A deadline set by the Ukrainian government for armed pro-Russian forces to put down their weapons and leave occupied buildings in the east of the country has passed.
There was no immediate action by either the Ukrainian military or the pro-Russian fighters, who seized government offices in several cities in the Donetsk region.
At least two people were killed and several others injured in the city of Slavyansk in the clashes.
Armed men that Western leaders claim are Russian forces have set up checkpoints and barricades in six towns in the area.
Pro-Russian forces detain a man in eastern Ukraine Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said a "large-scale anti-terrorist operation" would be launched and the Donbass region would "soon be stabilised".
He also said he had no objection to a referendum in the east of the country to run alongside planned presidential elections as he believes the majority of Ukrainians would support an "independent, democratic and unitary Ukraine".
World leaders warned of the violent seizure of the government buildings was a "dangerous escalation" in the crisis.
Burning tyres at a checkpoint in Slaviansk The UK's ambassador to the UN, Sir Mark Lyall Grant, told the Security Council Sunday's bloodshed was a "dangerous escalation of an already dangerous situation".
He said satellite images show between 35,000 and 40,000 Russian troops are massed near the Ukraine border, in addition to the 25,000 "illegally" in Crimea.
Sir Mark said there were increasing signs of Russian involvement in orchestrating the violence.
Slavyansk and Kramatorsk are among the latest cities to be hit by unrest "We want to use this Security Council meeting to expose that but also warn Russia against using events in eastern Ukraine as a pretext for further military escalation in the region," he said.
Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the meeting he is alarmed by Ukraine's announcement of a "full-scale anti-terror operation" to seize back occupied areas.
He denied Western claims that Moscow is behind the violence, and said Kiev has been using neo-Nazi forces to destabilise its eastern region.
Pro-Russian protesters detain a man in Luhansk "It is the West that will determine the opportunity to avoid civil war in Ukraine," he said.
"Some people, including in this chamber, do not want to see the real reasons for what is happening in Ukraine and are constantly seeing the hand of Moscow in what is going on. Enough. That is enough."
He said Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine are "concerned about their future" and "don't want radicals to impose their will on them".
Hundreds of civilians have come out in support of the activists Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov later demanded explanations after claiming there were reports the head of the CIA was visiting Ukraine.
European Union foreign ministers are holding talks later today to discuss how to toughen sanctions against Russia without losing the support of EU governments worried about Moscow switching off the gas to Europe.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement: "The Russian Federation is urged to call back its troops from the Ukrainian border and to cease any further actions aimed at destabilising Ukraine."
Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK would "press for a firm and united response".
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