Ukraine has announced the evacuation of its soldiers and their families from Crimea, effectively acknowledging defeat in the face of Russian forces.<br /><br />It came as one of the last Ukrainian symbols of resistance on the peninsula, the naval base at Feodosia was attacked and overrun.<br /><br />Authorities in Kyiv said the order to evacuate followed threats by Russian forces on the lives and health of Ukrainian service staff and their families.<br /><br />On Saturday, Ukraine’s Belbek air base in Crimea was seized, its commander reportedly taken by Russian forces to a military prison. <br /><br />Ukrainian officials from Feodosia are also said to have been taken away for questioning.<br /><br />Ukraine’s interim president has put a brave face on the country’s inability to defend its bases. Olexander Turchynov said his troops’ refusal to surrender in Crimea had bought time for armed forces to re-group nationally to protect the rest of Ukraine.<br /><br />Moscow meanwhile had sent its first senior government official to Crimea since formally annexing the peninsula last week.<br /><br />Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has been meeting local pro-Russian authorities and inspecting military facilities.
