Ukraine: Pro-Russia Forces Storm Navy HQ

Pro-Russian forces have reportedly stormed the Ukrainian navy's headquarters in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol.

An Associated Press photographer said he witnessed several hundred of Crimea's self-defence forces storm the base and three Russian flags are reportedly flying over the building.

There were conflicting reports about the level of violence involved in the incident, with Interfax reporting that Ukrainian troops were injured after the gates were rammed as the assault began.

But a Ukrainian naval spokesman told Reuters there had been no violence and several men in plain clothes - believed to be from the "self-defence" forces - were in talks with servicemen on the base.

Mr Lavrov, left, spoke to Mr Kerry by telephone

A Reuters witness saw around a dozen Ukrainian servicemen walk out of the base unarmed some 90 minutes after the pro-Russia forces entered.

Sky News Foreign Affairs Editor Sam Kiley said: "This is an example of the sort of incident that could trigger something much more dangerous."

The incident coincides with US warship the USS Truxtun, a guided-missile destroyer, starting a one-day military exercise in the Black Sea with the Bulgarian and Romanian navy.

Russian forces on a military operation at a Ukrainian base in Simferopol

As tensions rose in Crimea, Ukraine's acting defence minister vowed his country's troops would not withdraw from the peninsula after Vladimir Putin signed a treaty making it part of Russia.

Russia's foreign minister has said sanctions imposed over its intervention in Crimea are "unacceptable and will not remain without consequences".

Sergei Lavrov condemned the measures implemented by the United States and the EU after a telephone call with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

It came after Russian President Vladimir Putin defended a referendum in which Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to join Moscow, insisting the poll was legal.

He said he did not want to "carve up" Ukraine but warned the West had "crossed a line" over the former Soviet country.

There was a peaceful night in Crimea after troops stormed an army base in Simferopol, killing one soldier.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russian troops of perpetrating a "war crime", although witnesses said there was no immediate evidence they were behind the attack.

Mr Lavrov's conversation with Mr Kerry comes as the United States prepares to meet its G7 allies, including Britain, next week to discuss possible "further steps" against Russia.

Sanctions imposed by the US - which describes Russia's actions in Crimea as "nothing more than a land grab" - include travel bans and asset freezes on several prominent officials.

Russian forces took control of the Black Sea peninsula last month after the toppling of pro-Moscow Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich.

On Tuesday, Mr Putin and Crimean leaders signed a treaty making the region part of Russia.

The treaty, which parliament is expected to begin ratifying within days, said: "In the hearts and minds of people, Crimea has always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia."

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