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New head of Ukraine's navy defects in Crimea | New head of Ukraine's navy defects in Crimea |
(35 minutes later) | |
The newly appointed head of Ukraine's navy has sworn allegiance to the Crimea region, in the presence of its unrecognised pro-Russian leader. | The newly appointed head of Ukraine's navy has sworn allegiance to the Crimea region, in the presence of its unrecognised pro-Russian leader. |
Rear Admiral Denys Berezovsky was only made head of the navy on Saturday, as the government in Kiev reacted to the threat of Russian invasion. | Rear Admiral Denys Berezovsky was only made head of the navy on Saturday, as the government in Kiev reacted to the threat of Russian invasion. |
Russia's troops have been consolidating their hold on Crimea, which is home to its Black Sea Fleet. | Russia's troops have been consolidating their hold on Crimea, which is home to its Black Sea Fleet. |
Nato's chief has asked Russia to withdraw its forces to its bases. | Nato's chief has asked Russia to withdraw its forces to its bases. |
"We call on Russia to de-escalate tensions... to withdraw its forces to its bases and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, speaking in Brussels. | "We call on Russia to de-escalate tensions... to withdraw its forces to its bases and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, speaking in Brussels. |
Ukraine was a "valued partner" for Nato and should be allowed to determine its own future, he said. | Ukraine was a "valued partner" for Nato and should be allowed to determine its own future, he said. |
US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Moscow might be ejected from the G8 for its actions but his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, argued for Moscow's continuing membership. | |
"The format of the G8 is actually the only one in which we in the West can speak directly with Russia," he told the public broadcaster ARD. | |
US President Barack Obama called Russian troop deployments a "violation of Ukrainian sovereignty". | US President Barack Obama called Russian troop deployments a "violation of Ukrainian sovereignty". |
'Brink of disaster' | 'Brink of disaster' |
Ukraine has ordered a full military mobilisation in response to Russia's build-up of its forces on the Crimean peninsula. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has warned the country is "on the brink of disaster". | Ukraine has ordered a full military mobilisation in response to Russia's build-up of its forces on the Crimean peninsula. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has warned the country is "on the brink of disaster". |
In Crimea, Ukrainian soldiers faced off with Russian soldiers surrounding their bases on Sunday while the Russian army was said to be digging trenches on the border with mainland Ukraine. | In Crimea, Ukrainian soldiers faced off with Russian soldiers surrounding their bases on Sunday while the Russian army was said to be digging trenches on the border with mainland Ukraine. |
The UK has joined the US, France and Canada in suspending preparations for a summit of the G8 in Russia in June. Nato, of which Ukraine is not a member, is conducting emergency talks. | The UK has joined the US, France and Canada in suspending preparations for a summit of the G8 in Russia in June. Nato, of which Ukraine is not a member, is conducting emergency talks. |
Admiral Berezovsky appeared in Sevastopol before cameras alongside Sergiy Aksyonov, the pro-Russian politician elected by Crimea's regional parliament as local prime minister. | Admiral Berezovsky appeared in Sevastopol before cameras alongside Sergiy Aksyonov, the pro-Russian politician elected by Crimea's regional parliament as local prime minister. |
Mr Aksyonov announced he had given orders to Ukrainian naval forces on the peninsula to disregard any orders from the "self-proclaimed" authorities in Kiev. | Mr Aksyonov announced he had given orders to Ukrainian naval forces on the peninsula to disregard any orders from the "self-proclaimed" authorities in Kiev. |
Sunday, he said, would go down in history as the birthday of the "navy of the autonomous republic of Crimea". | Sunday, he said, would go down in history as the birthday of the "navy of the autonomous republic of Crimea". |
The admiral then pledged to "strictly obey the orders of the supreme commander of the autonomous republic of Crimea" and "defend the lives and freedom" of Crimea's people. | The admiral then pledged to "strictly obey the orders of the supreme commander of the autonomous republic of Crimea" and "defend the lives and freedom" of Crimea's people. |
Admiral Berezovsky was later sacked by interim Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh and a treason case launched against him. | Admiral Berezovsky was later sacked by interim Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh and a treason case launched against him. |
Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reports that the admiral was speaking before the "numerous cameras of predominantly Russian TV channels". | Ukraine's Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reports that the admiral was speaking before the "numerous cameras of predominantly Russian TV channels". |
Earlier, Ukrainian naval officers found their headquarters in Sevastopol occupied by Russian troops and were unable to go to work. | Earlier, Ukrainian naval officers found their headquarters in Sevastopol occupied by Russian troops and were unable to go to work. |
Separately, Ukraine withdrew coast guard vessels from two ports in Crimea and moved them to other bases in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov on Sunday. | Separately, Ukraine withdrew coast guard vessels from two ports in Crimea and moved them to other bases in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov on Sunday. |
Several Ukrainian army bases were surrounded by Russian troops on Sunday but there were no reports of clashes despite the refusal of Ukrainian soldiers to open their gates. | Several Ukrainian army bases were surrounded by Russian troops on Sunday but there were no reports of clashes despite the refusal of Ukrainian soldiers to open their gates. |
Mr Kerry told US media Russian President Vladimir Putin might "find himself with asset freezes". | |
The Russian leader defended his decision in a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday, saying "ultranationalist forces" in Ukraine posed an "unrelenting threat of violence" to "Russian citizens and the whole Russian-speaking population". | |
Thousands of people took part in a march in Moscow in support of military action while police broke up small anti-war protests in the city. | |
Veteran Russian rock musician Yury Shevchuk has condemned "warmongering radicals" on both sides. | |
Moscow has not recognised the government which took power in Kiev last month after overthrowing the elected pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych. | Moscow has not recognised the government which took power in Kiev last month after overthrowing the elected pro-Russian President, Viktor Yanukovych. |
Mr Yanukovych's decision in November to abandon closer ties with the EU in favour of Russia sparked massive protests in Kiev, which ended in a bloodbath, as dozens of protesters were shot dead in clashes with police. | Mr Yanukovych's decision in November to abandon closer ties with the EU in favour of Russia sparked massive protests in Kiev, which ended in a bloodbath, as dozens of protesters were shot dead in clashes with police. |
Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to this news of Russian troop deployment? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | Are you in Ukraine? What is your reaction to this news of Russian troop deployment? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |