Ukraine to only allow Ukrainian citizens to travel to Crimea

Ukrainian state border guard service restricted access to annexed Crimea, allowing only Ukrainian citizens to cross the border between the country's mainland and occupied peninsula.

Limitation followed the imposition of martial law which will be in force until December 26.

However, Ukrainians willing to cross the administrative border with Crimea did not face any problems. Increased presence of border guards supported by armoured vehicle were seen at Kalanchak checkpoint in Kherson region.

Ukraine also banned Russian men of combat age from entering the country after Russia fired on and captured three Ukrainian naval ships off Crimea last weekend.

Ukraine announced it was barring entry to Russian men between 16-60 years.

President Petro Poroshenko, referring to Russia's seizure and subsequent annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatist uprisings in eastern Ukraine, said banning Russian men was important for stopping a full-scale invasion.