DHAKA: Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych asked Russia to send troops across the border to protect civilians, Moscow`s UN envoy has claimed.
Vitaly Churkin told a Security Council meeting Mr Yanukovych wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
Thousands of Russian troops have been pouring into Ukraine`s Crimea region.
Ukraine said Russia had set a deadline for its forces in Crimea to surrender by 03:00 GMT. So far there have been no reports of any incidents.
Russia has denied issuing any ultimatum.
The Kremlin has argued in favour of the intervention, which has sparked outrage and threats of economic sanctions from the US and EU.
Western ambassadors dismissed Russia`s arguments as groundless.
Kiev`s UN envoy Yuriy Sergeyev says Russia has deployed about 16,000 troops to the peninsula.
Ukrainian defence sources accused Russia`s Black Sea Fleet chief Aleksander Vitko of threatening a full-scale assault if they did not surrender by dawn on Tuesday.
A Russian spokesman was later quoted as denying that any ultimatum had been issued.
But Ukrainian military personnel besieged in their bases have been waiting nervously for the deadline to pass, many of them preparing for an attack by Russian troops and pro-Moscow militias.
However, a deputy commander at one of Ukraine`s units, named only as Major Lisovoy, told local ATR TV that there were no attempts to storm the base.
"We`re all in high spirits, ready to defend our base. There was no official ultimatum, it was done indirectly via mobile phones. I want peace and stability, and for Ukraine to be a united country."
Source: BBC
BDST: 1219 HRS, MAR 04, 2014
