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Ukraine accuses Russia of deploying troops in Crimea | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ukraine's acting President Oleksander Turchynov has accused Russia of deploying troops to Crimea and trying to provoke Kiev into "armed conflict". | |
In a televised address, he said Moscow wanted the new interim government to react to provocations so it could annex Crimea. | |
It comes amid unconfirmed reports that Russian planes have flown hundreds of troops into the region. | It comes amid unconfirmed reports that Russian planes have flown hundreds of troops into the region. |
Armed men, thought to be loyal to Russia, have also taken over key hubs. | Armed men, thought to be loyal to Russia, have also taken over key hubs. |
President Turchynov appealed to President Putin to "stop provocations and start negotiations". | President Turchynov appealed to President Putin to "stop provocations and start negotiations". |
He said Russia was behaving as it did before sending troops into Georgia in 2008 over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which have large ethnic Russian populations. | |
"They are implementing the scenario like the one carried out in Abkhazia, when after provoking a conflict, they started an annexation of the territory," President Turchynov said. | |
Protecting 'strategic sites' | |
His statement came a few hours after the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken of the "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence" during telephone conversations with Western leaders. | His statement came a few hours after the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken of the "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence" during telephone conversations with Western leaders. |
However, flights from and to the Crimean capital, Simferopol, were cancelled with airlines saying airspace over the peninsula had been closed. | |
Senior Ukrainian official Sergiy Kunitsyn told local media 13 Russian aircraft carrying nearly 2,000 suspected troops had landed at a military air base near Simferopol. This remains unconfirmed. | Senior Ukrainian official Sergiy Kunitsyn told local media 13 Russian aircraft carrying nearly 2,000 suspected troops had landed at a military air base near Simferopol. This remains unconfirmed. |
Earlier in the day, Russian armoured vehicles and helicopters were seen in and around Simferopol and Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet are based. | Earlier in the day, Russian armoured vehicles and helicopters were seen in and around Simferopol and Sevastopol, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet are based. |
Armed men in unidentified military uniforms have moved in on Crimea's parliament, state television building and telecommunication centres. | |
They are also patrolling the airports in Simferopol and Sevastopol. | |
The editor of the main television station told the BBC he was informed the men were protecting strategic points in the area, in this case the broadcasting tower. | |
Ukraine has formally lodged a protest with Russia over what it called a violation of Ukrainian airspace and a failure to observe an agreement on the stationing of Russia troops in Crimea. | |
On Friday, Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych made his first public appearance since being ousted from office a week ago. | |
At a news conference in Russia, he apologised for not "having enough strength to keep stability" in Ukraine and called his usurpers "young, neo-fascist thugs". | |
Mr Yanukovych said would "continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine", but said he would only return if his safety could be guaranteed. | |
Ukraine has started procedures demanding his extradition. |