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| Ukraine crisis: Russia tests missile amid Crimea tension | Ukraine crisis: Russia tests missile amid Crimea tension |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Russian military says it has test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, as tension continues over Ukraine's Crimea region. | The Russian military says it has test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, as tension continues over Ukraine's Crimea region. |
| The planned test comes after the US accused Russia of deploying troops in Crimea in an "act of aggression". | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin denied doing so, but said he had not ruled out military action to protect Russians and Russian speakers in Ukraine. | Russian President Vladimir Putin denied doing so, but said he had not ruled out military action to protect Russians and Russian speakers in Ukraine. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of seeking to invade. | US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia of seeking to invade. |
| Russia has strongly condemned the change of government in Ukraine, which came after months of street protests, more than 90 deaths and the flight of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, a Russian ally. | Russia has strongly condemned the change of government in Ukraine, which came after months of street protests, more than 90 deaths and the flight of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, a Russian ally. |
| Speaking during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev, where he held talks with the new government, Mr Kerry said there was no indication at all that Russian citizens or Russian-speakers were in any danger in post-uprising Ukraine. | Speaking during a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev, where he held talks with the new government, Mr Kerry said there was no indication at all that Russian citizens or Russian-speakers were in any danger in post-uprising Ukraine. |
| "It is clear that Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further," he said. | "It is clear that Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further," he said. |
| In one hint of progress on Tuesday, Ukraine's new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said consultations had taken place between Russian and Ukrainian ministers. He described them as "quite sluggish" but "first steps". | In one hint of progress on Tuesday, Ukraine's new Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said consultations had taken place between Russian and Ukrainian ministers. He described them as "quite sluggish" but "first steps". |
| Crimea uncertainty | Crimea uncertainty |
| Russia's defence ministry said a Topol RS-12M missile had been successfully launched, from Russia's Kapustin Yar test range near the Caspian Sea to the Sary Shagan range in Kazakhstan. | Russia's defence ministry said a Topol RS-12M missile had been successfully launched, from Russia's Kapustin Yar test range near the Caspian Sea to the Sary Shagan range in Kazakhstan. |
| "The aim of the launch was to test a promising intercontinental ballistic missile payload," it said, adding that the nuclear-capable missile reached its target successfully. | "The aim of the launch was to test a promising intercontinental ballistic missile payload," it said, adding that the nuclear-capable missile reached its target successfully. |
| The US said it was given advance notice of the missile launch, as required by bilateral arms treaties. | The US said it was given advance notice of the missile launch, as required by bilateral arms treaties. |
| The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says such tests are planned long in advance, but that it inevitably adds another element of Cold War-style tension to the current crisis. | The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says such tests are planned long in advance, but that it inevitably adds another element of Cold War-style tension to the current crisis. |
| Moscow is in de facto control of the Crimean peninsula after troops thought to be Russian or pro-Russian began taking control of strategic points on Saturday. | Moscow is in de facto control of the Crimean peninsula after troops thought to be Russian or pro-Russian began taking control of strategic points on Saturday. |
| Troops are surrounding Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in the port of Sevastopol. | Troops are surrounding Ukrainian military bases and other installations, while two Ukrainian warships are reported to be blocked by a Russian ship in the port of Sevastopol. |
| Ukrainian TV reported on Tuesday evening that armed men had attempted to take over an anti-aircraft missile base in Yevpatoria, on the coast north of Sevastopol. | Ukrainian TV reported on Tuesday evening that armed men had attempted to take over an anti-aircraft missile base in Yevpatoria, on the coast north of Sevastopol. |
| Kiev and the West have alleged Russia is mounting an invasion of Crimea, which has a majority Russian-speaking population. | Kiev and the West have alleged Russia is mounting an invasion of Crimea, which has a majority Russian-speaking population. |
| US President Barack Obama accused Russia of "seeking through force to exert influence on a neighbouring country". | US President Barack Obama accused Russia of "seeking through force to exert influence on a neighbouring country". |
| "That is not how international law is supposed to operate," he said. | "That is not how international law is supposed to operate," he said. |
| But at a lengthy news conference on Tuesday, in his first public comments on the issue, Mr Putin denied the heavily armed troops were Russian. He said they were "local self-defence forces" loyal to Moscow, protecting the bases from "nationalists" and "anti-Semites". | But at a lengthy news conference on Tuesday, in his first public comments on the issue, Mr Putin denied the heavily armed troops were Russian. He said they were "local self-defence forces" loyal to Moscow, protecting the bases from "nationalists" and "anti-Semites". |
| Russia, said Mr Putin, reserved the right to act to protect Russian citizens and speakers anywhere in Ukraine. | Russia, said Mr Putin, reserved the right to act to protect Russian citizens and speakers anywhere in Ukraine. |
| In Crimea and in eastern Ukraine, there have been shows of support for Russian intervention. | In Crimea and in eastern Ukraine, there have been shows of support for Russian intervention. |
| But on Tuesday a peace rally in the eastern city of Donetsk urged Russia to stay away. | But on Tuesday a peace rally in the eastern city of Donetsk urged Russia to stay away. |
| "We did not ask for help. I don't want him, Putin, to bring tanks here. I don't want them to shoot at my kids," one woman, Natalia Sytnik, told Reuters. | "We did not ask for help. I don't want him, Putin, to bring tanks here. I don't want them to shoot at my kids," one woman, Natalia Sytnik, told Reuters. |
| "Let him hear us: 'Do not defend me from anyone. No-one is attacking me'." | "Let him hear us: 'Do not defend me from anyone. No-one is attacking me'." |
| In other developments on Tuesday | In other developments on Tuesday |
| Both the US and the EU have offered financial help to Ukraine, which is facing a growing economic crisis amid its severed ties with Moscow. | Both the US and the EU have offered financial help to Ukraine, which is facing a growing economic crisis amid its severed ties with Moscow. |
| Mr Kerry took to Kiev a $1bn (£600m; 720m euros) package of energy subsidies, and told the crowds who remain in Independence Square after months of protests that President Obama "is planning more assistance". | Mr Kerry took to Kiev a $1bn (£600m; 720m euros) package of energy subsidies, and told the crowds who remain in Independence Square after months of protests that President Obama "is planning more assistance". |
| The EU is considering paying the $2bn which Ukraine owes to Russia in gas bills, said EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger. | The EU is considering paying the $2bn which Ukraine owes to Russia in gas bills, said EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger. |
| What is your reaction to this news? Are you in the affected region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | What is your reaction to this news? Are you in the affected region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |