Reports from Russia say that the Black Sea Fleet in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol in Crimea has been put on alert after being left without electricity, telephone communications, heating or water.

A report on Russian Television said sailors had to warm and feed themselves on deck because temperatures in their cabins were lower than in the open.

The local power company in Sevastapol said the power cut was due to damaged cables.

But a reporter for Russian Television said there was no sign of repairs being done to any cables.

The upper house of the Russian parliament is voting today on a friendship and cooperation treaty with Ukraine which has been criticised by Russian nationalists because it recognises Sevastopol and Crimea as being part of Ukraine.