Putin calls on Ukrainian army to fight the country's leadership

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the Ukrainian army to fight the country's leadership.

"Take power into your own hands! It should be easier for us to come to an agreement with you than with this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis who have settled in Kiev, and taken the entire Ukrainian people hostage," Putin said at a meeting of the National Security Council, which was broadcast on state television.

Putin also praised the Russian army's actions in Ukraine.

He expressed "the highest appreciation" to the soldiers and officers. They acted "bravely and professionally."

However, he did not mention Ukraine's claims of Russian casualties in the fighting. Russia has not reported any troop casualties so far.