunday Obama's deputy national security advisor, Tony Blinken, said Russia is amassing troops on the border ahead of a move to invade Ukraine.

Blinken made his remarks as Obama prepares to travel to Europe and talk with the Group of Eight about further sanctions on Russia after the people of Crimea voted to secede from Ukraine. Congress, the Obama administration, and the establishment media in the U.S. characterize the vote as outright annexation by Russia.

"It's deeply concerning to see the Russian troop buildup on the border," Blinken told CNN's Candy Crowley. "It creates the potential for incidents, for instability. It's likely that what they're trying to do is intimidate the Ukrainians. It's possible that they're preparing to move in."


Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Deshchytsia said war with Russia is becoming more likely by the day. "The Ukraine government is trying to use all the peaceful diplomatic means and diplomatic means to stop Russians but the people are also ready to defend their homeland," he told ABC News on Sunday.

Blinken said the White House has not ruled out sending military aid to Ukraine. He said the Obama administration would consider "every request that we're getting from the Ukrainians."

"We need to send a message to Vladimir Putin through stronger sanctions," said Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican. "We need him to understand that the sanctions that we put in place could have a significant impact on his economy," she said.

"It may come to small arms, I'm not ruling that out," Democrat Senate Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin told CBS when asked about the situation in Ukraine.