The armoured vehicle storms through the gates while troops smash through the walls in other parts of the compound

Soldiers in unmarked uniforms sit atop an armoured patrol vehicle at the gate of the Belbek base as troops prepare to storm the compound

Members of pro-Russian self-defence units take cover behind cars outside the military base while Russian forces take it over

Stand off: A Russian military officer (back) talks to Colonel Yuli Mamchur (left) demanding Ukrainian servicemen to leave a military base in the Crimean town of Belbek near Sevastopol

Prepared: Ukrainian servicemen guard the military base in the Crimean town as tensions in the region heighten

After the base was taken over, the Ukrainian men gathered, sang the national anthem, then stood at ease.

It is the first time Russia has launched a full on assault on a base in the Crimea and now means only one or two Ukrainian strongholds are left in the region.



Earlier Russian troops surrounded the compound and issued an ultimatum for their opponents to surrender.



Colonel Yuli Mamchur was seen talking with Russian opponents as the deadline set for them to leave the base lapsed. He has now been taken away by Russian forces for questioning.

Earlier this week Ukraine started to withdraw its troops from Crimea to the mainland amid fears Russia plans further military incursions into their territory after militiamen seized three Ukrainian ships.



Shots were fired and stun grenades as the Ukrainian corvette Khmelnitsky was seized in Sevastopol while another ship, the Lutsk, was also surrounded by pro-Russian forces.

Armed men, believed to be Russian servicemen, gather on a hill near the military base

Ukrainian servicemen were also seen disembarking a third ship, the Ternopil corvette. There were not thought to be any casualties, however.



The action came hours before European Union leaders agreed to widen the list of Russian officials subject to personal sanctions over the seizure of Crimea - while asking the European Commission to prepare for broader economic sanctions if the crisis escalates.

Troops at the base are not said to be heavily armed, but instead readied themselves with sticks and metal pipes.



The Russian takeover of the Black Sea peninsula has been largely bloodless, though one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and two others wounded in a shooting in Simferopol earlier this week.



Ukraine's Defence Ministry said on Friday Crimea's bases were still formally under Ukrainian control, but most are now occupied by Russian troops and fly Russia's tricolour flag.

T wo weeks ago, it was reported that snipers were positioned in the area surrounding the Belbek base.

Troops are seen gathering in the top left of the picture outside the base with as an armoured vehicle blocks the road