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Ukraine crisis: Crimea military base stand-off 'ends' Ukraine crisis: Crimea military base stand-off over
(about 2 hours later)
Pro-Russian soldiers are reported to have stormed a Ukrainian military base outside the Crimean city of Sevastopol, before withdrawing soon afterwards. A stand-off involving pro-Russian soldiers at a Ukrainian military base outside the Crimean city of Sevastopol has reportedly ended without incident.
A BBC correspondent saw two lorries from Russia's Black Sea Fleet outside the gates, surrounded by armed men.A BBC correspondent saw two lorries from Russia's Black Sea Fleet outside the gates, surrounded by armed men.
But no shots are believed to have been fired, and the assailants and lorries reportedly left after "negotiations". But no shots are believed to have been fired, and the men and lorries reportedly left after "negotiations".
Troops wearing Russian uniform without insignia have blockaded bases since taking control of Crimea last week.Troops wearing Russian uniform without insignia have blockaded bases since taking control of Crimea last week.
Some military installations and other buildings in the peninsula have been taken over, but both sides have so far held their fire. The incident came hours after Russian parliamentarians promised to support Crimea if it wanted to become part of Russia.
Crimea's parliament announced on Thursday it would hold a referendum on 16 March on whether to join Russia or remain part of Ukraine.
The vote has been denounced as "illegitimate" by the interim government in Kiev, which took power after President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia last month in the wake of mass protests against his government and deadly clashes with security forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped the Paralympic Winter Games, which opened in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Friday, would help "lower the heat of passions over Ukraine".
The Ukrainian team was represented only by a single athlete carrying the national flag at the opening ceremony.
Valeriy Sushkevych, head of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, said its athletes had debated whether to boycott the Games but had decided to compete unless the "crisis were to escalate".
Journalists beatenJournalists beaten
On Friday evening, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported that about 100 Ukrainian personnel were stationed at missile defence base A2355. On Friday evening, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency cited a duty officer and Ukraine's defence ministry as saying a lorry had rammed open the gates of the missile defence base A2355 outside Sevastopol and that about 20 "attackers" had entered, throwing stun grenades.
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. The Ukrainian troops barricaded themselves inside a building and their commander began negotiations before any shots were fired, it added.
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.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.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.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 Pentagon estimates that 20,000 Russian troops may be in Crimea, while the Ukrainian border guards' commander puts the figure at 30,000.
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. In a telephone call with Ukraine's interim Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh on Friday, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel stressed Washington's firm commitment "to support the Ukrainian people and to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine", a spokesman said.
'Mortal danger'
President Putin insists that the armed men are local "self-defence forces", and are not under his command.
But he says Russia has the right to use force to protect Russian citizens and speakers who he says are threatened in post-uprising Ukraine.
His spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on Russian state television on Friday: "Can Russia stand idly by when Russians somewhere in the world - especially in neighbouring Ukraine - face mortal danger?"
Calls for talks between Russia and Ukraine mediated by the West "make us smile", he said.
The Russian foreign ministry separately accused the EU of taking an "extremely unconstructive position" by halting talks on easing visa restrictions on Russian citizens and on a new pact to replace the 1997 Russia-EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.
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.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.
Gazprom halted supplies to Ukraine for almost two weeks in 2009, a move that caused shortages in Europe.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. Ukrainian officials have said the state has come close to bankruptcy since protesters ousted President Yanukovych at the end of February. Officials say $35bn (£21bn) is needed to get through this year and 2015.
Officials say $35bn (£21bn) is needed to get through this year and 2015.