Russia’s military has given Ukrainian forces in Crimea until dawn on Tuesday 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”.
He also reportedly told two warships to surrender or be attacked at 17:00 GMT on Monday.
Moscow says it is protecting civilians from “ultra-nationalist threats”, but its actions have been widely condemned.
Russia is now said to be in de facto control of the Crimea region.
Two large Ukrainian military bases are surrounded, with Russian troops standing alongside local self-defence groups, who demand that the Ukrainian soldiers inside defect from Kiev to Crimea’s new pro-Russia government.
The naval headquarters remains blockaded and key installations like airports are still occupied. Thousands of newly arrived Russian elite troops far outnumber Ukraine’s military presence here. Crimea has in effect been cut off by roadblocks, where vehicles are being denied access to the peninsula.
At countless pro-Russia demonstrations, Moscow’s intervention is warmly welcomed. But away from the nationalist fervour, Crimeans from all sides are profoundly fearful of what comes next.
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.
However, the captain of one of the threatened warships told Ukrainian TV his men were prepared to fight and would not surrender.
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 urges Russia to back a plan to deploy international monitors to Ukraine
- Russia’s rouble has fallen to an all-time low against both the US dollar and the euro
- British Foreign Secretary William Hague says the turmoil in Ukraine is the “biggest crisis” Europe has faced in the 21st Century.
