Forces Storm Ukrainian Navy HQ and Raise Russian Flag
SEVASTOPOL, Crimea (AP) — Crimea’s self-defense forces on Wednesday stormed the Ukrainian navy headquarters in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, taking possession without resistance a day after Russia signed a treaty with local authorities to annex the region.
An Associated Press photographer witnessed several hundred self-defense forces take down the gate and make their way onto the headquarters’ premises. They then raised the Russian flag on the square by the headquarters.
The unarmed Crimean self-defense forces waited for an hour on the square before the moved to storm the headquarters. Following the arrival of the commander of the Russian Black Sea fleet, the Crimeans took over the building while Ukrainian servicemen did not offer any resistance.
The AP photographer was able to enter the headquarters and saw the Crimean self-defense forces roaming around while the Ukrainian servicemen were packing up and leaving.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty to incorporate Crimea into its territory following a referendum in which residents the strategic region overwhelmingly backed the move.
Jubilant crowds in Moscow and other cities across Russia hailed the annexation while Ukraine’s new government called the Russian president a threat to the “civilized world and international security,” and the U.S. and Europe threatened tougher sanctions against Moscow.
Russian news agencies on Wednesday quoted Valery Zorkin, chairman of the Russian Constitutional Courts, telling reporters that they have just ruled the treaty to be valid, thus clearing yet another hurdle for Russia to annex Crimea.
The treaty will now only need to be ratified by the Russian parliament.
A Ukrainian serviceman and a member of a local self-defense brigade were killed by gunfire in an incident in Crimea on Tuesday.
Thousands of Russian troops had overtaken Crimea two weeks before Sunday’s hastily called referendum, seizing some Ukrainian military bases, blockading others and pressuring Ukrainian soldiers to surrender their arms and leave. Putin insisted the Russian troops were in Crimea under a treaty with Ukraine that allows Russia to have up to 25,000 troops at its Black Sea fleet base in Crimea.
The West and Ukraine described the Crimean referendum as illegitimate and being held at gunpoint.
The United States and the European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on Russia, targeting Russian and Crimean officials with visa bans and asset freezes.
Crimea became a flashpoint of Ukraine’s months-long crisis over whether to cast its future with the European Union or Russia. Protests began after President Viktor Yanukovych scrapped a trade deal with the EU in favor of a Russian offer. As protests grew and turned violent, Yanukovych fled to Russia and pro-Western parties installed a new government.
An Associated Press photographer witnessed several hundred self-defense forces take down the gate and make their way onto the headquarters’ premises. They then raised the Russian flag on the square by the headquarters.
Crimean pro-Russian volunteers in military fatigues line up in a square in front of a statue of Vladimir Lenin, next to the Council of Ministers of Crimea’s building, in Simferopol, on March 14, 2014, two days ahead of the referendum over Crimea’s bid to break away from Ukraine and join Russia. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on March 14 that Russian President Vladimir Putin will make no decision on Ukraine until after Sunday’s referendum on the region of Crimea. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL LEAL OLIVAS AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Russian soldiers stand guard near Ukranian soldiers walking inside the Ukranian navy headquarters in Simferopol on March 18, 2014. Russia’s Constitutional Court unanimously ruled on March 19, 2014 that President Vladimir Putin acted legally by signing a treaty to make Crimea part of Russia, in an essential step in the Russian legal process towards ratifying the treaty. AFP PHOTO/ Filippo MONTEFORTE
The AP photographer was able to enter the headquarters and saw the Crimean self-defense forces roaming around while the Ukrainian servicemen were packing up and leaving.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty to incorporate Crimea into its territory following a referendum in which residents the strategic region overwhelmingly backed the move.
Jubilant crowds in Moscow and other cities across Russia hailed the annexation while Ukraine’s new government called the Russian president a threat to the “civilized world and international security,” and the U.S. and Europe threatened tougher sanctions against Moscow.
Russian news agencies on Wednesday quoted Valery Zorkin, chairman of the Russian Constitutional Courts, telling reporters that they have just ruled the treaty to be valid, thus clearing yet another hurdle for Russia to annex Crimea.
The treaty will now only need to be ratified by the Russian parliament.
A Ukrainian serviceman and a member of a local self-defense brigade were killed by gunfire in an incident in Crimea on Tuesday.
Thousands of Russian troops had overtaken Crimea two weeks before Sunday’s hastily called referendum, seizing some Ukrainian military bases, blockading others and pressuring Ukrainian soldiers to surrender their arms and leave. Putin insisted the Russian troops were in Crimea under a treaty with Ukraine that allows Russia to have up to 25,000 troops at its Black Sea fleet base in Crimea.
The West and Ukraine described the Crimean referendum as illegitimate and being held at gunpoint.
The United States and the European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on Russia, targeting Russian and Crimean officials with visa bans and asset freezes.
Crimea became a flashpoint of Ukraine’s months-long crisis over whether to cast its future with the European Union or Russia. Protests began after President Viktor Yanukovych scrapped a trade deal with the EU in favor of a Russian offer. As protests grew and turned violent, Yanukovych fled to Russia and pro-Western parties installed a new government.
So when obama had his Open Hot Mic a while back, is this what he ment? After I get re elected I can help you much more.... to the Russian leadership... to tell Putin. ? Looks like it, Obama making America Weak, ineffectual in the world, a 3rd world nation, economically destroyed, military weakened to the point of nullifying it in the world against China / Russia who are Building military on steroids.. see.. obama was raised, trained and embraced / sought out marxists / radicals for his education. Putin a Marxist.. this is smoke and mirrors folks... obama pro Russian restoration of the USSR and now he his fulfilling his hot mic promise to Russia..
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ReplyDeletePeople Obama is not weak or stupid, he is fulfilling his New Dream for America... fundamentally transforming America & Punishing it for its anti marxist agenda's that once destroyed USSR.. getting back at America they are. Good cop / Bad cop idea folks.. smoke and mirrors... Obama working in conjuction with Putin assisting them.. he does not mind looking like the fool, as he is enriching his personal wealth in the hundreds of millions while he destroys / defames America... wake up.