The key Crimean port city of Sevastopol, which houses Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, has voted to join Russia effective immediately and break all links with Ukraine.
The declaration by the city’s council came after the Crimean parliament voted to become part of Russia and announced it would hold a referendum in 10 days to allow voters to decide on the measure.
Crimean authorities say the parliament’s decision is already in force, with deputy prime minister Rustam Temurgaliyev demanding that Ukrainian forces in the territory either surrender or leave, or else be treated as occupiers.
“The only legitimate armed units on the territory of Crimea are the armed forces of Russia,” he said.
Russian forces have been in effective control of Crimea since Russia’s president Vladimir Putin won senators’ authorisation last weekend to use force against Ukraine in response to the ouster of its pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych, ABC informs.
