Crimea conflict: Ukraine authorises use of weapons in self-defence Ukrainian military orders troops to protect themselves after soldier was killed in military base near Simferopol

Ukraine’s interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said: “The conflict is shifting from a political to a military stage." Photograph: Andrew Kravchenko/AP Ukraine has ordered its troops in Crimea to use their weapons to protect themselves after a soldier was killed when pro-Russian forces stormed a military base near Simferopol – the first military casualty since the peninsula was occupied by Russian forces three weeks ago."The conflict is shifting from a political to a military stage," said Ukraine's interim prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, at an emergency government meeting on Tuesday night. "Russian soldiers have started shooting at Ukrainian military servicemen, and that is a war crime." Moscow has not yet responded.A Ukrainian military spokesman, Vladislav Seleznyov, said that one soldier had died and another was injured after they were shot when the base was attacked by "unknown forces, fully equipped and their faces covered". It was unclear whether the assailants were Russian troops or pro-Moscow militiamen, who have been active in their support for Crimea's occupation.Hundreds of Ukrainian troops and administrative staff remained trapped inside military and naval compounds across Crimea. Until now they had been ordered to avoid using their weapons.Earlier this week the Russian defence ministry reportedly told Ukrainian soldiers they had until Friday to leave the region or face military action. Meanwhile, a deal was reportedly reached between Russian and Ukrainian commanders to allow supplies and people to enter and exit the bases more freely.