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Russian Black Sea Commander Gives Ukrainian Forces In Crimea Ultimatum To Surrender

ReutersMar 3, 2014, 21:00 IST

REUTERS/Thomas PeterAn armed man stands outside the cabinet of ministers building in Simferopol March 3, 2014.

KIEV (Reuters) - Russia's Black Sea Fleet has told Ukrainian forces in Crimea to surrender by 5 a.m. [12:00 a.m. EST] on Tuesday or face a military assault, Interfax news agency quoted a source in the Ukrainian Defence Ministry as saying.

The ultimatum, Interfax said, was issued by Alexander Vitko, the fleet's commander.

The ministry did not immediately confirm the report and there was no immediate comment by the Black Sea Fleet, which has a base in Crimea, where Russian forces are in control.

"If they do not surrender before 5 a.m. tomorrow, a real assault will be started against units and divisions of the armed forces across Crimea," the agency quoted the ministry source as saying.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage)