Ukraine’s government says it is drawing up plans to withdraw its troops from Crimea, where Russia is steadily taking formal control as its armed forces seize military installations across the peninsula.

What happens now to Ukrainian forces in Crimea is one of many unanswered questions, write Aleksandar Vasovic and Mike Collett-White.

MPs in the embattled Crimean region of Ukraine have decided to hold a referendum on March 16 on whether Crimea should become part of Russia.

More than 11,000 pro-Russian forces control all access to Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and have blockaded all military bases that have not yet surrendered, Crimea’s new leader said.

The Kremlin says Russian president Vladimir Putin has asked parliament for permission to use the country’s military in Ukraine.