Pro-Russian forces have taken control of Ukraine's navy headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, a day after Russia signed a treaty with local authorities to make Crimea part of Russia.
Witnesses say at least 200 unarmed self-defense forces entered the base Wednesday and raised the Russian flag. Ukrainian service members did not resist the takeover, and were seen leaving the facility.
Russian news agencies quoted sources in the Sevastopol prosecutor's office as saying the commander of Ukraine's navy, Sergei Gaiduk, had been "temporarily detained" after leaving the navy headquarters.
Tuesday, a Ukrainian serviceman and a pro-Moscow militia member were killed in a shootout at a Ukrainian military facility in Crimea's capital, Simferopol.
Thousands of Russian soldiers have overtaken Crimea in recent weeks. The majority-Russian region voted in a referendum Sunday to break away from Ukraine and join Russia.
Ukraine's deputy prime minister and defense minister traveled Wednesday from Kyiv to Crimea in an attempt to defuse tensions, but were denied entry into the region. International observers have been repeatedly turned away from the peninsula.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's moves to annex Crimea have angered the United States and European Union, which have declared the referendum illegal and imposed sanctions on Russia in response.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told reporters in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday that Russia will face "increasing political and economic illation" as long as it continues on what he called "its dark path."
Biden is seeking to reassure eastern European countries - including the Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all of which are NATO members, of U.S. support for its allies in the region.
Mr. Putin told the Russian parliament Tuesday the Crimean peninsula has always been an "inalienable" part of Russia.
Also Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was surprised and disappointed by what he called Mr. Putin's interpretation of the facts.
Kerry said Russia is on the wrong side of history. He said when a region secedes from a country, it does it under the constitution - not at the butt of a gun.
But Russia has shown no signs of backing down. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Kerry by phone Tuesday that U.S. sanctions on Russia are unacceptable and will have consequences.
Witnesses say at least 200 unarmed self-defense forces entered the base Wednesday and raised the Russian flag. Ukrainian service members did not resist the takeover, and were seen leaving the facility.
Russian news agencies quoted sources in the Sevastopol prosecutor's office as saying the commander of Ukraine's navy, Sergei Gaiduk, had been "temporarily detained" after leaving the navy headquarters.
Tuesday, a Ukrainian serviceman and a pro-Moscow militia member were killed in a shootout at a Ukrainian military facility in Crimea's capital, Simferopol.
Thousands of Russian soldiers have overtaken Crimea in recent weeks. The majority-Russian region voted in a referendum Sunday to break away from Ukraine and join Russia.
Ukraine's deputy prime minister and defense minister traveled Wednesday from Kyiv to Crimea in an attempt to defuse tensions, but were denied entry into the region. International observers have been repeatedly turned away from the peninsula.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's moves to annex Crimea have angered the United States and European Union, which have declared the referendum illegal and imposed sanctions on Russia in response.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told reporters in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday that Russia will face "increasing political and economic illation" as long as it continues on what he called "its dark path."
Biden is seeking to reassure eastern European countries - including the Baltic states Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all of which are NATO members, of U.S. support for its allies in the region.
Mr. Putin told the Russian parliament Tuesday the Crimean peninsula has always been an "inalienable" part of Russia.
Also Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was surprised and disappointed by what he called Mr. Putin's interpretation of the facts.
Kerry said Russia is on the wrong side of history. He said when a region secedes from a country, it does it under the constitution - not at the butt of a gun.
But Russia has shown no signs of backing down. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Kerry by phone Tuesday that U.S. sanctions on Russia are unacceptable and will have consequences.