Ukraine's leader sought parliamentary approval on Wednesday for military exercises with NATO partners that would put U.S. troops in direct proximity to Russian forces in the annexed Crimea peninsula.

Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov's request came as the chief of Russia's general staff announced in Moscow that his forces were now in full control of all of Ukraine's 193 military bases in the Black Sea region before its seizure by Kremlin forces at the start of the month.

The Russian economy could shrink by up to 1.8 percent this year because of the effects of the crisis in Ukraine, the World Bank estimated on Wednesday.

The World Bank said that if the impact of the crisis turned out to be low because it was resolved in "a peaceful fashion", the economy could grow by 1.1 percent this year.

Russian troops on Tuesday stormed the last naval vessel still flying the Ukrainian flag on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, a regional Ukrainian defense official said.

The raid on the Cherkasy trawler occurred one day after Russian forces took control of the Kostyantyn Olshanskiy, which, like the Cherkasy, had been blocked by Russian ships in western Crimea's Donuzlav Lake, defense ministry spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov said in a statement published on his Facebook account.

Moldova's pro-Moscow breakaway region of Transdniestr said on Tuesday it had shot down a drone that it said appeared to have come from Ukraine to conduct a reconnaissance mission.

"As a result of measures undertaken by the Transdniestr side the drone has ceased to function," the security service said in a statement.

The U.N. General Assembly is to vote Thursday on a resolution submitted by Ukraine denouncing the referendum in Crimea and the region's annexation by Russia -- but without explicitly criticizing Moscow.

The text is similar to the one submitted to the Security Council on March 19, but which was blocked by Russia's veto.

Crimea's firefighters proudly switched allegiance on Tuesday, becoming the disputed peninsula's first department under Russia's full control after a hastily arranged ceremony reminiscent of the Soviet era.

"Lutsevich! Where is Lutsevich?!" echoed the booming voice of the Black Sea peninsula's emergency services deputy chief, Andrei Tkachenko.

Russia on Tuesday confirmed a young female lawyer who has won a huge Internet following for her attractive looks, especially in Japan, as prosecutor for Crimea after Moscow incorporated the region into its territory from Ukraine.

Natalya Poklonskaya, 34, has become a web sensation around the world for her good looks and soft voice during the crisis between Russia and Ukraine over the Black Sea peninsula.

Ukraine's former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was plunged into fresh controversy on Tuesday after Russian television broadcast a tape where she is heard urging the "wiping out" of Russians over Moscow's seizure of Crimea.

Tymoshenko, a hugely controversial figure both in Ukraine and Russia who was released from jail last month, confirmed the voice was hers but said some of the comments had been manipulated.

Ukraine's parliament sacked the crisis-hit country's besieged defense minister Tuesday after his forces began a humiliating withdrawal from Crimea without firing a shot against Russian forces who claimed the Black Sea peninsula.

Crimea's effective loss -- though recognized by no Western power -- has dealt a heavy psychological blow to many Ukrainians who have already spent the past years mired in corruption and economic malaise.

One of Russia's most prestigious universities faced accusations Tuesday of "political censorship" after it sacked a prominent professor for comparing Russia's takeover of Crimea to Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria.

The Moscow State Institute of International Affairs (MGIMO), which is run by the Russian foreign ministry, on Monday said it had dismissed philosophy professor Andrei Zubov for his public criticism of Russia's actions in Ukraine's Crimea region.