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Pro-Russians storm Ukraine Sevastopol naval base in Crimea | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Pro-Russian activists, some of them armed, have stormed a Ukrainian naval base in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. | |
Russian flags have been seen flying from buildings, the headquarters of the Ukrainian navy, and several Ukrainian servicemen were seen leaving the base. | |
It comes a day after Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Russia absorbing the peninsula into the Russian Federation after a disputed referendum. | It comes a day after Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Russia absorbing the peninsula into the Russian Federation after a disputed referendum. |
The move has been widely condemned internationally. | |
On Monday, the US and the EU imposed sanctions on several officials from Russia and Ukraine accused of involvement in Moscow's actions in the Black Sea peninsula. | On Monday, the US and the EU imposed sanctions on several officials from Russia and Ukraine accused of involvement in Moscow's actions in the Black Sea peninsula. |
An officer inside the Sevastopol base told the BBC that some 200 pro-Russian activists had broken down the gates and gone inside, using an ambulance car. | |
The senior Ukrainian officer at the scene was negotiating with them, he said. | The senior Ukrainian officer at the scene was negotiating with them, he said. |
A number of Ukrainian servicemen were later seen leaving the base. There have been no reports of clashes or shots being fired. | |
Ukrainian navy spokesman Sergiy Bogdanov told AFP news agency: "There are about 200 of them, some wearing balaclavas. | Ukrainian navy spokesman Sergiy Bogdanov told AFP news agency: "There are about 200 of them, some wearing balaclavas. |
"They are unarmed and no shots have been fired from our side. The officers have barricaded themselves inside the building," he said. | "They are unarmed and no shots have been fired from our side. The officers have barricaded themselves inside the building," he said. |
He said even though Kiev had authorised the military to use force in Crimea in self-defence "we are not doing so and will not do so". | He said even though Kiev had authorised the military to use force in Crimea in self-defence "we are not doing so and will not do so". |
The Ukrainian crisis began last November after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych ditched an EU association agreement in favour of stronger ties with Moscow. | The Ukrainian crisis began last November after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych ditched an EU association agreement in favour of stronger ties with Moscow. |
He fled Ukraine on 22 February after protests in which more than 80 people were killed. | He fled Ukraine on 22 February after protests in which more than 80 people were killed. |
Pro-Russia armed men then took effective control of Crimea, which has been part of Ukraine since 1954 but has a predominantly ethnic Russian population. | Pro-Russia armed men then took effective control of Crimea, which has been part of Ukraine since 1954 but has a predominantly ethnic Russian population. |
The Crimean port city of Sevastopol is home to the Russian Black Sea fleet. | The Crimean port city of Sevastopol is home to the Russian Black Sea fleet. |