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| Russian forces tighten grip in Crimea | Russian forces tighten grip in Crimea |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| SEVASTOPOL — Russian forces tightened their grip over Crimea on Sunday, surrounding a border guard post in the far western part of the peninsula as pro-Moscow and pro-Kiev protesters took to the streets. | SEVASTOPOL — Russian forces tightened their grip over Crimea on Sunday, surrounding a border guard post in the far western part of the peninsula as pro-Moscow and pro-Kiev protesters took to the streets. |
| In a move suggesting Moscow remains defiant to Western demands to de-escalate the crisis, a Ukrainian Black Sea border station was surrounded by Russian troops around 6 a.m. local time (11 p.m. EST). There were no reports of shots fired, but roughly 30 Ukrainian personnel were trapped inside, according to reports from the Reuters news agency and Ukrainian television. | In a move suggesting Moscow remains defiant to Western demands to de-escalate the crisis, a Ukrainian Black Sea border station was surrounded by Russian troops around 6 a.m. local time (11 p.m. EST). There were no reports of shots fired, but roughly 30 Ukrainian personnel were trapped inside, according to reports from the Reuters news agency and Ukrainian television. |
| The incident marked the eleventh Ukrainian base to be surrounded by Russian forces since they moved into the region 10 days ago. | The incident marked the eleventh Ukrainian base to be surrounded by Russian forces since they moved into the region 10 days ago. |
| Russia also held out a financial carrot to Crimea, offering to provide 40 billion rubles ($1.1 billion) of financial support if the peninsula voted in a March 16 referendum to join Russia. | Russia also held out a financial carrot to Crimea, offering to provide 40 billion rubles ($1.1 billion) of financial support if the peninsula voted in a March 16 referendum to join Russia. |
| Pavel Dorokhin, deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s industry committee, met with Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov on Sunday to discuss the proposed assistance package, Interfax reported. | Pavel Dorokhin, deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s industry committee, met with Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov on Sunday to discuss the proposed assistance package, Interfax reported. |
| “The Russian government has reserved a lot of money, some 40 billion rubles, to support the development of the industrial and economic infrastructure of Crimea,” Dorokhin said. | “The Russian government has reserved a lot of money, some 40 billion rubles, to support the development of the industrial and economic infrastructure of Crimea,” Dorokhin said. |
| Most of the money would be invested in defense and machine-building enterprises in Crimea, including the vessels of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is based in Sevastopol. | Most of the money would be invested in defense and machine-building enterprises in Crimea, including the vessels of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is based in Sevastopol. |
| As Moscow tries to consolidate its hold over Crimea, U.S. and European powers are in the midst of calculating their next move. | |
| The White House announced Sunday that President Obama will meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the White House on Wednesday as the United States tries to rally support behind Ukraine’s government. | |
| And Tony Blinken, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, said Sunday that if Crimea votes to join Russia in a referendum next week, the United States would not recognize it. | |
| “If there is a referendum and it votes to move Crimea out of Ukraine and to Russia, we won’t recognize it and most of the world won’t either,” Blinken said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” | |
| Poland, which closed its consulate in Crimea on Saturday because of security concerns, has been trying to nudge more reluctant members of the European Union to take a firmer stance on Russia. On Sunday, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said European officials were working to solidify details of a targeted visa ban and asset freezes on Russian interests already threatened by the E.U. if Russia did not take steps to de-escalate the crisis. He called for the measures to be imposed “within 10 days,” a time frame that coincides with the disputed referendum in Crimea. | |
| Should Crimea be absorbed into Russia, Sikorski said there would be consequences for the region. “There are precedents such as the republic of northern Cyprus, unable to trade with anybody, unable to attract tourism, unable to have banking connections and with dropping living standards for its population. I don’t see anybody in the west recognizing this blatant land grab.” | |
| But former secretary of defense Robert Gates predicted Sunday that any hope of Ukraine holding on to control of Crimea is gone and that Russia will seize control of the area. “I do not believe that Crimea will slip out of Russia’s hands,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.” | |
| Pro-Russia, pro-Ukraine rallies | |
| Sevastopol was awash in Russian flags Sunday as pro-Russian supporters held a rally in the city. | |
