SIMFEROPOL, March 11. /ITAR-TASS/. Crimea's self-defense forces are ready to stop armed provocations on the border with Ukraine ahead of the March 16 referendum on joining Russia, chairman of the Crimean parliament Volodymyr Konstantinov told reporters on Tuesday, as he answered the question about possible armed clashes.

"We're ready for it; we have more than enough self-defense forces. We're ready to stop any provocations," Konstantinov said. "So far we seen no such opportunity for them /Kiev/ to do it."

"If they're talking about it, it means this won't happen for sure," he said.

Earlier reports said parts of Ukrainian army advanced to the Kherson region bordering on Crimea. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated that the troops had been moved for an exercise.