PICTURES: Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander Boards Ukrainian Navy Ship

The Commander-in-chief of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Alexander Vitko (2nd R) walks in front of Ukrainian navy ships moored in Sevastopol bay on March 20. (VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)

The Commander-in-chief of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Alexander Vitko (2nd R) walks in front of Ukrainian navy ships moored in Sevastopol Bay on March 20. (VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)

The Commander-in-chief of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Alexander Vitko on Tuesday boarded a Ukrainian Navy ship moored in Sevastopol Bay, in the Crimean capital.

This came hours before Russian soldiers reportedly seized the Grisha V-class corvette Ternopil using stun grenadiers and automatic weapons.

Russian ships block the Slavutych Ukrainian navy ship moored in Sevastopol bay on March 20. (VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)

Russian ships block the Slavutych Ukrainian navy ship moored in Sevastopol bay on March 20. At far left is the Grisha V-class corvette Ternopil reportedly seized by Russian soldier using stun grenadiers and automatic weapons. The black-and-white ship with the blue funnel band is the ocean-going tug Korets. (VIKTOR DRACHEV/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP photographer Vikto Drachev captured pictures of Vitko pulling up the pier on a small boar and then boarding the Slavutych, a Ukrainian command ship.

The head of Ukraine’s Navy Command, Rear Adm. Serhiy Hayduk, was captured after Ukraine’s Navy headquarters in Crimea was stormed. Hayduk was released Tuesday following talks between Kiev and Moscow.

Russian has given Ukrainian Navy personnel in Crimea until Friday to leave their bases and turn over their equipment or join the Russian military, according to a senior US government official. Ukraine has proposed a joint commission to deal with its Navy and equipment in Crimea.

“This would be the civilized way to handle this and we are urging the Russians to avail themselves of a civilized path for dealing with this going forward,” the official said.

Marcus Weisgerber
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Marcus Weisgerber

Senior Pentagon Correspondent at Defense News
I write about broad-ranging policy, acquisition and budget issues affecting the US military.
Marcus Weisgerber
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