Here we go:
- UKRAINE ACTING PRESIDENT TURCHYNOV STARTS BRIEFING
- UKRAINE LEADER SAYS RUSSIA STARTS AGGRESSION AGAINST COUNTRY
- UKRAINE SAYS RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE UNDER GUISE OF EXERCISE
- UKRAINE LEADER SAYS RUSSIA TRYING TO PROVOKE CONFLICT
- UKRAINE LEADER SAYS RUSSIA SEEKING TO ANNEX CRIMEA
- UKRAINE’S TURCHYNOV SAYS WILL DEFEND ITS INDEPENDENCE
- UKRAINE ACTING PRESIDENT ACCUSES RUSSIA OF WORKING ON A SCENARIO LIKE BEFORE WAR WITH GEORGIA
Russia has sent “several hundred” troops into Ukraine’s Crimea region, US defense officials said Friday, after Kiev called on Moscow to withdraw its forces from the peninsula.
“It looks like they’ve moved several hundred troops there (into Crimea),” a senior defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
The comments marked the first confirmation from President Barack Obama’s administration that Russia had launched an incursion into Crimea.
The Russians had not given the US government advance notice of the action or explained its intentions since the operation was launched, officials said.
But Pentagon officials stressed Washington was focused on diplomacy, and there was no serious consideration being given to any US military action.
“It is now in the realm of diplomacy,” said a second defense official, who asked not to be named.
Officials also said they were not aware of any request from Ukraine for military assistance.
More from Interpretermag.com:
“Under the guise of military exercises, Russia has brought troops into the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. And not only have they seized the parliament of the Crimea, the Council of Ministers of the Crimea, they are trying to take civilian buildings under control, communications, and trying to block places where Ukrainian soldiers are based,” he said in an appeal to the nation.
“They are provoking us to military conflict. According to information from our intelligence, they are working out scenarios that are completely analogous to Abkhazia, when after provoking a conflict, they began annexation of territory,” the acting president emphasized.
‘Under the guise of war games #Russia‘s deploying troops’ ‘#Abkhazia scenario’-#Ukraine acting pres Turchynov #Crimea pic.twitter.com/f7CVA6ZszY
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) February 28, 2014
At the same time, Ukraine Pravda is reporting that Russian military planes are now landing in the Crimea.
Russian airplanes are landing in Crimea from the direction of Russia, and a column of APCs is heading from the east toward Simferopol.
There are reports of at least 5 large IL-76 planes landing in the district of the military airfield in the town of Gvardeyskoye. Various sources are reporting that a column of 10 Russian APCs is heading from Sevastopol toward Simfereopol.
Interfax Ukraine reports that all air traffic is halted at the Belbek Airport in Sevastopol due to the seizure of the landing strip by unknown persons. “There are about 400 people now in the Belbek airport. They have occpuied the landing strip and any movement of planes is stopped,” said a source.
#1 Russian military helicopters heading toward Sevastopol…
#2 More Russian helicopters heading toward Sevastopol…
#3 A convoy of Russian armored personnel carriers moving through Crimea…
#4 Another video of Russian armored personnel carriers moving through Crimea…
#5 A Russian frigate blockading the Crimean port of Balaklava…
#6 Video of armed pro-Russian militia blocking the road to one of the main airports in Crimea…
Pro-Russian militia are also manning checkpoints on both of the major highways that connect the Crimean peninsula with the rest of Ukraine. The following comes from the Wall Street Journal…
Crimean special forces and local militiamen with Kalashnikovs and masks have hoisted Russian flags and set up checkpoints on the only two highways that connect the Black Sea peninsula to mainland Ukraine.
The men are checking cars traveling in and out of Crimea, a region in Ukraine’s south that was once part of Russia and has become the epicenter of a backlash against the pro-Western uprising in Kiev that has toppled President Viktor Yanukovych.
