The action in Strilkove appeared to be the first move outside Crimea, where Russian forces have been in effective control since late last month. There were no reports of gunfire or injuries. The incident raises tensions already at a high level before Sunday's referendum.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry denounced the foray outside Crimea, and said Ukraine "reserves the right to use all necessary measures to stop the military invasion by Russia."
The village is on a long spit reaching northward from the main part of the Black Sea peninsula, about 10 kilometers (six miles) north of the border between Crimea and the Kherson region.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian border guard service, Oleg Slobodyan, told The Associated Press the Russians, about 120 in all, took control of a natural gas distribution station in the village. The Foreign Ministry said the force consisted of about 80 and didn't mention the station, but said the village was seized.
'#Russia it's us and not #Putin'. Many Russians his hostages as well. Back to the USSR. Photo by @varlamov pic.twitter.com/r2YpiFrlPB #Ukraine
— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) March 15, 2014
So a Finnish guy, a Serbian guy and a Chinese guy are sent to monitor a referendum in Crimea... (Insert punch line here.)
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) March 15, 2014
The G3 has been formed. #Putin #Assad #KimJongUm #Russia #NorthKorea #Syria #Ukraine #Crimea #Russia pic.twitter.com/B4BDJi35sL
— Anders Östlund (@andersostlund) March 15, 2014
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has released a statement expressing "its strong and categorical protest against the landing" of Russian troops in an area some 10 kilometers north of Crimea.
The Ukrainian ministry's statement said some 80 troops of the "Russian Federation Armed Forces" backed by four helicopter gunships and three armored combat vehicles had seized the village of Strilkove in the Kherson region today.
The ministry called it an "invasion" of Ukrainian territory and demanded Russia withdraw its forces from Strilkove immediately.
Ukrainian border guard spokesman Oleh Slobodan told the Associated Press some 120 Russian troops had taken control of a natural gas distribution station at Strilkove.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Ukraine reserves the right to use all necessary measures to stop the military invasion by Russia."
The United States Ambassador to the UN Samantha Powers called news of the Russian troop movement into Ukraine an "outrageous escalation" of the crisis. (with reporting from AP)
Social media engulfed w photos of new PM @Yatsenyuk_AP traveling economy class.Unheard-of 4 Ukraine via @gruppa_voina pic.twitter.com/9OmW783PYv
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) March 15, 2014
Back tomorrow. Pro-Moscow protestors in Donetsk will return to Lenin Square on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/sHLrx5HK26
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) March 15, 2014
Jeez. Ukraine's @MFA_Ukraine declares the military invasion by Russia http://t.co/wQA1N9dgML Here's the hot-spot pic.twitter.com/aYxRIiRZzo
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) March 15, 2014
Strilkove, which the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says is full of Russians. I'm not driving out there. Its bloody dark. pic.twitter.com/BR0WaTZ2fk
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) March 15, 2014