Video - Buses designated to evacuate Aleppo civilians attacked and set ablaze by Jaish Fateh militants

#Syria: Video reportedly shows buses designated to evacuate #Aleppo civilians attacked by Islamic militants and set ablaze. pic.twitter.com/Kru13MUjhS

— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) December 18, 2016

Footage near #Sarmeen, #Idlib shows entire convoy of buses heading to #Fuah #Kfarya in flames. #JFS blamed. #Sarmeen is #JundAqsa HQ pic.twitter.com/u8U0HX8ewk

— Riam Dalati (@Dalatrm) December 18, 2016

#AQ nt "rebels" burning buses,screaming sectarian insults against #Shia, preventing #Fua #Kfarya - East #Aleppo evachttps://t.co/T3kTuNOOba

— Elijah J. Magnier (@EjmAlrai) December 18, 2016

Saraya al-Tawheed, alined w/ al-Qaida claim the responsibility: "religiously we hv green light 2kill any Shia coming out of Fua and Kfarya". pic.twitter.com/41dSMHFomT

— Elijah J. Magnier (@EjmAlrai) December 18, 2016

Jaish Fateh militants have set fire to several buses that were going towards Fuah-Kafraya in Idlib countryside pic.twitter.com/wud4CNQp1u

— Hassan Ridha (@sayed_ridha) December 18, 2016

More pics of the buses which were burned by militants near Sarmin south of Binnish, Idlib pic.twitter.com/by7g7wf5tP

— Hassan Ridha (@sayed_ridha) December 18, 2016

Evacuation buses burning after being attacked by rebels in Syria. pic.twitter.com/F4FxrOEBC7

— Murad Gazdiev (@MuradGazdiev) December 18, 2016

Chinese vessels left a central Vietnamese port Monday with more than 3,500 evacuees.

Chinese vessels left a central Vietnamese port Monday with more than 3,500 evacuees.(People).

The four ships dispatched by China to pull back its nationals affected by the recent violence in Vietnam have left a central Vietnamese port Monday with more than 3,500 evacuees.

The passenger vessels, Wuzhishan, Tongguling, Zijing 12 and Baishiling, are expected to arrive at the Xiuying port of southern Chinese city Haikou on Tuesday.

The four ships, with a capacity of 1,000 passengers each, are part of a massive evacuation operation launched in the immediate aftermath of the deadly riots in Vietnam.

Protests targeting foreign companies in central and southern Vietnamese provinces turned violent Tuesday, leaving at least two Chinese dead and more than 100 injured.

At a time when the safety and legitimate rights of the overseas Chinese are gravely threatened, the government is demonstrating decisiveness, efficiency and a growing capability to protect its people.

"Finally home," many Chinese workers sighed upon boarding Tongguling, with apparent signs of relief on their faces.Read the full story here.

Video - Head of the Crimean Supreme Council: Crimea is not going to be separated from Ukraine

Video - CCTV video purports to show heavily armed, well-prepared men taking over Crimea Council of Mins bldg

Video - CCTV video purports to show heavily armed, well-prepared men taking over Crimea Council of Mins bldg on Feb 27th. HT: Correspondnet. Twitter @YanniKouts

BREAKING Crimea leader asks Russia's Putin for help in restoring 'peace and calm'

Crimean Prime Minister appealed to Russia to help ensure peace,(RT).

"Given the above, the understanding of their responsibility for the lives and safety of citizens, I appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking for assistance in ensuring peace and tranquility in the ARC," - said in a statement.

Furthermore, Aksenov temporarily reassigned all the power structures and appointed chief of the Crimean militia Igor Avrutskaya.

"As chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, implementing powers conferred on me by the Supreme Council of Crimea, I decide to temporarily resubordination formations, units, Interior Ministry security forces, armed forces, emergency, fleet, tax, border directly to you. All commanders only perform my orders and instructions. Dissent ask to leave the service ", - stated in circulation Sergei Aksenov.

As the February 28th Permanent Representative of President of Ukraine in Crimea Sergey Kunitsyn, Head of the Crimean police department chief Valery Radchenko wrote in his resignation. Appointed to this post Igor Avrutsky, formerly head of the Crimean Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, as well as the acting mayor of Feodosia.

BREAKING Crimea leader asks Russia's Putin for help in restoring 'peace and calm' HT: Agence France press.

Comments by Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the @UN Vitaly Churkin on the situation in Ukraine http://webtv.un.org/watch/vitaly-churkin-russian-federation-on-ukraine-security-council-media-stakeout-28-february-2014/3272527595001/


Council of Ministers of Crimea temporarily subdued unit power structures autonomy.

Connection of the power structures and will temporarily be in direct supervision of the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the chairman of the Council of Ministers Sergey Aksenov autonomy. We are talking about structures MIA, SSU, Sun, MOE, navy, tax service and border guards.

"All commanders only perform my orders and instructions Dissent ask to leave the service," - said in a statement Aksenov, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine.

The 'Cavalry' has Arrived! The Night Wolves, Pro-Kremlin Bikers to The Rescue in Crimea.

The 'Cavalry' has Arrived! The Night Wolves, Pro-Kremlin Bikers to The Rescue in Crimea.HT: Interpreter.

Night Wolves leader Aleksandr Zaldostanov, known as “Surgeon,” has arrived in Simferopol and is asking local residents “what they need.”

He said his club plans to “deliver humanitarian aid,” and told RIA Novosti that medicine and other goods will be “brought to Sevastopol from Stalingrad.” (Yes, that’s what he called the city which is usually named “Volgograd” in modern Russia). 

Zaldostanov also said his club would bring ATVs, which would be helpful to Ukrainians “to maintain connections between checkpoints.” Earlier today the motorcycle gang helped Russian forces to take over airports and buildings in Crimea  by blocking off roads, the Guardian reported. 

The Night Wolves are notorious for their close ties to the Kremlin; last year President Vladimir Putin awarded Zaldostanov the prestigious Order of Honour for his “active work in patriotic upbringing of the young” and for helping search for the remains of missing World War II soldiers,
More here from Time.                                                           The 'Cavalry' has arrived !

Video - Euromaidan top-leader Poroshenko being chased by pro-Russia crowd through Crimea capital.

Ukrainian lawmaker and businessman Petro Poroshenko is being chased by an angry crowd in Simferopol, Crimea.

Unconfirmed report - Russian Ultimatum & Russian Gvozdikas (self-propelled artillery) arriving in the Crimea.

Unconfirmed report - Russian Gvozdikas (self-propelled artillery) in Crimea.HT: UkrainianUpdates.

Russian ultimatum: Ukrainian troops in Crimea must leave bases by 2am local time (2:37 now) - via HromadskeTV MT.

  Meanwhile in The US: 

Russian Lawmakers Push to Simplify Annexing New Territories......Like the Crimea for example?

Russian Lawmakers Push to Simplify Annexing New Territories......Like the Crimea for example?(RN).

Lawmakers in Russia introduced a bill in parliament on Friday to simplify the absorption of new territories into the country in what will be widely interpreted as a signal that Moscow may be planning to gain control over Ukraine’s mainly ethnic Russian-populated region of Crimea.

The legislation comes as Russian troops reportedly blockaded an airport in the Crimean city of Sevastopol in what Ukraine’s acting interior minister, Arsen Avakov, has described as an armed invasion.

Under the bill, authored by the Kremlin-loyal opposition party A Just Russia, the decision on the accession of a part of a foreign state to Russia should be taken through a referendum.

“There have been cases in international practice when a part of a state joined another state without an international treaty being signed. Moreover, international law does not require the conclusion of such a treaty with a foreign state,” the lawmakers said. Its authors said the legislation, which comes amid political turmoil in Ukraine, stems from Russia’s obligations under a friendship agreement signed in 1997.

