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Ukraine crisis: Stand-off at Crimea military base Ukraine crisis: Crimea military base stand-off 'ends'
(35 minutes later)
There is reportedly a stand-off between what are thought to be Russian soldiers and Ukrainian troops at a military base outside the Crimean city of Sevastopol. Pro-Russian soldiers are reported to have stormed a Ukrainian military base outside the Crimean city of Sevastopol, before withdrawing soon afterwards.
A BBC correspondent says two Russian military lorries are manoeuvring outside, surrounded by armed men. A BBC correspondent saw two lorries from Russia's Black Sea Fleet outside the gates, surrounded by armed men.
There is no sign that the base has been seized and no shots have been fired. But no shots are believed to have been fired, and the assailants and lorries reportedly left after "negotiations".
Troops wearing Russian uniform without insignia and their supporters have blockaded bases in Crimea since taking control of the peninsula last week. Troops wearing Russian uniform without insignia have blockaded bases since taking control of Crimea last week.
The Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that about 100 Ukrainian military personnel were stationed at missile defence base A2355 on Friday evening. Some military installations and other buildings in the peninsula have been taken over, but both sides have so far held their fire.
Citing a duty officer and Ukraine's defence ministry, the agency said a Kamaz lorry had rammed open the gates of the facility and about 20 "attackers" had entered, throwing stun grenades. Journalists beaten
The Ukrainian troops immediately barricaded themselves inside a building and their commander had begun negotiations, it added. On Friday evening, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that about 100 Ukrainian personnel were stationed at missile defence base A2355.
The BBC's Christian Fraser, who is at the scene, said the gates did not appear to have been driven through, and there was no sign that the base had been seized. Citing a duty officer and Ukraine's defence ministry, the agency said a lorry had rammed open the gates of the facility and about 20 "attackers" had entered, throwing stun grenades.
There are two trucks from the Russian Black Fleet outside the gates, surrounded by irregular soldiers and a very hostile crowd of pro-Russian demonstrators, he adds. The Ukrainian troops immediately barricaded themselves inside a building and their commander began negotiations before any shots were fired, it added.
The BBC's Christian Fraser, who visited the scene, said the gates did not appear to have been driven through, and there was no sign that the base had been seized.
There were two military lorries with Russian number plates outside the gates, surrounded by irregular soldiers and a very hostile crowd of pro-Russian demonstrators, our correspondent adds.
Two journalists who attempted to take photographs were beaten badly.Two journalists who attempted to take photographs were beaten badly.
Later, a Ukrainian officer told a Daily Telegraph journalist that the stand-off had ended after the "talks", and that the Russian lorries and about 30 to 60 Russians troops had withdrawn.
The incident comes hours after Russian parliamentarians gave a standing ovation to a delegation of pro-Moscow politicians from Crimea, promising support if they wanted to become part of Russia.The incident comes hours after Russian parliamentarians gave a standing ovation to a delegation of pro-Moscow politicians from Crimea, promising support if they wanted to become part of Russia.
The region is due to hold a referendum on 16 March, on whether to join Russia or remain part of Ukraine. The region is due to hold a referendum on 16 March, on whether to join Russia or remain part of Ukraine. The vote has been denounced by the interim government in Kiev as illegitimate.
The vote has been denounced by the interim government in Kiev and Western powers as illegitimate. Meanwhile, Russia's state-owned energy company, Gazprom, warned Ukraine that its gas supply might be cut off unless its $1.89bn (£1.13bn) of debts were cleared.
A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said that, despite profound disagreements, he hoped that Russia and the West would not return to the Cold War. Gazprom halted supplies to Ukraine for almost two weeks in 2009, a move that caused shortages in Europe.
Ukrainian officials have said the state has come close to bankruptcy since protesters ousted President Viktor Yanukovych at the end of February.
Officials say $35bn (£21bn) is needed to get through this year and 2015.