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| Russians and Militias Seize Ukrainian Naval Headquarters | Russians and Militias Seize Ukrainian Naval Headquarters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| SEVASTOPOL, Crimea — Russian forces and local militiamen seized control of the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy here on Wednesday, a day after Russia declared that it was annexing Crimea. | SEVASTOPOL, Crimea — Russian forces and local militiamen seized control of the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy here on Wednesday, a day after Russia declared that it was annexing Crimea. |
| Officers of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which is also headquartered here, entered the base through its main gates as Ukrainian military personnel streamed out carrying clothes and other personal belongings. | Officers of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which is also headquartered here, entered the base through its main gates as Ukrainian military personnel streamed out carrying clothes and other personal belongings. |
| Although the gates were broken open during the initial takeover of the base, there were no reports of shooting or injuries. At a far side of the base, local self-defense militia units appeared to be looting some equipment, removing a refrigerator through one gate, and throwing bags over the walls, which were then loaded onto a waiting truck. | |
| The militia forces appeared to have led the initial entry into the base, which has been surrounded since shortly after Russian forces deployed across Crimea more than two weeks ago. | The militia forces appeared to have led the initial entry into the base, which has been surrounded since shortly after Russian forces deployed across Crimea more than two weeks ago. |
| The militiamen have been guarding the perimeter of the base along with professional soldiers in camouflage uniforms with no insignia but whose equipment and organization leave little doubt they are Russian military personnel. The militiamen entered the base around 8 a.m. and an hour or so later hoisted a Russian flag on the main flagpole. | The militiamen have been guarding the perimeter of the base along with professional soldiers in camouflage uniforms with no insignia but whose equipment and organization leave little doubt they are Russian military personnel. The militiamen entered the base around 8 a.m. and an hour or so later hoisted a Russian flag on the main flagpole. |
| The seizure came a day after President Vladimir V. Putin reclaimed Crimea as a part of Russia, reversing what he described as a historic injustice made by the Soviet Union 60 years ago and brushing aside international condemnation that could leave Russia isolated for years to come. | The seizure came a day after President Vladimir V. Putin reclaimed Crimea as a part of Russia, reversing what he described as a historic injustice made by the Soviet Union 60 years ago and brushing aside international condemnation that could leave Russia isolated for years to come. |
| Only hours after Mr. Putin spoke on Tuesday, a group of soldiers opened fire as they stormed a Ukrainian military mapping office near Simferopol, the Crimean capital, killing a Ukrainian soldier and wounding another, according to a Ukrainian officer inside the base and a statement by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. | Only hours after Mr. Putin spoke on Tuesday, a group of soldiers opened fire as they stormed a Ukrainian military mapping office near Simferopol, the Crimean capital, killing a Ukrainian soldier and wounding another, according to a Ukrainian officer inside the base and a statement by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. |