Ukraine crisis: Russia Today TV host goes off-message with attack on intervention in Crimea

American presenter says she 'wanted to say something from the heart'

Russia Today presenter Abby Martin broadcasts her views on the Russian intervention in Ukraine live on air. (Russia Today)

Russia Today may be a state-funded TV channel, but that did not stop an American presenter openly criticising Vladimir Putin's intervention in Ukraine on air.

Abby Martin, host of the 'Breaking The Set' segment on the English version of Russia Today, which is largely state funded, unleashed a verbal tirade against Russia's actions in Ukraine at the end of her show.

In the 75-second clip, Martin speaks passionately about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, saying: "Just because I work here, for RT, doesn't mean I don't have editorial independence and I cannot stress enough how strongly I am against any military intervention in sovereign nations' affairs", before specifically denouncing Russia's actions as "wrong".

"Military intervention is never the answer. I will not sit here and apologise for or defend military action," she went on to say.

"All we can do now is hope for a peaceful outcome for a terrible situation and prevent another full-blown Cold War between multiple superpowers. Until then, I'm telling the truth as I see it."

Martin is no stranger to standing up for her beliefs, having previously labelled the US government's version of 9/11 as "propaganda", as well as accusing Israel of using "Hitler methods" in their ongoing feud with Palestine.

The footage has since gone viral, with some surmising that Martin's moment of defiance could be met with some severe punishment by her employers.

However, sharp-eyed viewers may have noticed that she was reading from the auto-cue and, therefore, presumably had permission from producers of the show to express her beliefs.