This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/15/ukraine-russia-invade-crimea-referendum

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ukraine's president fears Russia could invade after Crimea referendum Ukraine's president fears Russia could invade after Crimea referendum
(about 3 hours later)
Ukraine's president said there was a "real danger" Moscow would seize further territory after Sunday's referendum in Crimea, and accused "Kremlin agents" of orchestrating turmoil in the Russian-speaking east of his country. Ukraine's president has said that there was a "real danger" Moscow would seize further territory after the referendum in Crimea, and he accused "Kremlin agents" of orchestrating turmoil in the Russian-speaking east of his country.
The country's acting leader, Oleksandr Turchynov, said there was every possibility Russia would advance deeper into Ukraine after the poll, condemned by the west as illegal. Acting leader Oleksander Turchinov said there was every possibility that Russia would advance deeper into Ukraine following Sunday's poll, which has been condemned by the west as illegal. He told parliament: "The situation is very dangerous. I'm not exaggerating. There is a real danger from threats of invasion of Ukrainian territory. We will reconvene on Monday at 10am."
He told parliament on Saturday: "The situation is very dangerous. I'm not exaggerating. There is a real danger from threats of invasion of Ukrainian territory. We will reconvene on Monday at 10am." A group of Russian soldiers advanced beyond Kremlin-occupied Crimea yesterday and landed by helicopter in an area of southern Ukraine under Kiev's control, Ukraine's defence ministry said. Some 80 Russian troops arrived at 1.30pm in the village of Strilkove, in Kherson province, five kilometres beyond the autonomous Crimean border. Ukrainian aircraft and paratroopers scrambled to the scene, the ministry said, and forced the Russians to fly off in three helicopters. No shots were fired.
On Saturday a group of Russian soldiers advanced beyond Kremlin-occupied Crimea and landed by helicopter in an area of southern Ukraine under Kiev's control, Ukraine's defence ministry said. It was unclear whether this had been a reconnaissance mission or an attempt to expand Russia's military footprint on the ground. There is a gas production facility near the site of the incursion. The area, Arbatskaya Strelka, is a long sliver of land running parallel to Crimea. Most of the key infrastructure that supplies Crimea with water and electricity is located outside, in the Kherson region.
Eighty Russian troops arrived at 1.30pm in the village of Strilkove, in Kherson province, three miles (5km) beyond the Crimean border. Ukraine's acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchyta, told the Observer on Sunday that it was essential that the new government in Kiev, supported by the EU and the US, resisted what he called Russian "provocations".
Ukrainian aircraft and paratroopers scrambled to the scene, the ministry said. Ukrainian troops then forced the Russians to fly off in three helicopters. No shots were fired. "We have studied the experience of Georgia very well," he said, referring to Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's attempt in 2008 to grab back rebel South Ossetia, which triggered a full-scale Russian invasion. Russian-backed forces had first shelled Georgian villages. "We have to be more creative," he said.
It was unclear if this was a reconnaissance mission or an attempt to expand Russian's military footprint on the ground. Nearby is a gas production facility. Asked if he thought the Kremlin planned to invade eastern Ukraine after the Crimea poll, he said bluntly: "You should address this to Putin."
The area, Arbatskaya Strelka, is a long sliver of land running parallel to Crimea. Most of the infrastructure that supplies Crimea with water and electricity is located outside in the Kherson region. He added: "We are ready to stand up to aggression. We are constantly talking to our partners. Our position is to solve this crisis peacefully. But since this is a kind of war – a diplomatic war – between Ukraine and Russia, we can't reveal all our plans."
Ukraine's acting foreign minister, Andriy Deshchyta, said it was essential that the new government in Kiev, supported by the EU and US, resisted what he called Russian "provocations". Deshchyta said he was prepared to discuss greater autonomy for Crimea – but only with the proper "legal authorities" there, and not while there were "guns on the streets". He described the referendum as "totally illegal". In Kiev the Rada, Ukraine's parliament, voted to dissolve the Crimean regional assembly that organised Sunday's poll and has already endorsed union with Russia.
"We have studied the experience of Georgia very well," he said, referring to the then Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's attempt in 2008 to grab back rebel South Ossetia, which triggered a full-scale Russian invasion. Russian-backed forces had first shelled Georgian villages. At the UN security council in New York, Russia vetoed a US-backed motion declaring the Crimea referendum invalid. The Russian envoy, Vitaly Churkin, claimed that Crimea was given illegally to Ukraine during Soviet times – the apparent view of Russia's president, Vladimir Putin. Russia's vote was the only no, with China abstaining. Thirteen nations voted yes. The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the result underscored Moscow's profound isolation over Crimea. Russia could not "deny the truth that there is overwhelming international opposition to its actions", she said.
"We have to be more creative," he said. The mood in the east, meanwhile, remains febrile following three deaths in two days in the cities of Donetsk and Kharkiv. On Thursday evening, Russia's foreign ministry posted an ominous statement saying that Moscow reserved the right to "protect" ethnic Russians in Ukraine. A day later Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov – following talks with US secretary of state John Kerry in London – said no invasion was "planned".
Asked if he thought the Kremlin planned to invade eastern Ukraine next week, after the Crimea poll, Deshchyta said bluntly: "You should address this to Putin." He added: There was more violence on Saturday when pro-Russian protesters stormed Donetsk's security service. Both cities have seen large pro-Russian demonstrations stirred up – Kiev says – by Moscow and its operatives on the ground.
"We are ready to stand up to aggression. We are constantly talking to our partners. Our position is to solve this crisis peacefully. But since this is a kind of war – a diplomatic war – between Ukraine and Russia we can't reveal all our plans." Addressing parliament, and speaking to the political faction of fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia, Turchinov declared: "You know as well as we do who is organizing mass protests in eastern Ukraine. It is Kremlin agents who are organizing and funding them, who are causing people to be murdered."
