Ukraine - Crimea Crisis Live Updates.

Ukraine - Crimea Crisis Live updates from MFS Twitter   France 24 , Interpreter , Kyevpost and RT Russian - Euromaidan in English – Site of the Official English-language Public Relations Secretariat for the Headquarters of the National Resistance in Kyiv, Ukraine.

A fact-check site created to control disinformation in #Russian media due to the massive Russian propaganda -http://stopfake.org/

Live blogging : 

Polish army units moving towards Ukrainian border? General Staff: military movements take place, but it is a routine exercise. When the Polish Prime Minister says explicitly that " the world stood on the brink of conflict "is not hard to believe that the movements of the Polish Army have to do with this, that at stake is our eastern border.

RT: Russian Defense Ministry denied the information about the ultimatum allegedly staged to Ukrainian military

The Russian Defense Ministry denied replicated Ukrainian and Western media reports about the ultimatum that the head of the Black Sea Fleet Ukrainian military allegedly put in the Crimea.

The Russian Defense Ministry found out about this "ultimatum" from the agency Interfax-Ukraine, told RT source in the Defense Ministry.

"Utter nonsense" called such information the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, and said that any ultimatums Ukrainian military was not put in the Crimea, the newspaper "Vedomosti".

"We have become accustomed to the daily charges of carrying out any military actions in relation to our Ukrainian colleagues," - said the representative of the Staff. Meanwhile, the spokesman stressed headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, "knock heads together in the Crimea, we will not succeed," writes the Russian Interfax. 

Earlier Monday, Interfax-Ukraine quoted a source in the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, who claimed that the commander of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia Alexander Vitko an ultimatum Ukrainian soldiers in the Crimea. According to the source agency, if, prior to 5:00 am Tuesday Ukrainian soldiers "do not give up, start a real assault units and parts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces around the Crimea."

France24: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has warned Russia that if tensions did not ease in Ukraine's rimea region, the European Union would consider "targeted measures" in response.

"If there is not in the coming hours a very quick de-escalation, then we will decide concrete measures such as the suspension of all talks on visas, suspension of economic agreements and concretely that means that ties will be cut on lot of subjects," Fabius told BFM TV.

"There could be targeted measures and that can also affect people, officials and their assets," he said, adding that EU leaders could hold a crisis meeting on the stand-off on Thursday."Europe must be firm," he said.

Concentration of Russian military equipment is observed on Ukrainian-Russian border in #Donetsk, #Kharkivsk& #Lugansk Oblasts -espreso.tv

France24:  Ukraine says Russian forces controlling the strategic region of Crimea are demanding that the crew of two Ukrainian warships must surrender, AP reports.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Maksim Prauta told the agency that four Russian navy ships were blocking Ukraine's anti-submarine warship Ternopil and the command ship Slavutych in Sevastopol's harbor. He said the Russians ordered the crew to surrender within the hour or face Russians storming and seizing the ships and crew.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported about the ultimatum of the Black Sea Fleet.   

Ultimatum :  Crimeans URGENT! March 4 at 5:00 ends ultimatum to surrender okkuptsionnyh troops Ukrainian army that obeys Bandera junta in Kiev, and the transition to the side of the Crimean government. We ask you not to promote Crimeans bloody transition Ukrainian military bases under the jurisdiction of the Crimea.

turns all Ukrainian soldiers in the Crimea, I ask you to promote delivery of military units, do not forget that the authorities in Kiev illegal if the "whiff of fried" these yatseniuk, Turchinov Avakov, Parubiya , Poroshenko and other rabble will sit in their planes and fly away with navorovanym in the U.S., EU, ​​Canada. It is not necessary for them to shed life, given that the Russian army is more efficient and is better equipped. To use weapons in the Crimea, YOU UKRAINIAN SOLDIER cause anger and hatred toward UKRAINIAN ARMY.

Do not forget that the current President of Ukraine is VF Yanukovych, without legitimate reason he was removed from office (by intimidation and violence). Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych did not give the order to mobilize and use of weapons of military units in the Crimea. If you are for the people of Ukraine, the people of Crimea for his Crimean government and the Russian army. I ask you to contribute to the liberation of Crimea from the Ukrainian military units, without bloodshed. http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/03/ultimatum/

Interfax-Ukraine news reports that Russian military issues ultimatums to Ukraine.

