Over 70 Ukrainian military facilities on the peninsula of Crimea have reportedly hoisted Russian flags as of midnight Thursday, including some Ukrainian Black Sea navy ships.

Local press quoted an anonymous official of the Republic of Crimea as saying that 72 Ukrainian military facilities had hoisted the flags, though did not specify the total number of Ukrainian military facilities on the peninsula.

Ukrainian military personnel serving in Crimea will be given the opportunity to choose whether they stay or leave, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksenov said last Friday.

Either way, they are guaranteed their payment and allowances due under the Ukrainian legislation, the chairman of the then-Autonomous Republic of Crimea council of ministers said.

"I'm absolutely sure that all military units will move to the March 17 side of the legitimate government or become the reserves," he told a press briefing. Endi