Deshchyta said he was prepared to discuss greater autonomy for Crimea – but only with the proper "legal authorities" there, and not while there were "guns on the streets". He described the referendum as "totally illegal". On Saturday, a local journalist in Kharkiv, Zurab Alazania, told the Observer that "Russian tourists" from across the border were travelling throughout the region – with a hardcore of about 1,000 pro-Russian activists inflaming tensions. "The mood is dangerous. It's difficult to live here. There are a lot of thugs in the city." He warned: "There can be further bloodshed, not only in Kharkiv."
In Kiev the Rada, Ukraine's parliament, voted to dissolve the Crimean regional assembly which organised Sunday's poll and has already endorsed union with Russia.
At the UN security council in New York Russia vetoed a US-backed motion declaring the Crimea referendum invalid.
The Russian envoy, Vitaly Churkin, claimed that Crimea had been given illegally to Ukraine during Soviet times – the apparent view of Russia's president, Vladimir Putin.
Russia's vote was the only no, with China abstaining. Thirteen nations voted yes.
The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the result underscored Moscow's profound isolation over Crimea. Russia could not "deny the truth that there is overwhelming international opposition to its actions," she suggested.
The mood in the east, meanwhile, remains febrile after three deaths in two days in the cities of Donetsk and Kharkiv.
On Thursday evening Russia's foreign ministry posted an ominous statement saying that Moscow reserved the right to "protect" ethnic Russians in Ukraine.
A day later Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov – after talks with US secretary of state, John Kerry, in London – said no invasion was planned.
There was more violence on Saturday when pro-Russian protesters smashed windows and stormed Donetsk's security service HQ.
Both cities have seen large pro-Russian demonstrations stirred up – Kiev says – by Moscow and its operatives on the ground.
Addressing parliament, and speaking to the political faction of the fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych, who fled to Russia, Turchinov declared: "You know as well as we do who is organising mass protests in eastern Ukraine. It is Kremlin agents who are organising and funding them, who are causing people to be murdered."
A local journalist in Kharkiv, Zurab Alazania, said that "Russian tourists" from across the border were travelling throughout the region – with a hardcore of about 1,000 pro-Russian activists inflaming tensions.
"The mood is dangerous. It's difficult to live here. There are a lot of thugs in the city." He warned: "There can be further bloodshed, not only in Kharkiv."
Two men, aged 21 and 30, were killed by buckshot late on Friday when pro-Russian demonstrators besieged an office of the far-right Ukrainian nationalist group Right Sector, which rose to prominence fighting riot police in Kiev over the winter. Police said 32 Right Sector activists and six pro-Russian demonstrators were detained and a number of weapons seized.Two men, aged 21 and 30, were killed by buckshot late on Friday when pro-Russian demonstrators besieged an office of the far-right Ukrainian nationalist group Right Sector, which rose to prominence fighting riot police in Kiev over the winter. Police said 32 Right Sector activists and six pro-Russian demonstrators were detained and a number of weapons seized.
A spokesman for Right Sector in Kharkiv said his group had been besieged in their office overnight by pro-Russian activists firing shotguns and rifles and throwing petrol bombs and stun grenades. A spokesman for Right Sector in Kharkiv said his group had been besieged in their office overnight by pro-Russian activists firing shotguns and rifles and throwing petrol bombs and stun grenades.Kharkiv governor Ihor Baluta, newly appointed by the interim authorities in Kiev, said the "well-planned provocation by pro-Russian activists" began when unidentified men in a minibus provoked a confrontation with pro-Russia demonstrators and then drove off. When pursuing demonstrators caught up with the vehicle, it was parked outside the nationalists' building.
Kharkiv's governor, Ihor Baluta, newly appointed by the interim authorities in Kiev, said the "well-planned provocation by pro-Russian activists" began when unidentified men in a minibus provoked a confrontation with pro-Russia demonstrators and then drove off. The Right Sector spokesman, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency, said his group had taken no part in the initial clash and believed the minibus was left outside its office by others.
When pursuing demonstrators caught up with the vehicle, it was parked outside the nationalists' building. The prominence of groups like Right Sector in positions of influence in Kiev, and measures such as a short-lived move last month to end the use of Russian as an official language, have led Russia to accuse leaders of a "coup" in Ukraine of planning to impose "fascism" and discriminate against Russian speakers.
The Right Sector spokesman, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency, said his group had taken no part in the initial clash and believed the minibus had been left outside its office by others. In Moscow, a senior foreign ministry official with responsibility for human rights issues, Konstantin Dolgov, said on Twitter that the arrest in Kharkiv of people he described as "neo-fascist militants" must be followed by wider action to "neutralise and punish rampant extremists".
The prominence of groups like Right Sector in positions of influence in Kiev, and measures such as a short-lived move last month to end the use of Russian as an official language, have led Russia to accuse leaders of a "coup" in Ukraine of planning to impose fascism and discriminate against Russian-speakers. Western powers, preparing economic sanctions against Russia over Crimea, largely dismiss Russia's characterisation of the new authorities in Kiev as the successors of Nazi-allied Ukrainian forces that fought the Red Army in the second world war.
In Moscow, a senior foreign ministry official with responsibility for human rights issues, Konstantin Dolgov, said on Twitter that the arrest in Kharkiv of people he described as "neo-fascist militants" must be followed by wider action to "neutralize and punish rampant extremists".
Western powers, preparing economic sanctions against Russia over Crimea, largely dismiss Russia's characterisation of the new authorities in Kiev as the successors of Nazi-allied Ukrainian forces which fought the Red Army in World War II.