Russia’s defense minister called on Tuesday for the deployment of reinforcements to the Crimea and southern Russia, citing the worsening crisis in Ukraine and buildup of foreign forces nearby.

Russia's defense minister called on Tuesday for the deployment of reinforcements to the Crimea and southern Russia, citing the worsening crisis in Ukraine and buildup of foreign forces nearby.

Sergei Shoigu said it was a "priority" to deploy a "full and self-reliant group of troops in the direction of Crimea."

Cited by Russian news agencies, he said the "situation in Ukraine has sharply worsened and the foreign military presence has increased very close to our border."