Under the deal, Russia and Ukraine agreed to take measures aimed at preventing actions inciting violence against groups of citizens over national, ethnic or religious intolerance.

Video - Yanukovich denies ouster, says 'ashamed & guilty' for not preventing chaos

Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich pledges to fight for Ukraine. He addressed a press conference in southern Russia, appearing in public for the first time since he fled Kiev amid bloody riots.

“No one has ousted me,” Yanukovich told reporters. “I had to leave Ukraine because of a direct threat to my life and the lives of my family.”

According to Yanukovich, “nationalist fascist-like fellows representing the absolute minority of Ukrainians” took over power in Ukraine.

He described the situation in Ukraine as “complete lawlessness,” “terror” and "chaos", saying that the politicians, including MPs, have been threatened and are working under threats.

It has nothing to do with the unity government that was negotiated with the opposition, he said.

The violence and deaths in Ukraine are the “result of the irresponsible politics of the West, which has encouraged Maidan,” Yanukovich stressed.

US and other Western countries’ representatives “must take full responsibility” for the fact that the agreement between Yanukovich and the opposition leaders was not held, the ousted president stressed. Western powers’ “patronage” of Maidan makes them directly responsible for the situation in Ukraine, he claimed.

The current Ukrainian parliament is “not legitimate,” and the people in power are spreading the propaganda of violence, Yanukovich asserted.

When asked if he feels ashamed of his actions, Yanukovich replied that he feels ashamed and sorry for “not having been able to stabilize the situations and stop the mayhem” in Ukraine.

“I want to apologize to the Ukrainian people for what has happened in Ukraine and that I lacked strength to maintain stability.”

Yanukovich also apologized to the Ukrainian riot police, Berkut, for having to “suffer” while doing their duty of maintaining peace and order. Police officers had to stand their ground while rioters set them on fire with petrol bombs, he reminded.

Yanukovich stressed he had not given any order for police to shoot live fire until the rioters started using firearms, putting the officers’ lives under threat.

According to Yanukovich, the early Ukrainian elections announced for May 25 are “illegitimate” and he will not take part in them.

However, he said that he will “remain in politics.”

Video - Video clip of "DOZENS OF MIL MI-24 COMBAT HELICOPTERS OVER BELBEK, NORTH OF SEVASTOPOL"

Update: More than 80 Mil Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters of Russian Western Military District head to emergency airfields during drills

Ukraine parliament appeals for UN Security Council to discuss crisis.

Ukraine parliament appeals for UN Security Council to discuss crisis.Live updates from here from BBC.

Update: Ukraine says Russian forces block airport


Good Crimea analysis and recs from Carnegie.  … "What was once seen as impossible has now become all too conceivable."

MT  Seems to be new Russian Army uniform: http://en.ria.ru/photolents/20121225/178388360_4.html … Any other suggestions?

Putin seeks Ukraine financial aid consultations with IMF and G8; will consider Crimean authorities' request of humanitarian aid

Putin seeks Ukraine financial aid consultations with IMF and G8; will consider Crimean authorities' request of humanitarian aid.(RBTH).

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to continue to work together with its Ukrainian partners in order to further promote trade and business ties between the two countries, hold consultations with Russia's international partners, including the International Monetary Fund, concerning the issue of financial assistance for Ukraine, as well as consider the possibility of sending humanitarian supplies to Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea in response to an appropriate request from it, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"President of Russian Vladimir Putin instructed the government of Russia to continue contacts with its partners in Kyiv on matters surrounding the development of trade and business ties between the Russian Federation and Ukraine," Peskov said.

The president also ordered that consultations be held with Russia's foreign partners, among them the IMF and G8 member countries, concerning the issue of financial aid for Ukraine, he said.

"Apart from that, bearing in mind the Crimean authorities' request of humanitarian aid, the president of Russia instructed the Russian government to consider this issue, including on the part of regions of the Russian Federation," he said.Read the full story here.

