17:43
16.3.2014
From agencies Reuters, AFP, and dpa (paraphrased):
The United States and the European Union have reiterated they will not recognize the results of Crimea's referendum on seceding from Ukraine. A U.S. official said that Secretary of State John Kerry, in a telephone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 16, urged Moscow to back a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. In Brussels, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy in a joint statement reiterated the 28-nation bloc considers the referendum illegal. They said EU foreign ministers will decide on possible measures in response on March 17.
17:41
16.3.2014
Russian readout of Kerry/Lavrov call says the two reached an agreement on constitutional reform in Ukraine; State's readout doesn't...
— Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) March 16, 2014
17:40
16.3.2014
Doctored photo, obviously. :-))
Amazingly, @lindseyhilsum actually found a "no" vote! Better hunting than me. #crimeareferendum pic.twitter.com/gSxxog1J6U
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) March 16, 2014
17:35
16.3.2014
"Donetsk Republic" flag http://t.co/29kHEWl2Qi uses colors supposedly used by short-lived Donetsk-Krivoi Rog Soviet Republic in 1918
— Russian Police Watch (@RusPoliceWatch) March 16, 2014
17:34
16.3.2014
The map of Russia they're projecting on the ice at the paralympics closing ceremony doesn't have #Crimea on it. Someone is for the gulag.
— Vladimir Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) March 16, 2014
17:25
16.3.2014
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service quotes a statement from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic saying three priests have gone missing in Crimea.
У Криму зникли уже три священики УГКЦ: Микола Квич, Богдан Костецький та Ігор Гаврилів http://t.co/2wGMup3dv6
— Радіо Свобода (@radiosvoboda) March 16, 2014
17:07
16.3.2014
The "Kyiv Post" indirectly quotes Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk as saying at an emergency cabinet meeting that Ukraine's eastern border with Russia has been almost completely shut down, with what the paper describes as "many Russians...refused entry to Ukraine if they are suspected by border guards of being sent to Ukraine to stir up demonstrations or cause violent unrest."
17:02
16.3.2014
This babushka is going viral.
"Fear is a slave mentality!!!"
Here is video footage, posted March 15, of her getting knocked down during a confrontation with Crimean self-defense forces.
"Fear is a slave mentality!!!"
Цитуємо кримську бабусю pic.twitter.com/CuUgYviAfR
— Hromadske.TV (@HromadskeTV) March 16, 2014
Here is video footage, posted March 15, of her getting knocked down during a confrontation with Crimean self-defense forces.
16:45
16.3.2014
Interfax is quoting an unidentified source in the Russian Border Service as denying that the border with Ukraine has been closed.
"If there are problems, they are to be found on the Ukrainian side," the source said, reportedly in response to comments made by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov on March 16.
Avakov said, according to Reuters, that Ukrainian border guards and members of the National Guard had virtually sealed off parts of the eastern border with Russia to prevent people "with doubtful intentions" from coming in.
"Every day we are detaining hundreds of these people," he said, calling them "professional touring provocateurs from a neighbouring country."
Avakov also announced a call-up to man the newly-created National Guard, saying: "About 10,000 will be called up in the next 15 days." The guard is intended to be comprised of 20,000 personnel eventually.
"If there are problems, they are to be found on the Ukrainian side," the source said, reportedly in response to comments made by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov on March 16.
Avakov said, according to Reuters, that Ukrainian border guards and members of the National Guard had virtually sealed off parts of the eastern border with Russia to prevent people "with doubtful intentions" from coming in.
"Every day we are detaining hundreds of these people," he said, calling them "professional touring provocateurs from a neighbouring country."
Avakov also announced a call-up to man the newly-created National Guard, saying: "About 10,000 will be called up in the next 15 days." The guard is intended to be comprised of 20,000 personnel eventually.
16:41
16.3.2014
Just to recap: Pro-Russian protesters have attacked the regional prosecutor's office and security-service headquarters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. The roughly 2,000 protesters on hand demand the release of the self-declared governor, Pavel Gubarev, who was detained earlier this month on charges of calling for the overthrow of Ukraine's constitutional authorities. Some protesters broke into the building, while others tore down the Ukrainian flag. Donetsk is a former stronghold of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych.