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Crimea crisis: Pro-Russians seize Sevastopol Ukraine naval base | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pro-Russian activists have taken control of the headquarters of Ukraine's navy in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. | |
Several Ukrainian servicemen have left, the Russia flag is flying and there are reports that Ukrainian navy chief Serhiy Hayduk has been detained. | Several Ukrainian servicemen have left, the Russia flag is flying and there are reports that Ukrainian navy chief Serhiy Hayduk has been detained. |
It comes a day after Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Moscow absorbing the peninsula into Russia. | |
Sunday's referendum on splitting from Ukraine has been widely condemned. | |
Crimean and Russian officials say the vote showed overwhelming public support for joining Russia, with 97% of voters in favour. | Crimean and Russian officials say the vote showed overwhelming public support for joining Russia, with 97% of voters in favour. |
But the West and the Ukrainian government in Kiev say the referendum - organised in two weeks and boycotted by many of Crimea's Ukrainian and Tatar minorities - was illegal, and the results will not be recognised. | But the West and the Ukrainian government in Kiev say the referendum - organised in two weeks and boycotted by many of Crimea's Ukrainian and Tatar minorities - was illegal, and the results will not be recognised. |
On Wednesday, Russia's constitutional court approved the accession treaty as legal. | |
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says there is no doubt that Russia's parliament will give its full backing to the treaty when it votes on Friday. | |
Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh has reportedly been ordered to head to Crimea, where Ukrainian troops are vastly outnumbered by Russian forces. | |
Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Crimea's Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov, who is in Moscow, as saying: "Nobody will let them into Crimea, they will be sent back." | Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Crimea's Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov, who is in Moscow, as saying: "Nobody will let them into Crimea, they will be sent back." |
Servicemen leaving | Servicemen leaving |
The port city of Sevastopol is home to the Russian Black Sea fleet. | The port city of Sevastopol is home to the Russian Black Sea fleet. |
Pro-Russian forces appeared to have taken control of the Ukrainian base there without a shot being fired. | |
An officer inside the base told the BBC that some 200 pro-Russian activists had broken down the gates and gone inside to negotiate with Ukrainian officers. | |
Ukrainian navy spokesman Sergiy Bogdanov said officers had barricaded themselves inside the building. | |
Even though Kiev has authorised the military to use force in Crimea in self-defence, he said "we are not doing so and will not do so". | |
A number of Ukrainian servicemen were later seen leaving the base carrying their belongings, and Russian flags were raised over the building. | |
The AFP news agency said one serviceman was in tears as he walked out. | |
There were then reports that Serhiy Hayduk had been detained and taken from the base by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). | |
"He was blocked and he had nowhere to go. He was forced out and he has been taken away," said Igor Yeskin, a representative of the Russian forces. | |
Ukraine's defence ministry reported a similar incident at a its navy base in Novo-Ozyorne, in western Crimea. | |
Defence ministry spokesman Vladyslav Seleznev said on Facebook that a tractor had rammed the gates of the compound and blocked the entrance. | |
Sanctions 'consequences' | Sanctions 'consequences' |
The US and the EU are among those who have imposed sanctions on several officials from Russia and Ukraine accused of involvement in Moscow's actions in Crimea. | |
Brussels and the White House have said the sanctions will be expanded - Moscow has warned this is "unacceptable and will not remain without consequences". | |
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. |
Crimea was handed to Ukraine by the Soviet Union in 1954, and has a predominantly ethnic Russian population. | |
Pro-Russian forces effectively took control of the peninsula in late February and gunmen seized buildings, including the parliament. | Pro-Russian forces effectively took control of the peninsula in late February and gunmen seized buildings, including the parliament. |
The prime minister was removed from office on 27 February by a vote of no confidence and replaced by pro-Moscow Sergei Aksyonov, leader of the small Russian Unity party, who called the referendum. | The prime minister was removed from office on 27 February by a vote of no confidence and replaced by pro-Moscow Sergei Aksyonov, leader of the small Russian Unity party, who called the referendum. |
In an emotionally charged speech before he signed the treaty in Moscow on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Crimea had "always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia". | |
"The people of Crimea clearly and convincingly expressed their will - they want to be with Russia," he said, and were no longer prepared to put up with the "historical injustice" of being part of Ukraine. | |
Are you in the region? Email us haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Crimea' in the subject heading and include your contact details. | Are you in the region? Email us haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Crimea' in the subject heading and include your contact details. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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