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
16:35
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.
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earlier reported that a Russian attempt to take the station had been repelled, but Slobodyan said that information was outdated.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earlier reported that a Russian attempt to take the station had been repelled, but Slobodyan said that information was outdated.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."
17:06
15.3.2014
Here's more from our newsdesk on the UN Security Council vote:
Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have declared a planned referendum on the status of Ukraine's Crimea region "can have no validity" and urged governments and international organizations not to recognize Crimea's secession from Ukraine.
China abstained from today's vote at the Security Council.
The other 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said before the meeting that there would be "no surprises at this vote."
The resolution said the Crimean referendum tomorrow "can have no validity, and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of Crimea."
It also called on states and international organizations "not to recognize any alteration of the status of Crimea on the basis of this referendum." (Kanal 5 Ukraine, Reuters, and AP)
Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have declared a planned referendum on the status of Ukraine's Crimea region "can have no validity" and urged governments and international organizations not to recognize Crimea's secession from Ukraine.
China abstained from today's vote at the Security Council.
The other 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said before the meeting that there would be "no surprises at this vote."
The resolution said the Crimean referendum tomorrow "can have no validity, and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of Crimea."
It also called on states and international organizations "not to recognize any alteration of the status of Crimea on the basis of this referendum." (Kanal 5 Ukraine, Reuters, and AP)
17:10
15.3.2014
More on the Russian military incursion in Strelkova. This from AFP:
KYIV, March 15, 2014 (AFP) - Ukraine accused Russian forces on Saturday of invading a region in the southeast of the country neighbouring Crimea and vowed to use "all necessary measures" to ward off the attack.
The Ukraine foreign ministry said Russia's forces had seized the village of Strilkove off the northeastern edge of the Crimean peninsula and said the country "reserves the right to use all necessary measures to stop the military invasion by Russia".
The Ukraine foreign ministry said Russia's forces had seized the village of Strilkove off the northeastern edge of the Crimean peninsula and said the country "reserves the right to use all necessary measures to stop the military invasion by Russia".
17:14
15.3.2014
From the RFE/RL News Desk:
UNITED NATIONS, March 15, 2014 -- Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have declared a planned referendum on the status of Ukraine's Crimea region "can have no validity" and urged governments and international organizations not to recognize Crimea's secession from Ukraine. China abstained in Saturday's vote at the Security Council. The other 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said before the meeting there would be "no surprises at this vote." The resolution said the Crimean referendum on Sunday "can have no validity, and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of Crimea." It also called on states and international organizations "not to recognize any alteration of the status of Crimea on the basis of this referendum." (Kanal 5 Ukraine, Reuters, AP)
UNITED NATIONS, March 15, 2014 -- Russia has vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that would have declared a planned referendum on the status of Ukraine's Crimea region "can have no validity" and urged governments and international organizations not to recognize Crimea's secession from Ukraine. China abstained in Saturday's vote at the Security Council. The other 13 members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said before the meeting there would be "no surprises at this vote." The resolution said the Crimean referendum on Sunday "can have no validity, and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of Crimea." It also called on states and international organizations "not to recognize any alteration of the status of Crimea on the basis of this referendum." (Kanal 5 Ukraine, Reuters, AP)
17:20
15.3.2014
Samantha Power, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, comments on Russia's March 15 veto of a draft Security Council resolution that would have declared Crimea's March 16 referendum invalid.
"Under the UN Charter, the Russian Federation has the power to veto a Security Council resolution but it does not have the power to veto the truth."
"Russia has refused Ukraine's outstretched hand, while as we speak Russian armed forces are massing across Ukraine's eastern border."
"Russia, isolated, alone and wrong, blocked the resolution's passage just as it has blocked Ukrainian ships and international observers."
"Russia cannot change the fact that moving forward in blatant defiance of the international rules of the road will have consequence, nor can it change Crimea's status. Crimea is part of Ukraine today, it will be part of Ukraine tomorrow, it will be part of Ukraine next week, it will be part of Ukraine unless and until its status is changed in accordance with Ukrainian and international law."
"Russia has refused Ukraine's outstretched hand, while as we speak Russian armed forces are massing across Ukraine's eastern border."
"Russia, isolated, alone and wrong, blocked the resolution's passage just as it has blocked Ukrainian ships and international observers."
"Russia cannot change the fact that moving forward in blatant defiance of the international rules of the road will have consequence, nor can it change Crimea's status. Crimea is part of Ukraine today, it will be part of Ukraine tomorrow, it will be part of Ukraine next week, it will be part of Ukraine unless and until its status is changed in accordance with Ukrainian and international law."
17:22
15.3.2014
The Maidan writes messages to Crimea.
Майдан надіслав послання Криму http://t.co/7Pyc1rOgaT pic.twitter.com/PKHaMV9axD
— Hromadske.TV (@HromadskeTV) March 15, 2014
17:29
15.3.2014
RFE/RL's newsdesk has this on the reported Russian incursion in the Kherson region:
Ukraine's Defense Ministry claims its forces repelled an attempt by Russian troops to enter a strip of land adjacent to Crimea.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry released a statement on March 15 that said, "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."
The statement added, "This was repelled immediately."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian border guard spokesman Oleh Slobodan told the Associated Press news agency that some 120 Russian troops had taken control of a natural gas distribution station at a place Slobodan named as being "Strelkova," some 10 kilometers outside Crimea.
So far Russian troops, estimated to number from 15,000 t0 20,000, have remained in Crimea.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said it "reserves the right to use all necessary measures to stop the military invasion by Russia." (AFP, AP, and Reuters)
Ukraine's Defense Ministry claims its forces repelled an attempt by Russian troops to enter a strip of land adjacent to Crimea.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry released a statement on March 15 that said, "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."
The statement added, "This was repelled immediately."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian border guard spokesman Oleh Slobodan told the Associated Press news agency that some 120 Russian troops had taken control of a natural gas distribution station at a place Slobodan named as being "Strelkova," some 10 kilometers outside Crimea.
So far Russian troops, estimated to number from 15,000 t0 20,000, have remained in Crimea.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said it "reserves the right to use all necessary measures to stop the military invasion by Russia." (AFP, AP, and Reuters)