This says all the volunteer battalions fighting with Ukraine's armed forces are subordinated to official structures:
The U.S. State Department has launched a Crimea campaign to mark this week's anniversary of the referendum and Russia's annexation.
Putin waxes spiritual at Moscow's Crimea celebration:
President Vladimir Putin has said Crimea is not just a territory, but the source of Russia's "historical origins" and its "spirituality and statehood."
Putin was addressing a rally outside the Kremlin on March 18 to celebrate the first anniversary of Russia's takeover of Crimea from Ukraine.
He said Russians showed "amazing patriotism in support of the people of Crimea and Sevastopol" one year ago.
"We will overcome all problems and difficulties that they try to throw at us from outside," he added.
Putin also said Russia will work to repair relations with Ukraine but insisted he was certain Ukraine's people would one day assess their current leadership and realize "those who have brought the country [Ukraine]" to its current state.
Rossia 24 television was broadcasting live from the scene as performers took the stage and members of the crowd sang along.
The channel did not show Putin live on stage and only showed a clip that lasted less than one minute of his speech before showing other speakers.
Hundreds of bodies are being buried in eastern Ukraine without being identified. On the separatist side, officials say they don't have the resources to cope with the sheer volume of bodies – which we found lining the corridors at the central morgue in Donetsk. A special report by Shahida Yakub for RFE/RL's Current Time (www.currenttime.tv)
