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Ukraine latest: Armed men seize defence post in the Crimean city of Sevastopol Ukraine latest: Armed men seize defence post in the Crimean city of Sevastopol
(35 minutes later)
Armed men thought to be Russians have reportedly seized a Ukrainian military base in the Crimea on Friday, but no shots were fired according to reporters on the scene.Armed men thought to be Russians have reportedly seized a Ukrainian military base in the Crimea on Friday, but no shots were fired according to reporters on the scene.
Initial reports state that 20 men smashed through the gates of the missile defence in the city of Sevastopol post using a truck, where 100 Ukrainian troops are stationed, according to the Interfax news agency.Initial reports state that 20 men smashed through the gates of the missile defence in the city of Sevastopol post using a truck, where 100 Ukrainian troops are stationed, according to the Interfax news agency.
The Ukrainians barricaded themselves inside one of their barracks, and their commander began negotiations.The Ukrainians barricaded themselves inside one of their barracks, and their commander began negotiations.
However, a reporter from Reuters agency could not see any signs of the gates being damaged.However, a reporter from Reuters agency could not see any signs of the gates being damaged.
A Ukrainian military official, Vladislav Seleznyov, said that the armed men took over the base without any shooting and that no one was injured.A Ukrainian military official, Vladislav Seleznyov, said that the armed men took over the base without any shooting and that no one was injured.
The post was being mediated between the Ukrainian forces and the armed group inside, and that no arms had been seized, according to another Ukrainian official who spoke to Reuters.The post was being mediated between the Ukrainian forces and the armed group inside, and that no arms had been seized, according to another Ukrainian official who spoke to Reuters.
The reports come amid the worst diplomatic crisis in Europe since the Cold War, in which the peninsula has become a strategic flashpoint between Ukraine and Russia.The reports come amid the worst diplomatic crisis in Europe since the Cold War, in which the peninsula has become a strategic flashpoint between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukraine currently maintains the Crimea as its own however a referendum on whether it should join Russia on 16 March could change this.Ukraine currently maintains the Crimea as its own however a referendum on whether it should join Russia on 16 March could change this.
Additional reporting by Reuters Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov warned US Secretary of State John Kerry that sanctions over Russian actions in Crimea could backfire, the ministry said in a statement. In a telephone conversation, Mr Lavrov urged the US not to take "hasty, poorly thought-out steps that could harm Russian-US relations, especially concerning sanctions, which would unavoidably boomerang on the US itself," the statement said.
The strategic peninsula has become the flashpoint in the battle for Ukraine, where three months of protests sent president Viktor Yanukovych fleeing to Russia. Moscow calls the new Ukrainian government illegitimate, and has seized control of Crimea, where it has a major naval base on the Black Sea.
Although Russian president Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has no intention of annexing Crimea, he insisted that its residents have the right to determine the region's status in the referendum.
Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, made clear that the country would welcome Crimea if it votes in the referendum to join its giant neighbour. About 60% of Crimea's population identifies itself as Russian.
"If the decision is made, then (Crimea) will become an absolutely equal subject of the Russian Federation," Matvienko said during a visit from the chairman of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov. She spoke of mistreatment of Russian-speaking residents in Ukraine's east and south, which has been Moscow's primary argument for possible intervention in Ukraine.
Additional reporting by PA