This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2014/03/20/world/europe/crimea.html

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
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 President Vladimir V. Putin declared that Russia was annexing Crimea. SEVASTOPOL, Crimea — Local militiamen backed by Russian forces seized control of the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy here on Wednesday, a day after Russia declared that it was annexing Crimea, in what appeared to be the start of a concerted effort to oust the Ukrainian military from bases and installations that have been under siege for more than two weeks.
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. The takeover unfolded despite calls in the West for Moscow’s expulsion from key international bodies, such as the G-8 grouping of leading economic powers. Officers of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which is also headquartered here, later entered the base through its main gates as Ukrainian military personnel streamed out carrying clothes and other personal belongings.
At the same time, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. continued his effort on Wednesday to reassure American allies in the Baltic region, once part of the Soviet Union, that the United States would protect them from any aggression by Russia. The takeover proceeded as anger intensified in the West over Russia’s move to annex Crimea, with calls for Russia’s expulsion from important international bodies such as the G-8 grouping of leading economic powers. At the same time, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. continued his effort to reassure American allies in the Baltic region, once part of the Soviet Union, that the United States would protect them from any aggression by Russia.
“We stand resolutely with our Baltic allies in support of the Ukrainian people and against Russian aggression,” Mr. Biden said during a visit to Lithuania. “As long as Russia continues on this dark path, they will face increasing economic and political isolation.” The United Nations said Wednesday that Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general, would fly to Moscow and Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, on Thursday and Friday for meetings with leaders, including President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
The United Nations said on Wednesday that Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general, will fly to Moscow and Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, on Thursday and Friday for meetings with leaders including Mr. Putin, Reuters reported. At the Ukrainian naval headquarters here, soldiers with machine guns, wearing green camouflage but still no identifying insignia, were deployed in and around the base. A large military truck parked just outside the base bore the black-and-white license plates of the Russian forces.
In Sevastopol, the gates of the Ukrainian naval headquarters were broken open during the initial takeover, but there were no reports of shooting or injuries. At a far side of the facility, 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. Although the gates were forced open during the initial storming of the base, there were no reports of shooting or injuries. And while there was no indication that the Ukrainian government was prepared to issue a formal surrender in Crimea, capitulation by military units surrounded throughout the peninsula seemed increasingly inevitable.
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. When asked why they did not return fire, one Ukrainian soldier leaving the base here said, “We had no order and no weapons.” Another said, “We met them empty-handed.”
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. On Tuesday evening, after reports that a shooting at another military installation, not far from the Crimean capital of Simferopol, had left at least one Ukrainian soldier dead, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry in Kiev issued a statement saying its troops had been authorized to use force to defend themselves.
The seizure came a day after President 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. At the base here in Sevastopol, however, the troops seemed to feel less of a threat of deadly harm, than the resolute sense of facing eviction at gunpoint.
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. Andrew Yankov, a member of a local self-defense group who was present during the takeover, described the action as “a big victory.”
Russia’s annexation of Crimea drew broad Western protest as governments scrambled to find a response to the Kremlin’s audacious moves, which have unfolded with remarkable haste since the stealthy takeover of the strategic peninsula began three weeks ago. “We stood here for weeks and now we’re finally successful,” Mr. Yankov said. “It’s also freedom for the guys inside. We took responsibility. They’re happy because they’re tired. They want to go home.”
At a far side of the base, local 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 truck.
The base, likes other military installations across Crimea, has been surrounded since shortly after Russian forces occupied the region at the beginning of March.
The local militiamen have been guarding the perimeter of the base along with professional soldiers who have no identifying badges 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 Mr. 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 shunned internationally.
The United States and Western allies have begun imposing economic sanctions to punish Russia for the incursion into Crimea, but it is not clear that they are prepared for any action that would prevent the Russian annexation from moving forward.
On Wednesday, there were reports from several bases that Russian forces and local militias were gathering in anticipation of seizing control, in Novoozornoe, on a lake not far from the city of Yevpatoriaa on the western coast of Crimea.
Russia’s annexation of Crimea drew broad Western protest on Tuesday as governments scrambled to find a response to the Kremlin’s audacious moves, which have unfolded with remarkable haste since the stealthy takeover of the strategic peninsula began.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said the world’s leading industrialized countries should consider expelling Russia permanently from the G-8 grouping. The United States, Britain and their allies in the older G-7 body are meeting in The Hague next week to debate further measures against Russia, which will not be present at the gathering.Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said the world’s leading industrialized countries should consider expelling Russia permanently from the G-8 grouping. The United States, Britain and their allies in the older G-7 body are meeting in The Hague next week to debate further measures against Russia, which will not be present at the gathering.
“I think it’s important that we move together with our allies and partners and I think we should be discussing whether or not to expel Russia permanently from the G-8 if further steps are taken,” Mr. Cameron told Parliament, echoing a similar call several weeks ago by Secretary of State John Kerry. “That’s the meeting we’ll have on Monday and I think that’s the right way to proceed.”“I think it’s important that we move together with our allies and partners and I think we should be discussing whether or not to expel Russia permanently from the G-8 if further steps are taken,” Mr. Cameron told Parliament, echoing a similar call several weeks ago by Secretary of State John Kerry. “That’s the meeting we’ll have on Monday and I think that’s the right way to proceed.”
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, whose country has strong economic ties with Russia, was quoted by contrast as saying no decision had been taken on Moscow’s permanent expulsion from the body. By contrast, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, whose country has strong economic ties with Russia, was quoted as saying that no decision had been taken on Moscow’s permanent expulsion from the body.
Before the crisis in Crimea, Mr. Putin was scheduled to host a gathering of the G-8 countries in Sochi in June following the Winter Olympics and Paralympic games there, but Western countries have suspended their participation. Before the crisis in Crimea, Mr. Putin was scheduled to host a gathering of the G-8 countries in June in Sochi, where the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games were held, but Western countries have suspended their participation.
On Thursday, leaders of the 28-nation European Union are scheduled to debate a response to Russia’s moves.On Thursday, leaders of the 28-nation European Union are scheduled to debate a response to Russia’s moves.
“If we turn away from this crisis and don’t act,"Mr. Cameron said, “we will pay a very high price in the longer term.” “If we turn away from this crisis and don’t act,” Mr. Cameron said, “we will pay a very high price in the longer term.”