Ukraine Accuses Russian Soldiers in Crimea of armed 'Invasion' and 'occupation'.

Update:

Ukraine Accuses Russian Soldiers in Crimea of armed 'Invasion' and 'occupation'.(RN).

The interior minister of Ukraine accused Russian troops Friday of blockading an airport in the Crimean city of Sevastopol in what he has described as an armed invasion.

While stressing that no direct violent confrontations had taken place, Arsen Avakov said the matter should be dealt with on a diplomatic level before armed clashes broke out.

Avakov said on his Facebook account that troops from the Black Sea Fleet, which is stationed in the city, could be seen outside Belbek airport, although the inside of the terminal was controlled by Ukrainian troops.

“The airport is not operating. At the external perimeter there are Ukrainian Interior Ministry checkpoints. There have been not been armed clashes,” Avakov said.

The alleged presence of Black Sea Fleet troops at the airport, if confirmed, would be in direct defiance of a demand by Ukrainian interim authorities Thursday for Russian troops to refrain from leaving their quarters. That appeal apparently echoed international concern that Moscow may choose to throw its weight behind pro-Russian groups in Crimea seeking to defy interim authorities in Kiev.

“Any movement, particularly with weapons, outside official residences regulated by our agreement will be interpreted by us as military aggression,” interim President Oleksandr Turchynov said.

Russia, which has a substantial military presence at its leased naval base in Sevastopol, has insisted it will not interfere in its neighbor’s affairs, while at the same time voicing worries about possible discrimination against ethnic Russians in the country.

About half of Crimea’s population identifies as ethnic Russian. Ousted President Viktor Yanukovych drew much of his support from Ukraine’s Russian population, which has reacted with alarm at what it perceives as an aggressively nationalistic rule now installed in Kiev.

In his statement Friday, Avakov said that 100 men that he said identified themselves as Cossacks attempted overnight Thursday to occupy the airport in Simferopol, which is 80 kilometers northeast of Sevastopol, but were repelled. “The territory of the airport was vacated by the ‘Cossacks’ at one o’clock – they boarded covered Kamaz trucks and left,” he said. He said that 119 armed soldiers in camouflage apparently belonging to the Russian armed forces arrived at the airport building at 1:30 a.m. and settled in an airport restaurant.

The soldiers refused to respond to queries from Interior Ministry officers about whether they were soldiers and if they had permission to be in the airport.

“I assess what is happening as an armed invasion and occupation. It is in violation of all international treaties and norms. This is a direct provocation to armed bloodshed on the territory of a sovereign state,” Avakov said.

Anyone surprised? Central banker appointed as Prime Minister of Ukraine.

Anyone surprised? Central banker appointed as Prime Minister of Ukraine.HT: Blacklistednews.

A reshuffled Ukrainian Parliament installed following a coup last week has voted to appoint Arseniy Yatsenyuk as the new prime minister of the country. 

Yats, as Victoria Nuland, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. State Department, called him, is a natural choice. He is a millionaire former banker who served as economy minister, foreign minister and parliamentary speaker before Yanukovych took office in 2010. He is a member of Yulie Tymoshenko’s Fatherland Party. 

Prior to the revolution Tymoshenko was incarcerated for embezzlement and other crimes against the people of Ukraine. Now she will be part of the installed government, same as she was after the last orchestrated 'CHANGE', the Orange Revolution.

Yats will deliver Ukraine to the international bankers. “Ukraine is on the brink of bankruptcy and needs to be saved from collapse — Yatsenyuk has a strong economic background,” Ariel Cohen, senior fellow at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, told Bloomberg on Wednesday. “Ukraine faces difficult reforms but without them there won’t be a successful future.”Hmmm.....You think he knows Goldman sachs?

Armed soldiers surround Crimea's main airports in Sevastopol and Simferopol.

Armed soldiers surround Crimea's main airports in Sevastopol and Simferopol.(Ukrainianpolicy).

UNIAN is reporting that approximately 6 military trucks full of armed soldiers are currently surrounding the Sevastapol International Airport, which doubles as an Ukrainian Air Force facility.

The source notes that “unknown armed people in uniform” also surrounded a guest residence normally reserved for senior officials. NBNews claims the soldiers to be Russian Black Sea Fleet personnel. Those on the scene were not able to identify the purpose of the soldiers, as they will not answer questions to the press.

Gazeta quotes Ukrainian political scientist Pavel Nuss, citing his own sources, who identified the troops as Russian military and said the convoy rammed the , and speculates that the purpose may be to secure airlift of troops in.

Local news is reporting that in fact both Sevastopol and Simferopol airports are surrounded, the latter by militants at 1am local time. Interfax and Ukrainska Pravda confirmed these reports, and that approximately 150 armed unmarked soldiers are in the area, dropped off via 3 unmarked Kamaz transport trucks. The airport is still operational. They report that 25 supporters have a Russian naval flag. The soldiers speak with heavy Russian accents.

The head of the security at the airport stated the gunmen “politely” asked security officers to leave, and while refuting an outright takeover, they “arrived at the airport to search for Ukrainian airborne troops. However, after finding out that there was no military present on the tarmac, they apologized and left the territory.”

Russian MP Vladimir Garnachuk, who is now in Simferopol, elaborated that the aim of the operation was to stop the interim Ukrainian president Oleksandr Turchynov from landing in Crimea.

This news comes directly after armed insurgents occupied the Crimean parliament buildings in Simferopol under the Russian flag.Hmmm........What counts is to be the first with the most.

More troubling news from Crimea:

New head of Crimean regional govt says Yanukovych still president, will take instructions from him. http://t.co/zKpI3Zxxq4

— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) February 27, 2014

More and more of these “mutinous berkut guard the entrance to the crimea” stories coming in. http://t.co/lTUYUpLcHn

— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) February 27, 2014

Tomorrow, we expect to be following the story of Crimean self-defense forces, and the return of the now-disbanded Berkut, because these could now be the front-line soldiers of a counterrevolution — or not, but tensions look like they are increasing at the moment, not decreasing.

What are the odds of the Crimea breaking away from Ukraine?

What are the odds of the Crimea breaking away from Ukraine?(RBTH).

There are two important factors to consider: the ethno-cultural, and the economic.

Crimea is the most Russian part of Ukraine. Its population is 58 percent ethnic Russian, 24 percent Ukrainian, and 12-per-cent Tatar. Russian is the mother tongue for three quarters of Crimeans. Only 10 per cent say their mother tongue is Ukrainian. According to the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, 97 per cent of Crimeans speak Russian.

Crimea does not have an economic elite oriented towards Europe. Its economy was devastated over the years of Ukrainian independence. In the late 1990s Ukrainian oligarchs grabbed many of the most lucrative Crimean resorts, and even began to invest some money into them - but it was other people's money. That is why the Crimean elite does not have the kind of interests that make the Donetsk or Dnipropetrovsk-based elites so pliable when the EU or the USA put their pressure to bear.
For these two reasons, Crimea could not remain indifferent to what is going on in Kiev. The first reaction was anger, the second – demands to restore order.

Three possible scenarios.

The first scenario is that things will somehow settle down of their own accord. However, the only person that seems to believe this is President Yanukovych. The chances of that scenario coming to pass are slim.

The second scenario is that Crimea will receive even broader autonomy. This scenario will come to pass only if some degree of stability is restored - and that will only be possible if the parties agree to the federalization of Ukraine. But supporters of Ukrainian independence are afraid of federalization.

