Ukraine declares state of emergency

STORY: Ukraine declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and told its citizens in Russia to immediately come home, while Moscow began evacuating its Kyiv embassy, in the latest ominous signs for Ukrainians who fear an all-out Russian military onslaught.

Shelling intensified in eastern Ukraine 's Moscow-backed rebel regions, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the deployment of Russian forces as "peacekeepers."

KIRBY: "They are ready."

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that of the 190,000 Russian troops and rebel forces in the area, around 80 percent are in combat-ready positions.

"Russian forces continue to assemble closer to the border and put themselves in advanced stages of readiness to conduct military action in Ukraine. Again, at virtually any time now."

There was still no clear indication, however, of whether Putin will launch an assault on Ukraine with the troops he has gathered near the border.

But Moscow on Wednesday said separatists in the east had asked for help from Russia to repel what it called "aggression."

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki called the move a false-flag operation.

"... that we have expected to - and laid out the playbook - to see. This is an example of it. That is suggesting that they feel under threat. By whom? The Ukrainians that the Russians are threatening to attack?"

Ukraine's Foreign Minister said he had demanded an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address the matter.

Meanwhile, the 30-day state of emergency in Ukraine restricts the freedom of movement of reservists, curbs the media and imposes personal document checks, according to a draft text.

Kyiv has also announced compulsory military service for all men of fighting age.