Sevastopol

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the law ratifying the incorporation of Crimea into the Russian Federation.

Tensions increased between Russia and Ukraine after reports of an incident at a naval base in Crimea's capital Simferopol.

Ukraine's military has announced that an officer has been killed in an attack on the base, Interfax news agency has informed. Other news sources suggest he was wounded in the neck.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the treaty which incorporates Crimea into the Russian Federation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a formal legislative step toward annexing Crimea.

Putin has informed Russia's Parliament that Ukraine's autonomous region of Crimea, which approved with a 97% majority to secede from the country on a referendum held on Sunday, wishes to be incorporated into the Russian Federation, the BBC reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Monday a decree recognizing Crimea as a sovereign and independent country.