Turchynov says Ukraine's airspace has been closed to any non-civilian aircraft. In Russia, police detained several hundred anti-war protesters in Moscow. 3 March 2014 Crimean crisis: The commander of the Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy reportedly confirms that the ship never defected to Russia as reported in Russian media. Ireland's deputy leader Eamon Gilmore responds by summoning his Russian ambassador for talks. The Lithuanian and Polish presidents call for NATO treaty Article 4 consultations on the basis that Russia is executing military maneuvers in Kaliningrad, close to the borders with Lithuania and Poland. Reuters reports that armed men have seized a ferry checkpoint between Crimea and Russia. 4 March 2014 Crimean crisis: Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference, saying that “force isn't needed right now” after deploying roughly 16,000 troops to Crimea. Swedish foreign secretary Carl Bildt compares the ousted Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych to Norwegian traitor Vidkun Quisling after Yanukovych asked Russia to intervene to restore "law and order" in the country. Russia's UN ambassador says to the UN Security Council that Ukraine's fugitive former President Viktor Yanukovych requested Russian soldiers in the strategic Crimea region "to establish legitimacy, peace, law and order," contradicting the president's own comments last week. Vladimir Putin orders troops near the Ukraine border to return to their bases with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the military exercises a "success". 5 March 2014 Crimean crisis: UN Envoy Robert Serry is ordered to leave Crimea at gunpoint after being threatened by 10–15 armed men. Saying she cannot be part of a network that "whitewashes the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin", Washington-based anchor Liz Wahl resigns on-air from the Russian government-backed news channel RT. 6 March – A special referendum date is moved again. Now it becomes 16 March 2014 instead of the previously announced 30 March. Voters will be asked whether they wish to stay part of Ukraine or join the Russian Federation. 7 March 2014 Crimean crisis: Armed men – thought to be Russian – attempt to seize a Ukrainian military base in Sevastopol, withdrawing soon afterwards. Turkey scrambles fighter jets after a Russian surveillance plane flew along its Black Sea coast. 10 March – A pro-Russian military force of just about a dozen men take control of the Ukrainian naval base near the town of Bakhchysarai. 12 March – Russia says planned U.S. financial aid to Ukraine is illegal. 13 March 2014