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Russia demands surrender of Ukrainian warships in Crimea

A Ukrainian naval officer based in Sevastopol Bay projected an attack by Russian forces may be imminent following an ultimatum that Ukraine surrender its warships in Crimea.

By JC Finley

KIEV, Ukraine, March 3 (UPI) -- Russian forces took control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula over the weekend, with Russian forces demanding Ukrainians surrender military bases and military vessels on Monday. One Ukrainian naval official projected an attack was imminent.

Kyiv Post reported that Russia issued an ultimatum Monday that Ukrainian officials surrender by 5 p.m. local time. Ukrainian naval officer Alexei Kyrylov, who is stationed with Ukrainian ships Ternopil and Slavutych in Sevastopol Bay, told Ukraine's Channel 5 news that he expected Russian forces to attack "by 7 p.m. tonight." Kyiv Post said that security sources confirmed Russia's threat.

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Col. Igor Mamchur, the deputy commander of a naval operations base in Simferopol, told ABC News on Sunday that he and his officers have refused Russian forces' orders to surrender: "I don't take orders from them, I get order from others." He said he and his command are prepared to fight the Russian forces.

So far, there have bee no clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

[Kyiv Post] [ABC News]

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