KIEV – Ukraine moved Thursday to mobilize a volunteer force to ward off Russia’s expansionist threat as Berlin warned Moscow of long-term damage to its economy and EU relations over the Crimea crisis.

The Verkhovna Rada parliament unanimously backed the creation of a new force of up to 60,000 volunteers who could keep Russian troops from advancing beyond the Crimean Peninsula they seized at the start of the month.

The dramatic decision to bolster Ukraine’s defenses with people outside the army came shortly after U.S. President Barack Obama threw his full weight behind Ukraine’s new pro-European leaders in their Cold War-style standoff with the Kremlin.

National Security and Defence Council chief Andriy Parubiy said the new National Guard would “ensure state security, defend the borders, and eliminate terrorist groups” — a term many in Kiev use to call the well-armed militias who patrol Crimea alongside Russian troops.

Ukraine’s conventional army of 130,000 soldiers — half of them conscripts with aging equipment — is dwarfed by a 845,000-strong Russian force that has the backup of nuclear weapons.

Ukraine youth mobilise against 'Russian aggressors' in Crimea

Lviv — Young men and women in the nationalist heartland of western Ukraine are signing up to defend their country from what they call "Russian aggressors" who have taken over Crimea.

"I'm a high-ranking Judoka and can shoot well," said Tetiana Turtshina as she waited outside her local police station in the pro-European city of Lviv.

The owner of an advertising agency, Turtshina supports the call-up of volunteers that has come ahead of Sunday's referendum in Crimea on joining the Russian Federation, two weeks after pro-Kremlin forces seized the Black Sea peninsula.

"There are many volunteers like me. It's a duty for everyone," said the burly 30-year-old.

"I cannot look on as my country is torn apart," she said, amid growing concern that Ukraine could split after a new West-leaning government in Kiev ousted a pro-Moscow regime which had support in the country's Russian-speaking regions.

In Lviv Russia's President Vladimir Putin is often compared to Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler, and Turtshina fears that the Russians will not stop in Crimea.

"Knowing the appetite of Russia and its methods, they will swallow up Crimea and press on, even beyond Ukraine," she said.

About 2,000 people have registered as volunteers with the police in Lviv.

Among them was Father Makariy, a Christian Orthodox priest who did his military service in the Ukrainian army.

"I would prefer to be a chaplain, of course, as priests do not take up arms. I think that the word can also fight evil," he explained.

In the neighbouring region of Khmelnitsky, Metropolitan Antoniy has said that he himself is ready to take up arms to protect the homeland.

- 'Last drop of blood' -

There has been a call-up of men between the ages of 30 and 35 who have completed their military service and have done combat training.

"They have been listed for the reason of mobilissation if necessary," military spokesman Olexandr Poronyuk said as recruits conducted drills off in the distance.

Poronyuk, 38, said he was ready to "defend the state until the last drop of blood," just as his grandfather did for the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which battled Poles, Soviet and Nazi forces in western Ukraine during and after World War II, and is still viewed with derision by Moscow.

His wife Natalia however said: "I will not let him go to war."

In Lviv, opposition to what is seen as "military aggression" in Crimea can be found everywhere -- in the city's offices, shopping centres and on public transport -- along with scorn for Putin.

In the central square, Putin is pilloried and presented as Hitler or a ballerina armed with a Kalashnikov and red star with the slogan, "Playing war with you".

The Russian flag is adorned with a swastika made of orange-and-black ribbons representing the order of Saint George, a symbol of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.

Local residents take photos of themselves in front of the display, often making obscene gestures.

"Putin is a crazy aggressor," said Andriy, a 20-year-old student.

"He wants to rally the Russians around a common enemy -- Ukrainians -- to divert attention from the problems in Russia."

"I did not care about Putin until he barged into Ukraine. It is serious. He can do whatever he wants in Russia, but not transform our Crimea into Chechnya," said Andriy Kvas, 42.

A campaign urging a boycott of Russian goods is in full swing.

Outside Lviv's supermarkets leaflets are distributed explaining how to identify a Russian product by looking at the bar code.

"Forty-six, forty-six," is the number people are repeatedly being asked to remember.

A cashier at one supermarket said an elderly shopper even asked him to check the contents of his trolley to make sure he was not buying any Russian products.

"I realised the coffee I usually bought came from Russia. Now I buy another brand," said 35-year-old shopper Olena.

Ukraine must be ready for a full-scale Russian invasion “at any moment,” the country’s acting president warned Thursday, as officials announced the emergency call-up of a 60,000-strong national guard force.

Oleksander Turchynov said Moscow was “ready” to go much further than the annexation of the Black Sea territory of Crimea, which is expected to vote to secede from Ukraine in a referendum on Sunday.

Only clear international pressure could halt slow the momentum of the Kremlin, he said. “All of civilized humanity supports our country,” said Mr. Turchynov. “I am sure that this united effort in the international arena, bringing together all democratic countries, can still allow us to halt this aggression.”

Washington and the international community won’t recognize the outcome of Sunday’s referendum in Crimea on seceding from Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday after six hours of talks with Russia’s foreign minister.

His comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov acknowledged there was no “common vision” between the two nations over the crisis in Ukraine.