Ukraine: Sanctions Target Putin Aides

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is among those slapped with travel bans and asset freezes as Western powers hit back over Crimea's referendum.

Several top advisers to Russia's President Putin are also named on the US list, which targets 11 officials from Ukraine and Russia blamed for Moscow's military incursion into Crimea.

Others named include Dmitry Rogozin, deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation, and Sergey Aksyonov, prime minister of Crimea's regional government.

The EU measure targets 21 people whose names are expected to be revealed later. The two lists are thought to overlap and target many of the same people.

Thousands turned out in Simferopol and Sevastopol to celebrate the vote

Mr Putin himself was not sanctioned and President Barack Obama described the measures as an "initial step".

He said they targeted Russian officials and those "operating in the arms sector in Russia and individuals who provide material support to senior officials of the Russian government.

"If Russia continues to interfere in Ukraine we stand ready to impose further sanctions."

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the EU measures targeted "people who are associated with the decisions Russia has made about Crimea" such as figures in the armed forces and parliament.

Viktor Yanukovych, who fled Ukraine, is named on the US list

"I think that's an important statement of European unity and resolve," said Mr Hague.

Mr Rogozin did not seem fazed by his inclusion on the US list.

He posted on Twitter: "Comrade @BarackObama, what should do those who have neither accounts nor property abroad? Or U didn't think about it?)"

The list also included Duma Deputy Yelena Mizulina, who is best-known for writing the gay propaganda law in Russia.

She reportedly said she was "surprised" to be included, saying: "I believe that my role in this (Crimea) case is very modest. I have no real estate there - neither I nor my family members."

Almost 97% of voters in Crimea decided at the weekend that they wanted to break away from Ukraine and join Russia.

However, the referendum has been widely criticised as being illegal and a "sham".

Ukraine's parliament has approved a partial mobilisation of troops in the wake of the vote.

It said 20,000 reserve troops were being called up, plus 20,000 more from the newly-formed National Guard.

Crimea's regional assembly has already formally applied to join Russia and announced the nationalisation of all Ukrainian state property, including the disbanding of military bases.

The Ukraine crisis has led to a Cold War-style stand-off

"The republic of Crimea appeals to the United Nations and to all countries of the world to recognise it as an independent state," read a document by the Crimean assembly on Monday.

Ukraine opposition leader Vitali Klitschko claimed the country stands on the verge of a humanitarian crisis, with the danger of ethnic cleansing of Crimea's Tatar minority.

There is also "concrete evidence" that some voting papers were "pre-marked", a senior US official told the Reuters news agency.

Russia's President Putin insists the vote is legal and is set to speak on the issue at the Russian parliament on Tuesday.

Crimea wasted no time following the landslide vote - officials are expected to fly to Moscow on Monday and the rouble has been introduced as a second official currency.

It also wants Ukrainian military outposts in the region disbanded, but the Kiev government said they are staying put.

Lenin Square was full of patriotism towards Russia

"Those (troops) who want to live here? No problem. Those who want to swear allegiance we will examine," said Crimea's assembly chief Volodymyr Konstantynov.

Sky News' Nick Martin, at an army base near Crimean capital Simferopol, said it was a tense time for the solders and their families.

"There are many Ukrainian soldiers inside, pretty much surrounded by Russian soldiers - no one really knows how this will work."

He said many practical questions also hung over Crimea, such as the payment of salaries and social security, and the supply of gas and electricity.

The intervention of Russian forces in Crimea followed the ousting of Kremlin ally Viktor Yanukovych last month.

The president fled the Ukrainian capital Kiev after days of anti-government clashes that left scores of police and protesters dead.

The vote has been condemned as illegal by many governments in the West

Moscow justified the occupation of Crimea, saying it wanted to protect the majority ethnic Russian population.

The referendum also came against a backdrop of unrest in the divided eastern Ukraine, which has seen pro-Russian demonstrations turn violent.

Kiev has accused "Kremlin agents" of trying to stoke violence in other cities, such as Donetsk.

Sky News' Michelle Clifford, in Kiev, said there is a real fear in the country that Russia could now move its troops further into Ukraine.

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