And according to NBC News, pro-Russian militia also have full control of the major airports in Crimea…
Ukraine’s interior minister accused Moscow’s military of blockading an airport near a Russian naval base on Friday and armed men took control of another airport in Ukraine’s Crimean capital of Simferopol.
In a Facebook post, Arsen Avakov called the seizure of the Belbek international airport in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol a “military invasion and occupation.” He added: “It is a breach of all international agreements and norms.”
The Interfax news agency quoted Russian military sources as saying the incident at Belbek airport was intended to stop “fighters” flying in. However, Interfax later quoted a Russian official as saying that no units had approached the airport or blockaded it. NBC News was unable to independently verify either account.
Russian officials acknowledge that Russian armored vehicles have been moving around Crimea, but they deny being involved with the taking of the airports and they insist that there have been no “provocative acts”…
The Russia Foreign Ministry confirmed that armored vehicles from its naval base in Crimea were moving around Crimea for “security” reasons, “which is happening in full accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreement on the Black Sea Fleet.” Russia’s defense ministry told the Interfax news agency that there had been “no provocative acts in relation to units and divisions” from Russian forces.
On the other hand, there are rumors that a Russian vice-admiral has declared that war with Ukraine has begun. The following is translated from a foreign source…
In Crimea, Black Sea Fleet commander of Russian Federation Alexander Vitko announced the beginning of the war with Ukraine. Such information TSN confirmed MP from the “homeland”, the former chairman of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Cemil
According to him, on Thursday, February 27 in Sevastopol Vice Admiral Vitko gathered all the generals and said, “We start war with Ukraine. ”
About the Jemilev meeting only became known today, February 28.
In addition, according to the deputy, the morning without permission border of Ukraine, trying to bypass finders crossed four helicopters from Anapa. Moreover, he noted that Ukraine is now Russia does not oppose, and Ukrainians are on the verge of very dramatic events.
“The only way out here, I think that we have the strength to impose emergency rule, bring our troops and take control of all state institutions,” – said Cemil.
So what is going to happen next?
That is a very good question.
The new government in Ukraine is certainly not strong enough to fight a war with Russia. If it tried, Russia would win in just a matter of days.
I don’t believe that Russia actually wants a shooting war either. They just want to make sure that they do not lose control of Crimea and their base at Sevastopol under any circumstances.
And the United States and the EU certainly do not want a war. If war does erupt in Ukraine, the U.S. and the EU would probably be very hesitant to get militarily involved.
So let us hope for a peaceful resolution. But without a doubt, things in Ukraine will never go back to the way that they were. Way too much has changed.
And one things seems clear. Whether Crimea officially stays a part of Ukraine or not, it now belongs to Russia and most of the people living there seem to like it that way. Just consider what happened when Vladimir Zhirinovsky visited Sevastopol on Friday…
In recent days large pro-Moscow rallies in Sevastopol have drawn thousands of jubilant supporters waving the Russian tricolor flag, while the Ukrainian national yellow and blue banner is a rare sight in the city.
On Friday, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, one of Russia’s most outspoken ultranationalist politicians, paid a surprise visit to the city and gave a speech in front of the city’s administration building.
“All the roads, all the ports, all the communications are under the control of the provincial Crimean government,” he declared to thunderous applause of hundreds of people. “I don’t want you to worry whether anything bad will happen tomorrow — let’s welcome the Russian flag that is flying over government buildings.“
What are your thoughts on the conflict in Ukraine?
And another video of the Russian APCs: considering the number of journalists standing by, it is as if they are on parade:
- 2,000 RUSSIAN SOLDIERS LAND IN CRIMEA IN ARMED INVASION, KIEV OFFICIAL SAYS — AFP
And more airplanes:
Special representative to Crimea: thirteen Russian aircraft land at base near Sevastopol with 150 people on each
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) February 28, 2014
Some are using makeshift barricades and checkpoints to defend themselves: via Kyiv Post:
Is it starting?
