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Crimea crisis: Pro-Russians seize Sevastopol Ukrainian naval base Crimea crisis: Pro-Russians seize Ukrainian naval bases
(about 4 hours later)
Pro-Russian activists have taken control of the HQ of Ukraine's navy in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. Pro-Russian forces have taken control of two naval bases in Crimea - including the HQ of Ukraine's navy.
Ukrainian navy chief Serhiy Hayduk has reportedly been detained and the Russian flag is flying over the base. Many Ukrainian personnel have left. Streams of Ukrainian servicemen were seen leaving the bases. Kiev said its navy chief has been detained.
On Tuesday, Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Moscow absorbing the peninsula into Russia. Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Moscow on Tuesday absorbing the peninsula into Russia.
That followed Sunday's referendum approving Crimea's split from Ukraine - a vote that has been widely condemned. Sunday's referendum approving Crimea's split from Ukraine came nearly a month after Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych fell from power.
Crimean and Russian officials say the vote showed overwhelming public support for joining Russia, with 97% of voters in favour. Crimean and Russian officials said 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 hastily organised referendum - boycotted by many of Crimea's Ukrainian and Tatar minorities - was illegal and will not be recognised.But the West and the Ukrainian government in Kiev say the hastily organised referendum - boycotted by many of Crimea's Ukrainian and Tatar minorities - was illegal and will not be recognised.
Russia's constitutional court has now approved the accession treaty and the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says there is no doubt that parliament will also give its full backing. 'A takeover'
Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh and First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema travelled to Crimea on Wednesday to try to defuse tensions, but were prevented from entering, Ukrainian media reported, citing ministers. Ukraine's interim President Olexander Turchynov has demanded the Crimean authorities release navy chief Serhiy Hayduk by 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is heading to the region, and will meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday and Ukraine's interim leaders in Kiev on Friday, his office says. He said that unless Mr Hayduk and "all the other hostages - both military and civilian ones - are released, the authorities will carry out an adequate response... of a technical and technological nature".
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said the EU must send "a very clear warning" to Russia. He also said the G8 group should discuss whether to expel Russia "if further steps are taken". It is not clear exactly what he means, but it could involve the electricity or water that Ukraine supplies to Crimea, the BBC's David Stern in Kiev suggests.
Refusal to surrender Kiev said Mr Hayduk was detained soon after Ukraine's naval headquarters was stormed by some 200 pro-Russian activists, some armed, in Sevastopol - the port city which is also homes Russia's Black Sea fleet.
Pro-Russian forces appear to have taken control of the Ukrainian base in Sevastopol - the port city which houses Russia's Black Sea fleet - without a shot being fired. They were filmed going through offices, removing Ukrainian insignia and replacing Ukraine's flag with the Russian tricolour.
Around 200 people, some armed, broke down the gates and went to negotiate with senior Ukrainian personnel. There were cheers from the crowd when Russia's Black Sea Fleet commander Aleksandr Vitko arrived and entered the building.
Television footage showed Russia's Black Sea fleet commander Aleksandr Vitko entering the base to cheers from the crowd. Ukraine's defence ministry said its navy base in Novo-Ozyorne in west Crimea was also infiltrated after a tractor was used to ram the front gates.
Kiev ordered its troops to stay in place, but a number of Ukrainian servicemen - at least one in tears - were seen leaving the base carrying their belongings. An Agence France Press reporter saw some 50 Ukrainian servicemen filing out of the base watched by Russian soldiers.
Others are still inside and refusing to surrender. A pro-Russian forces member in Sevastopol, Viktor Melnikov, said "not a drop of blood has been spilled" and there was no violence.
"There is nothing we could do against the crowd, nothing. Everything happened spontaneously," said Ukrainian captain Olexander Balanyuk. But one of the Ukrainian servicemen who left, Captain Olexander Balanyuk, said: "There were many promises from the Russian side and our side that the base will not be stormed, that all issues will be resolved through political means, but as you see now - there was a takeover."
"There were many promises from the Russian side and our side that the base will not be stormed, that all issues will be resolved through political means, but as you see now - there was a takeover." But some said they would never surrender.
Pro-Russian forces member Viktor Melnikov said that "not a drop of blood has been spilled" and there was no violence, saying the Ukrainians were applauded as they left. One serviceman talked to the BBC by telephone from inside the headquarters, saying he was one of around 100 Ukrainians who had barricaded themselves in using furniture to block the doors.
There were then reports that Serhiy Hayduk had been detained and taken from the base by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh and First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema reportedly tried to enter Crimea to defuse tensions but were prevented from doing so.
"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.
Prosecutors in Sevastopol have denied reports they had any involvement in Serhiy Hayduk's detention, according to the Kiev-based news website Ukrayinska Pravda.
Ukraine's defence ministry reported another incident at 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.
On Tuesday, Ukraine's army said a soldier had been killed in an attack on a base in Crimea's capital, Simferopol. Russia said one member of the pro-Russian "self-defence" force in Crimea had also been killed. The reports could not be independently confirmed.
Ukraine's interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned "the conflict is shifting from a political to a military stage".
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. Earlier on Wednesday, Russia's constitutional court approved the treaty absorbing Crimea into the Russian Federation. The treaty now only needs ratifying by parliament which correspondents say it is certain to do.
Brussels and the White House have said the sanctions will be expanded - Moscow has warned this is "unacceptable and will not remain without consequences". In an emotionally charged speech on Tuesday, Mr Putin said Crimea had "always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia".
The Ukrainian crisis began last November after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych ditched an EU association agreement in favour of stronger ties with Moscow. Meanwhile, shocking footage has emerged of MPs from Ukraine's far-right Svoboda party roughing up Oleksandr Panteleymonov, the acting chief executive of the state broadcaster, over his decision to broadcast the ceremony in the Kremlin.
He fled Ukraine on 22 February after protests in which more than 80 people were killed. The crisis in Crimea is expected to dominate a meeting of European Union leaders who meet in Brussels on Thursday.
Many in Crimea - with its predominantly ethnic Russian population - opposed the new West-leaning government, and in late February, pro-Russian forces effectively took control of the peninsula. Both the EU and the US have already imposed sanctions on several officials from Russia and Ukraine accused of involvement in Moscow's actions in Crimea.
Moscow denies the forces are Russian or are acting under its orders. UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the EU must send "a very clear warning" to Russia. He also said the G8 group should discuss whether to expel Russia "if further steps are taken".
Crimea's prime minister was replaced on 27 February by pro-Moscow Sergei Aksyonov, leader of the small Russian Unity party, who called the referendum. Moscow said any expansion of sanctions is "unacceptable and will not remain without consequences".
In an emotionally charged speech before he signed the treaty in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said Crimea had "always been and remains an inseparable part of Russia". UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is heading to the region, and will meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday and Ukraine's interim leaders in Kiev on Friday to try to find a way forward.
Pro-Russian forces effectively took over Crimea - with its predominantly ethnic Russian population - after Mr Yanukovych fled Ukraine on 22 February following protests in which more than 80 people were killed.
Many in Crimea say they oppose the new West-leaning government, which was formed partly from those who led protests against Mr Yanukovych over his decision in November to ditch an EU association agreement in favour of stronger ties with Moscow.
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.
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