Defiant Yanukovych Fights for Control in Ukraine

Fugitive Ukrainian president says he fled amid a campaign of 'terror and fear' by 'national fascist youngsters.'

Ukraine's fugitive former president, Viktor Yanukovych, makes his first public appearance since Saturday during a news conference Friday in Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia about 600 miles from Moscow. "I intend to keep fighting for the future of Ukraine," he said, and denied that he fled after being ousted.

In his first public remarks since being ousted from power last week, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said he is willing to fight for the future of Ukraine against those who are trying to control it by “terror and fear.”

Yanukovych emerged in Russia for a press conference Friday morning following a week of mixed reports as to his whereabouts. He says he understands the ongoing tensions in the Crimean peninsula, where armed groups allied with Russia continue to clash with those who prefer stronger ties with the European Union, but has asked Russia to avoid military confrontation with his countrymen.

“I am eager, ready to fight for the future of Ukraine against those who are, with terror and fear, trying to rule Ukraine,” he said at the press conference in Rostov-on-Don, according to footage translated and released by the BBC. “Nobody ousted me. I was forced to leave Ukraine under the threat to my life and the life of people close to me.”Masked men in camouflage carrying rifles surrounded two Crimean airports on Friday. It remained unclear as of early morning who they are and what they hope to achieve, though the Ukrainian interior minister says they are Russian forces.

Yanukovych insists that he remains president of Ukraine. He plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports Ukrainian news service Interfax.

“As you know, in Ukraine, power was taken by ‘national fascist youngsters’ who are absolute minority of Ukraine,” he said.

Reports emerged at the height of the fighting in Kiev last week that police snipers in positions over the central Independence Square were picking off protesters, ultimately killing dozens.The ousted president says he never gave orders to police to open fire. Security forces were "under threat when people started shooting them,” he said, adding they have a right to self-defense under Ukrainian law.

The European Union passed targeted sanctions two weeks ago against those responsible for “human rights violations” during these protests. Yanukovych declined to comment Friday when asked about whether he would be called before an international court to answer for war crimes.

“We need to conduct an independent investigation that has to involve someone from the authorities and the opposition and the council of Europe,” he said. “After this independent investigation, maybe we can talk about some courts.”

“I’m very often provoked, so that’s how I’m going to put it. I’m convinced that time will come and the truth will prevail and everyone will know the truth,” he added.

Yanukovych blamed the fighting on forces “somewhere outside of Ukraine” bent on creating histrionics, he said.

Military tensions remain high as the Russian government proceeds with military exercises at the Ukrainian border near the Crimean Peninsula. Reuters reports 10 or more Russian helicopters entered Russian airspace and flew over Crimea.

The Russian military has denied responsibility for the troops that surrounded the two airports. Supporters of the opposition claim they are Crimean militiamen, according to Reuters.

At least eight trucks with Russian army insignia drove toward the Sevastopol International Airport in Crimea, reports the BBC. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says the soldiers at the airport, and reports of the other Russian forces amount to an “armed invasion and occupation in violation of all international agreements and norms.”

Two U.S. Navy ships – the USS Mount Whitney and the USS Taylor – remain in the Black Sea, according to a Navy spokeswoman. The Taylor is still undergoing repairs in a Turkish port after it accidentally ran aground. Defense officials said they were deployed there for routine operations but could have been called upon during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, following a potential crisis there.