17:01
15.3.2014
New reports coming in about the Russian military incursion outside Crimea. This, from AP:
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian official said Russian forces seized a natural gas distribution station near Crimea on Saturday, the eve of a referendum on whether the region should seek annexation by Moscow.
The action in Strelkova appeared to be the first move outside Crimea, where Russian forces have been in effective control since late last month. Border guard spokesman Oleg Slobodyan told The Associated Press that a contingent of about 120 troops occupied the station in Strelkova, about 10 kilometers outside Crimea.
The Defense Ministry earlier reported that a Russian attempt to take the station had been repelled, but Slobodyan said that information was outdated.
As Crimea prepares for Sunday's referendum, dozens of billboards throughout the regional capital proclaim "Together With Russia." But a few have been hit by spray-painters who scrawled out "Russia" and replaced it with "Ukraine."
The action in Strelkova appeared to be the first move outside Crimea, where Russian forces have been in effective control since late last month. Border guard spokesman Oleg Slobodyan told The Associated Press that a contingent of about 120 troops occupied the station in Strelkova, about 10 kilometers outside Crimea.
The Defense Ministry earlier reported that a Russian attempt to take the station had been repelled, but Slobodyan said that information was outdated.
As Crimea prepares for Sunday's referendum, dozens of billboards throughout the regional capital proclaim "Together With Russia." But a few have been hit by spray-painters who scrawled out "Russia" and replaced it with "Ukraine."
16:35
15.3.2014
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says 40 Ukrainian citizens were detained at Moscow's Sherametevo Airport.
"No explanation was given to the Ukrainian citizens, nor to representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy when they arrived on the scene," the Foreign Ministry said, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
"No explanation was given to the Ukrainian citizens, nor to representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy when they arrived on the scene," the Foreign Ministry said, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
16:29
15.3.2014
Funny conversation recounted by Mark MacKinnon of "The Globe and Mail":
Me: Can I buy some yogurt? Lady: Where are you from? Me: Canada. Lady: Canada is with Ukraine. We're all with Russia here. Me: So, yogurt?
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) March 15, 2014
16:17
15.3.2014
This just in from Reuters: U.S. Destroyer to conduct more drills on Black Sea.
ABOARD THE USS TRUXTUN, Bulgaria, March 15 (Reuters) - The USS Truxtun, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer, will carry out more exercises with allied ships in the Black Sea, its commander said on Saturday, in a further sign of the international response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Commander Andrew Biehn was briefing reporters aboard the 300-crew destroyer as it lay docked in a Bulgarian port.
The USS Truxtun last week took part in drills with Romanian and Bulgarian ships a few hundred miles from Russian forces that entered Ukraine's Russian-majority of Crimea after mass protests toppled the country's pro-Moscow president.
ABOARD THE USS TRUXTUN, Bulgaria, March 15 (Reuters) - The USS Truxtun, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer, will carry out more exercises with allied ships in the Black Sea, its commander said on Saturday, in a further sign of the international response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Commander Andrew Biehn was briefing reporters aboard the 300-crew destroyer as it lay docked in a Bulgarian port.
The USS Truxtun last week took part in drills with Romanian and Bulgarian ships a few hundred miles from Russian forces that entered Ukraine's Russian-majority of Crimea after mass protests toppled the country's pro-Moscow president.
16:12
15.3.2014
Interfax reports #Ukraine Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh says over 40,000 men have signed up to join new Ukrainian National Guard.
— Ed Flanagan (@edmundflanagan) March 15, 2014
16:11
15.3.2014
This week's Economist cartoon #euromaidan pic.twitter.com/8HFtj7Kod3
— bruce springnote (@BSpringnote) March 15, 2014
15:58
15.3.2014
Paul Waldie of "The Globe and Mail" reports on Ukraine's claims that it "repelled" attempted Russian incursion outside of Crimea.
The Ukrainian military says it has “repelled” an effort by the Russian military to land in southern Ukraine, just outside Crimea
"Units of Ukraine's armed forces today ... repelled an attempt by servicemen of the armed forces of the Russian Federation to enter the territory of Kherson region on Arbatskaya Strelka," a statement from the Defense Ministry said. "This was repelled immediately."
It said the Ukrainian military used aircraft, ground forces and its aeromobile battalion in the operation. It was unclear whether any shots were fired.
"Units of Ukraine's armed forces today ... repelled an attempt by servicemen of the armed forces of the Russian Federation to enter the territory of Kherson region on Arbatskaya Strelka," a statement from the Defense Ministry said. "This was repelled immediately."
It said the Ukrainian military used aircraft, ground forces and its aeromobile battalion in the operation. It was unclear whether any shots were fired.
15:51
15.3.2014
Bold words. Would like to know who said them:
EU diplomat: "We have the power over Putin to make the Yeltsin years & economy seem like a pleasant dream." #Crimea #Ukraine #Russia
— Brian-Michel LaRue (@unmaudit) March 15, 2014