Russia 'demands Crimea surrender'
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3 March 2014
Last updated at 16:30 GMT
Russia demands surrender of Ukraine's Crimea forces
One Ukraine navy officer said his forces were facing intense pressure from Russia
The
Russian military has given Ukrainian forces in Crimea until 03:00 GMT
to surrender or face an assault, Ukrainian defence sources have said.
The head of Russia's Black Sea Fleet Aleksander Vitko set the deadline and threatened an attack "across Crimea".Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier said Russia was responding to "ultra-nationalist threats".
Western powers have condemned Moscow's decision to send troops as a "violation of Ukraine's sovereignty".
Russia is now said to be in de facto control of the Crimea region.
Ukraine has ordered full mobilisation to counter the intervention.
No shots have yet been fired in the region, which has a majority of Russian speakers and a largely pro-Russian local government.
The trouble began last month when pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted following months of street protests.
Russia claims its military is protecting human rights in Crimea, but Kiev, the US and Western Europe have condemned the actions.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said earlier that any attempt to seize Crimea would fail, urging allies to give economic and political support to his government.
In other developments:
- US Vice-President Joe Biden reportedly urges Russia to back a plan to deploy international monitors to Ukraine
- The G7 pulls out of preparations for a G8 meeting scheduled for June in Russia, sparking an angry reaction from Moscow
- British Foreign Secretary William Hague says the turmoil in Ukraine is the "biggest crisis" Europe has faced in the 21st Century.
- COPY http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe
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