| Russian banners hung from city and Ukrainian government buildings, from storefronts and from cars. Matrons walked down the street, in woolen coats and sensible shoes, with Russian flag ribbons tied to the short straps of their purses hanging from their forearms. Children skate through squares wearing armbands with the light blue, white and red tricolors. | |
| Pedestrians strolled along sidewalks waving small Russian flags on wooden sticks that are sold in supermarkets and bookstores for about $2. Passing cars frequently honk their horns in solidarity, and drivers roll down their windows and give a thumbs-up. | |
| In the central city of Simferopol, hundreds of people turned out in support of the March 16 referendum to secede from Ukraine. | |
| The crowd of cheering ethnic Russians took to a plaza dominated by a towering statue of Vladimir Lenin, chanting “Ross-i-ya, Ross-i-ya” and singing along while entertainers dressed as Russian sailors performed patriotic military anthems on a huge stage. | The crowd of cheering ethnic Russians took to a plaza dominated by a towering statue of Vladimir Lenin, chanting “Ross-i-ya, Ross-i-ya” and singing along while entertainers dressed as Russian sailors performed patriotic military anthems on a huge stage. |
| “This is an historic moment. We will restore the Russian world here,” said Sergei Aksyonov, the recently named premier. | |
| “We are not going anywhere on March 16; we are coming back to our motherland,” said Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Crimean parliament. | “We are not going anywhere on March 16; we are coming back to our motherland,” said Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Crimean parliament. |
| But not all in Crimea agree with the secessionist movement. | |
| Several hundred people had gathered for an 11 a.m. rally in Sevastopol celebrating the birth of poet Taras Shevchenko, a Ukrainian national hero. They were also there to show support for the Ukrainian navy, which has several ships blocked in by Russian vessels in nearby harbors. Many of them waved the Ukrainian national flag as well as that of its navy and chanted: “Friendship between Russia and Ukraine” and “Ukraine is united.” | |
| But as the pro-Ukraine rally was winding up, Dima Belotserkovets said he and other pro-Ukraine activists were attacked by pro-Russia activists, who started kicking and punching them. He said police eventually came and rescued them. Ten people were initially detained but now have been released because they are considered victims, he said. But at least one activist is in the hospital, and one is still unaccounted for, Belotserkovets said. | |
| In Simferopol, two pro-Ukraine rally organizers were reportedly detained, but the event proceeded, drawing an emotional crowd waving Ukrainian flags and balloons. | |
| “Why have the Russians come here? Why are unknown men in masks searching cars and beating people? Where is the government and the world to protect us?” demanded an angry man in the crowd gathered in a park named for Shevchenko. “We are for peace and Ukraine and will not leave this place.” | “Why have the Russians come here? Why are unknown men in masks searching cars and beating people? Where is the government and the world to protect us?” demanded an angry man in the crowd gathered in a park named for Shevchenko. “We are for peace and Ukraine and will not leave this place.” |
| Quiet at military bases | Quiet at military bases |
| Ukrainian military bases in Sevastopol were largely quiet Sunday, and commanders said they were trying to avoid responding to provocations. But the Russian presence is comprehensive and unchallenged, ranging from heavy blockades of some bases to a minimal presence at others. | Ukrainian military bases in Sevastopol were largely quiet Sunday, and commanders said they were trying to avoid responding to provocations. But the Russian presence is comprehensive and unchallenged, ranging from heavy blockades of some bases to a minimal presence at others. |
| At an isolated base in the countryside a half hour outside Sevastopol, a sign taped to the gate reads: “Thank you for staying faithful to your oath.” Outside the gate, a half dozen men in uniforms — part of the pro-Russian “self-defense forces” — milled about. | At an isolated base in the countryside a half hour outside Sevastopol, a sign taped to the gate reads: “Thank you for staying faithful to your oath.” Outside the gate, a half dozen men in uniforms — part of the pro-Russian “self-defense forces” — milled about. |
| “They say they are here to defend us from ‘terrorist attacks,’ ” said Col. Andrei Ivanchenko, the base commander, using his fingers to draw air quotes around the words. “They don’t talk to us. But they are peaceful.” | “They say they are here to defend us from ‘terrorist attacks,’ ” said Col. Andrei Ivanchenko, the base commander, using his fingers to draw air quotes around the words. “They don’t talk to us. But they are peaceful.” |
| Ivanchenko said the self-defense units report to a commander in the Russian military, a colonel who came to the base four days ago and told the Ukrainians to disarm. | Ivanchenko said the self-defense units report to a commander in the Russian military, a colonel who came to the base four days ago and told the Ukrainians to disarm. |
