Toppled Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych and his regime have been accused of robbing the cash-stricken nation to the tune of tens of billions of dollars.
It came amid escalating tensions, with fighter jets being put on combat alert by Russia along its border with Ukraine, while armed men seized the parliament building and the regional government headquarters in the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea, and hoisted Russian flags.
It is also being reported Mr Yanukovych has been spotted in a luxury five-star hotel and spa outside Moscow, in an exclusive enclave favoured by Russia's super-rich.
Police outside the Crimean parliament after it was stormed by armed men Breaking his silence for the first time since fleeing the capital Kiev, the 63-year-old fugitive, who is wanted in Ukraine on charges of mass murder after police opened fire on demonstrators, released a statement insisting he is still president.
Mr Yanukovych has also announced he will hold a press conference on Friday in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
Back at home he and his government are facing charges of stripping the country's coffers bare.
The parliament building has been seized in Simferopol Shortly before being appointed as head of the crisis-hit country's national unity government, Arseny Yatseniuk said $37bn (£22bn) had disappeared, while $70bn (£42bn) had been siphoned out of the economy into offshore accounts.
Taking up his new post as prime minister, Mr Yatseniuk, who was a prominent protest leader, told parliament: "I want to report to you - the state treasury has been robbed and is empty. $37bn of credit received have disappeared in an unknown direction."
Debt-hit Ukraine has said it needs $35bn (£21bn) over the next two years to avoid bankruptcy.
Mr Yatseniuk warned that given the perilous state of the nation's finances there was no other alternative but to take "extraordinarily unpopular measures".
The country is set to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund over a financial bail-out package, which is seen as vital for the country to be able to stabilise the currency.
Barricades have been erected by the gunmen Meanwhile, Crimea's parliament, which is currently being controlled by pro-Russian gunmen, has voted to hold a referendum on May 25 on the region's status.
A dawn raid on the region's capital of Simferopol saw up to 50 men in combat fatigues storm the official buildings, erect barricades, and put up signs saying "Crimea is Russian".
Crimea is an autonomous republic in the south of Ukraine, around 500 miles from the capital Kiev.
There are mounting signs of separatism in the region which has strong ties to Moscow, and where the majority of the population are Russian speakers.
President Vladimir Putin has put the military on alert for major exercises Ukraine's acting president Oleksandr Turchynov has appealed for calm, and branded the armed raiders as "criminals in military fatigues".
It has led Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski to warn of a "very dangerous game" in Crimea, amid concerns it could trigger a regional conflict.
President Vladimir Putin has put the military on alert for major exercises, and announced measures to tighten security at the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.
US defence secretary Chuck Hagel warned Russia must be transparent about the exercises and not do anything that could be misinterpreted or "lead to miscalculation during a delicate time".
Russia has been warned against any military intervention over Ukraine Russia has also questioned the legitimacy of the new Ukrainian authorities, and has pledged to defend the rights of its "compatriots".
Moscow said it is prepared to work with the West on resolving the crisis in Ukraine, but that the interests of all Ukrainians must be taken into account.
US secretary of state John Kerry has stressed the Ukraine crisis should not be seen in a Cold War context.
"I want to underscore to everybody that this is not Rocky 4," he said.
:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.
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