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A man who wanted to be identified only as Mikhail, a 34-year-old businessman, said the Russian soldiers were protecting the base to ensure that "provocateurs" did not start a conflict.
"They are guarding the Ukrainian servicemen from provocations," he said. "If they leave ... any car could approach and shoot the place up, and if some 'for sale' correspondent filmed it and someone had a Russian flag in their hand, it would be all over the media and the international community would force the Russian fleet from here."
andy1972
Russia has said numerous times " we wont be drawn into a war by provocation"...makes you think.
masqua
reply to post by SLAYER69
Maybe those pipelines will be dropping their flow a tad if the refinery in Tatarstan is really on fire.
edit on 3/3/14 by masqua because: (no reason given)
...tens of firemen....
masqua
reply to post by Xcathdra
or a reason to turn off the taps to Europe
A draft law on annexation of the Crimea was registered today in the Russian Parliament.
Yesterday, 2 March, trying to capture the armory of Ukrainian Air Tactical brigade (near
Sevastopol) Russian Armed Forces used stun grenades against Ukrainian soldiers. As a result
Ukrainian officer sustained brain-contusion and shock and was brought to medical facility.
Tonight, Russian Air Forces aircrafts twice illegally entered Ukrainian airspace
threatening air security. These incidents received proper reaction from Ukrainian Air Forces, as
Ukrainian aircraft immediately took off towards violators and was in the alert zone ready to act
against violators of State airspace border, which allowed avoiding serious consequences.
Today Ukrainian military base in Kerch was surrounded by Russian soldiers.
Russian Military blocked Ukrainian military units in Novoozernoe, Perevalnoye and
Feodosia, demanding to surrender and seal arms and ammunition, while promising to ensure
security with submachine gunners of Russia. Ukrainian navy troops refused to comply with the
Russians orders.
Ukrainian Navy ships have been blocked in Sevastopol Bay by Russian Navy vessel KIL-158, seagoing tugs and patrol boats of the RF Navy. The representatives of the Russian Navy delieverd an ultimatum to the personnel of
corvette "Ternopil" and command ship "Slavutich" to lay down their arms until 18.00 March 3
and leave the ships otherwise they will open tile fire. Ukrainian sailors clearly stated the oath of
allegiance to Ukrainian people.
Today the first attempt has been made to capture the Ukrainian Navy Headquarters by
armed men, and the other attempt is expected.
Russian Special Forces continue to capture the military and border facilities in the
Crimea, offering Ukrainian army to voluntary surrender until 18.00 today.
In Feodosia City the Russian Kozaks groups have been capturing all administrative
buildings and started to distribute the arms to civil volunteers to form the self-protection
groups.
Ukrainian Border Service headquarters in Crimea has been captured and blocked by
Russian troops. At noon, Russian soldiers with military trucks broke down the doors, destroyed
workstations and communications equipment.
There has been drastic increase of pressure from Russian military on Ukrainian border
guard officers. During seizures of border guard units there was brutal use of physical force,
threat of weapon and menace. Professionals of Russian Special Forces try to perform
psychological pressure on border guard officers and in categorical form demand to obey to the
new authorities of the Crimea Autonomous Republic. They actively make attempts to crimp
personnel, call for information on investigation-operational divisions and information on
operating personnel.
Russian military forces continue implementing their plan of complete blockade of
communications in Crimea, in order to cut communication of Ukrainian Armed Forces in
Crimea with General Staff.
Russian military nearly every half hour commit provocations in Crimea.
A series of provocations were carried out over the past few days, which would aim to
legalize the presence of Russian military contingent in Crimea.
In contrary, Ukrainian armed forces are protecting their staffs, military units and bases,
and are not responding to any provocations that occurred over the past days.
Due to blockade of all state institutions in Crimea by the Russian Armed Forces, these
institutions are almost unable to function properly, which creates social tensions in population.
Today, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine officially informed about the rapid
increase in number of military machines and equipment on the Russian territory along the
Eastern border of Ukraine, namely Kharkiv, Lugansk and Donetsk regions. It includes, 9 trains
of military equipment (APC) unloaded from Voronezh side, 5 armoured vehicles (APC) and 2
mechanical transport vehicles from Bochkove- Leninskoye with field kitchen.
Governor of Rostov region of Russia ordered to deploy camps in Russian districts
bordering Ukraine.
Such activities of Russian Armed Forces indicate their preparation for a possible
invasion by Russia into Ukraine not only in Crimea, but also in to Eastern regions in Ukraine.
As of today, since 24 February, approximately 16,000 Russian troops have been
deployed in Crimea by the military ships, helicopters, cargo airplanes from the
neighboring territory of the Russian Federation. The Russian troops keep taking their
attempts to seize, block and control crucial governmental and military objects of Ukraine
in Crimea: the Parliament of Crimea, all civil and military airports, means of
communications, radio stations, customs service, military and coastguard bases,
Headquarters of the Ukraine's Navy in Crimea. All main roads are blocked.
Also a large number of Russian military troops is ready for being redeployed from Novorosiysk.
Access to the Black Sea is blocked by 10 Russian Navy vessels, including vessels of Baltic Fleet.
Permanent Mission of Ukraine will continue to inform all Permanent and Observer Missions to the
United Nations on the latest developments of the situation in Ukraine. Actions by the Government of Ukraine for normalization of the situation in Crimea The leadership of Ukraine takes appropriate measures aimed at political resolution of theconflict with the participation of the UN, OSCE and other international organizations.
The Law of Ukraine "On State Language Policy", adopted in 2012 (protecting languages
of national minorities) is still in effect. Acting President used his right no to sign draft adopted
by the Parliament. As of now, Russian language is as protected as it was before on all territory
of Ukraine, particularly and especially in Crimea.
Acting President Turchynov has mandated to establish a worldng group for "immediate
elaboration of a new Law of Ukraine "On Language", to consist of all ethnic groups and
national minorities.
Yesterday, highly respected persons have been appointed as Governors of Eastern and
Southern regions of Ukraine. All of them are locals of those regions, and not members of any
political party. It was an important step to calm down situation.
Members of new Ukrainian Government come from different regions of Ukraine,
including Eastern and Southern regions. These people will duly represent interests of those
regions. 4 (four) ministers of Ukrainian Government were born in Russia.
Despite existing economic problems, Government of Ukraine has provided necessary
financing to the population of Crimea in order to avoid social tensions.
Acting President Turchynov supported the establishment of the "Council of National
Trust." He stressed that the country will always protect rights of its people "no matter what
language they speak, no matter where they live, and no matter what church they go to."