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Tension in the Crimea grew tonight as the Russian government finally confirmed it had sent soldiers into the troubled region.

Ukraine’s interim leadership denounced the “armed ­intervention” on its ­southern territory – a key strategic area where Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet is still based.

Moscow insisted its soldiers were on a mission to “protect Black Sea Fleet’s positions”.

Its foreign ministry also said in a statement that its troop movements were “in full accordance with the foundation Russian-Ukrainian ­agreement on the Black Sea fleet”.

Reports claimed 2,000 Russian soldiers had landed in the region, while armed militia carrying Russian flags earlier seized the international airport near the Crimean capital Simferopol and a ­military base close to Sevastopol.

(Image: Reuters)

Unconfirmed reports emerged suggesting that a convoy of armoured vehicles was moving towards Simferopol.

Roads to the airport were also blocked by unidentified troops.

Ukraine’s acting president Oleksandr Turchynov accused Russia of trying to provoke Kiev into “armed conflict”.

Tensions have flared between the two countries since Ukraine’s pro-Russia president Viktor ­Yanukoych was ousted by pro-West protesters.

Russian president Vladimir Putin is said to have 150,000 troops, fighter jets and tanks on exercises close to the Ukrainian border.

The Crimea has been fought over and changed hands several times in history, but Russia has been the dominant power for the past 200 years.

It was transferred to the Ukraine from Moscow in 1954 while it was part of the USSR. It is legally part of the Ukraine but is mostly populated by Russians.

David Cameron today attempted to defuse the escalating situation as he spoke to Putin on the phone.

(Image: Getty)

A Downing Street statement said the two leaders “agreed that the free and fair elections that the interim ­government has pledged to hold are the best way to secure a ­positive future for Ukraine in which all Ukrainian people are represented”.

The PM also “emphasised that all countries should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”.

Putin is said to have agreed and stressed military exercises in the area had been planned before the current situation.

The Foreign Office advised against all travel to the Crimean peninsula and urged UK citizens in the troublespot to leave.

It said in a statement: “The level of risk to British nationals has become unacceptably high.”

“Armed men are reported to have seized Simferopol airport; Sevastopol airport is reported to be blocked by military, and flights are not operating.”

Foreign Secretary William Hague is due to visit Kiev this weekend for talks with the new leadership.

(Image: Reuters)

Meanwhile, toppled Ukraine leader Yanukovych, who has fled to Russia, said his ally’s strong-arm tactics in the Crimea were “an absolutely natural reaction to the bandit-like takeover that happened in Kiev”.

He is wanted in his home country for corruption and mass murder after dozens of anti-government protesters were killed before his downfall.

But he insisted: “I am the legitimately elected president of Ukraine.

“I have not been overthrown, by anyone I was compelled to leave due to an immediate threat to my life.”

We can also reveal that his son Oleksandr is the owner of Simferopol’s seized airport.

Last April he bought all the shares in the parent company, according to mergers and acquisitions monitors Zephyr.

Additional reporting by Will Stewart in Moscow.

Analysis: Kremlin pulls the levers in power game.