The third scenario is Crimea breaking off from Ukraine and becoming another “unrecognized state” under Russian protection. Kiev does not have the strength to prevent that, even if a functioning government is restored in the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine does not have especially effective armed forces, and due to the crisis, it has next to no economic leverage remaining either. But such a scenario could trigger a conflict in Crimea itself - a conflict between the Crimean Tatars and ethnic Russians who inhabit the peninsula.Based on materials from Vzglyad.Read the full story here.

Ukraine will appeal to NATO, if it turns out that in the Crimea Russian spetsnaz active.

Ukraine will appeal to NATO, if it turns out that in the Crimea Russian spetsnaz.(Cencornet).

Ukraine will appeal to NATO, if it turns out that in the Crimea Russian Spetznaz  acting for  the Russian Federation.

This was announced today on the sidelines of the parliament said the candidate for the position of First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Vitaly Yarema * , reports RBC-Ukraine reports Tsenzor.NET .

Read also "Tsenzor.NET": Russia's actions in the Crimea can provoke jihad on the peninsula ,

- The New York Times "I have no advice for all occasions. I hope that this is not the Russian special forces. 'Cause if Russian special forces, it is aggression of a foreign state, it will have recourse to NATO. This is enter the relevant international agreement ... and how we will continue to act, let this not yet think "- said Yarema.

He expressed hope that in the Crimea still no Russian special forces. "I hope this is just some of the gang, with which we quickly understand, "- said Yarema.

Video - ATR Live from Crimea / Ukraine protests

BREAKING: Crimea parliament announces referendum on autonomous region’s future http://on.rt.com/fjrquo

 Video - ATR Live from Crimea / Ukraine.

From Euromaidan :

Ukrainian MFA handed note to Russian Chargé d'affaires calling for immediate consultations. Following the recent developments in Crimea, Ukrainian foreign ministry handed note to Russian Chargé d'affaires calling for immediate consultations under the Article 7 of Ukraine-Russia Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership of 31 May 1997.

A separate note called Russia to refrain from redeploying its troops outside zones settled by respective international agreements on Russian Black Sea fleet stationing in Crimea. Ukrainian foreign ministry, moreover, reiterated Russian obligations to guarantee Ukrainian territorial integrity under the Budapest memorandum of 1994.



 Latest Updates via Twitter: @YanniKouts and here at Storify

Related?

Russian spy ship Just docked in Havana

In depth : Crimea – from playground to battleground

Crimea Crisis? - Chechens ready to keep peace in Crimea - Kadyrov.

Update: Ukrainian fugitive president Yanukovych asks for Russia's protection from 'extremists' - @AP

Any kind of unsanctioned movement of Russian military in Crimea we'll consider as "an aggression" http:world.time.com/2014/02/27/pro-russia-forces-storm-government-offices-in-ukraines-crimea/ …

Crimea Crisis? - Chechens ready to keep peace in Crimea - Kadyrov.(RBTH).

Head of Russia's internal republic of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov is ready to protect the rights of the Russian-speaking people in Crimea that sees disturbances over the change in authorities.

"Ukraine and Russia are fraternal peoples. I have many Ukrainian friends, and like them all and regret what has recently been happening there The majority of people living today in Crimea are Russians, Cossacks. We are always with them and if necessary are ready to come to the rescue. We will stand up for Russians, Cossacks and Chechens no matter where they live," Kadyrov told journalists on Wednesday.

Chechens are "a part of multiethnic and multi-religious Russia" and live "in friendship with all peoples," he said.

"We are called upon to protect our peoples. If necessary, we are ready to go, to be observers. If necessary, we are ready to be peacekeepers and soldiers and protect the people," Kadyrov said.

He also called on Crimean Tatars not to fan up tensions. "Those who came to the square [outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol] today and say that they were deported, heat up tensions. Chechens, the whole Chechen people, were departed as well […] I think if one is unhappy, he should act in line with the law rather than profit from the moment, gather in groups and shout various slogans," Kadyrov said.

Update: Russian Troops Arrive at Ukrainian Border http://nbcnews.to/1dD8X6K