15:49
16.3.2014
Found; rare vote against rejoining #Russia. Most people that are against rejoining stay at home. #Crimea #referendum pic.twitter.com/AFgcE1fOGS
— Just Hovens Greve (@JustHovensGreve) March 16, 2014
16:12
16.3.2014
Ukraine's Kanal 5 television reporting that several thousand pro-Russia activists held a march in Odessa and, "just like the rallies in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk," were issued ballot-like pamphlets asking such questions as: "Do you support the creation of Novorossiya out of the Odessa Mykolayiv and Kharkiv regions?"
Novorossiya, or New Russia, was the name of the area north of the Black Sea that was conquered by the Russian Empire in the late 1700s. The seaport town of Odessa was along the southwest tip of Novorossiya.
Novorossiya, or New Russia, was the name of the area north of the Black Sea that was conquered by the Russian Empire in the late 1700s. The seaport town of Odessa was along the southwest tip of Novorossiya.
16:25
16.3.2014
Hromadske TV tweets link to pro-Russia rally in Donetsk, where participants ask for their own referendum:
У Донецьку просійські активісти теж хочуть рефрендум http://t.co/Y3anxOiseg #Донецк
— Hromadske.TV (@HromadskeTV) March 16, 2014
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.
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.
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.
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."
17:25
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
17:34
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