| The Russian troops stayed outside the Ukrainian base, but snipers were posted on the rooftops, Ivanchenko said. The snipers left briefly when they got a phone call that international monitors would be coming to check on Russian troop movements. But they returned a day late, after monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe were stopped at the Crimean border and prevented from entering. Then the Russian troops left again, leaving behind the self-defense units. | The Russian troops stayed outside the Ukrainian base, but snipers were posted on the rooftops, Ivanchenko said. The snipers left briefly when they got a phone call that international monitors would be coming to check on Russian troop movements. But they returned a day late, after monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe were stopped at the Crimean border and prevented from entering. Then the Russian troops left again, leaving behind the self-defense units. |
| Ivanchenko said the base had been receiving food and calls of support from civilians. Pointing to a Ukrainian flag flying high on a pole at the base entrance, he said morale for those inside was “as high as that banner.” | Ivanchenko said the base had been receiving food and calls of support from civilians. Pointing to a Ukrainian flag flying high on a pole at the base entrance, he said morale for those inside was “as high as that banner.” |
| No Russian or self-defense troops were visible at a nearby Ukrainian Air Force base that was stormed Friday night by Russian soldiers, although commander Lt. Col. Andrei Aladashvili said they were under constant observation by Russians on neighboring rooftops and apartment buildings. | No Russian or self-defense troops were visible at a nearby Ukrainian Air Force base that was stormed Friday night by Russian soldiers, although commander Lt. Col. Andrei Aladashvili said they were under constant observation by Russians on neighboring rooftops and apartment buildings. |
| About 50 people are inside the base, he said, half of them women. They have no weapons because they sent them to an arsenal to avoid any incident. | About 50 people are inside the base, he said, half of them women. They have no weapons because they sent them to an arsenal to avoid any incident. |
| “Our main task is to not to use our weapons, not to have any victims,” he said. “We must not react to any provocation; that is the most important thing.” | “Our main task is to not to use our weapons, not to have any victims,” he said. “We must not react to any provocation; that is the most important thing.” |
| Aladashvili described a harrowing attack on the base Friday night, when a Russian military truck tried to ram the front gate at about 7:30 p.m. and Russian soldiers climbed over the low walls surrounding the facility. The troops on the base lined up just inside the gate, he said, forming a human shield to defend the base. The Russian soldiers positioned themselves behind the Ukrainian troops and threatened to shoot if they did not move, Aladashvili said. | Aladashvili described a harrowing attack on the base Friday night, when a Russian military truck tried to ram the front gate at about 7:30 p.m. and Russian soldiers climbed over the low walls surrounding the facility. The troops on the base lined up just inside the gate, he said, forming a human shield to defend the base. The Russian soldiers positioned themselves behind the Ukrainian troops and threatened to shoot if they did not move, Aladashvili said. |
| A tense standoff continued for five hours while Russian and Ukrainian commanders negotiated over the phone. The Russians eventually left at 12:30 a.m. without a shot being fired, Aladashvili said. | A tense standoff continued for five hours while Russian and Ukrainian commanders negotiated over the phone. The Russians eventually left at 12:30 a.m. without a shot being fired, Aladashvili said. |
| While the Russian military appeared to be expanding its presence on Saturday, sending a convoy of trucks to a base outside the provincial capital of Simferopol, Ukrainian bases have not seen any changes in the past 24 hours, according to Oleg Chubyk, a Ukrainian military spokesman in Crimea. He estimated that 16,000 Russian troops are in Crimea now. | While the Russian military appeared to be expanding its presence on Saturday, sending a convoy of trucks to a base outside the provincial capital of Simferopol, Ukrainian bases have not seen any changes in the past 24 hours, according to Oleg Chubyk, a Ukrainian military spokesman in Crimea. He estimated that 16,000 Russian troops are in Crimea now. |
| The headquarters of the Ukrainian navy in Sevastopol remains barricaded, guarded by both civilian self-defense units and uniformed men wearing balaclava masks and carrying Kalashnikov rifles. Dozens of wooden pallets were leaned up against the gates from the outside, blocking anyone from opening the gates to drive out. Men in self-defense units refused to let reporters past. Uniformed men also could be seen patrolling the rooftop. | The headquarters of the Ukrainian navy in Sevastopol remains barricaded, guarded by both civilian self-defense units and uniformed men wearing balaclava masks and carrying Kalashnikov rifles. Dozens of wooden pallets were leaned up against the gates from the outside, blocking anyone from opening the gates to drive out. Men in self-defense units refused to let reporters past. Uniformed men also could be seen patrolling the rooftop. |
| Faiola reported from Kiev. Constable reported from Simferopol. Isabel Gorst contributed from Moscow. | Faiola reported from Kiev. Constable reported from Simferopol. Isabel Gorst contributed from Moscow. |