Naval spokesman confirms Russian ultimatum, differs on time

March 3, 5:54 p.m. -- Oleg Chubuk, a spokesman of Ukraine’s naval forces, told the Kyiv Post: “As far as I know, an ultimatum has been voiced for 6 p.m. (today) with the demand to Ukraine’s soldiers to surrender arms,” he said, adding that the time could be changed. “Ukraine’s sailors don’t yield the provocations, guns are under control.” He said that Ukrainian forces would be required to defend themselves in event of attack. -- Oksana Grytsenko

Russians issued earlier ultimatum about attack, Turchynov says

March 3, 5:38 p.m. Russian military commanders have reportedly given the Ukrainian navy until 7 p.m. today to surrender and Ukrainian troops stationed on Crimea's mainland until 5 a.m. tomorrow -- or else they face attack. But the threats could be part of the war of nerves designed to rattle Ukraine. The nation's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov said that Russia gave Ukraine a similar ultimatum two days earlier, with the deadline of 5 a.m. on March 2. "They didn't start storming the bases on 5 a.m., but the situation is still tense there," he said earlier. --

UN Security Council to hold 2nd emergency meeting on Ukraine at 2000 GMT http://bnowire.com/inbox/?id=2214

Russia and China have agreed to continue to exchange information on new developments in Ukraine. http:// vk.com / a_maydan? Wal w = L-67092426_2195 

BREAKING ! RUSSIAN FORCES POSE ULTIMATUM

Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Alexander Vitko posed an ultimatum to the Ukrainian military units - unless they surrender before 5 am tomorrow (04.03), an attack will start on all Ukrainian military units throughout Crimea. The Russian occupation forces are communicating this decision to the Ukrainian military.
Report of "Information Resistance".

*Update:

Just spoke to UKR defence min source who is on a base now. Neither he nor base commanders heard about 0300GMT ultimatum, say prob nonsense.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) March 3, 2014

BREAKING: Kerry threats vs Russia unacceptable, West sides with neo-Nazis - Russia's FM http://on.rt.com/ofs0qg

Breaking : Polish Media: Kaliningrad, unexpected about 3.500 Ru soldiers exercise near the Polish border. http://www.fakt.pl/rosyjskie-cwiczenia-w-obwodzie-kaliningradzkim,artykuly,447645,1.html

Flashback:  

  BREAKING:  The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that recent remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry contained threats against Russia and were "unacceptable", Reuters reports.

Kerry on Sunday condemned what he called Russia's "incredible act of aggression" in Ukraine after Russian forces took control of the Crimea region and parliament gave President Vladimir Putin consent to send the military into Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Ministry: China expressed understanding of the Russian Federation represented by the analysis of the causes of the crisis in Ukraine. http://rus.ruvr.ru/2014_03_03/Kitaj-virazil-ponimanie-predstavlennogo-RF-analiza-prichin-krizisa-na-Ukraine-3608/   http://t.co/Jm5yU80YeL


BREAKING: Pravda:  Russian Duma registers law to unite Crimea and Russia. Putin will not be stopped. 

AFB Ukraine with 45 MiG-29 fighters defected to the Crimean people http:// russian.rt.com/article/23520 pic.twitter.com/R9YLlfhvCz

FRANCE 24’s Abdallah Malkawi takes pictures of Russian soldiers surrounding Ukrainian military base in Bakhchisarai. pic.twitter.com/kxh1JkLXLM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that currently receive information about preparing new provocations against the Russian Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian territory.(FLOT).[GoogleTranslate).

"There are reports on the preparation of new provocations, including against the Russian Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian territory," - said Lavrov, Speaking on March 3 session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
"In such circumstances, legitimately elected Crimean authorities appealed to the President of Russia to assist in restoring peace in the autonomous republic. Appeal in full compliance with Russian legislation was sent to the Federation Council. Federation Council supported this petition, which we hope will sober radicals. Again, it comes to protecting our citizens and compatriots on the protection of the basic human right - the right to life "- Lavrov said.

"Those who are trying to interpret the current situation in Ukraine almost as a kind of aggression, threatening all sorts of sanctions and boycotts - it is the same of our partners who consistently and persistently encouraged political forces close to them ultimatums rejection of dialogue, to ignore the concerns of the south and east of Ukraine and in the end - to the polarization Ukrainian society, "- said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Earlier Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said that the Russian Black Sea fleet poses no threat to the situation in Ukraine and engaged in combat training in the Russian-Ukrainian agreements. According to him, the Black Sea Fleet based in Ukraine in strict compliance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements, and the location, number of personnel and amount of weapons Russian military units strictly comply with the agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Ukraine On February 22 there was a change of power ratings signs of a coup. Verkhovna Rada of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych from power, changed the constitution, the duties entrusted to the President and the Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov appointed presidential elections on May 25. Crimea and Sevastopol city council refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government in Ukraine. Federation Council on Saturday voted unanimously to give President Vladimir Putin agreed to the use of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine to the normalization of the political situation in that country. Later, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said that obtaining consent from the Senate to use armed forces abroad does not mean that it is the right president will be immediately implemented. In turn, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that such a decision yet.

Konstantin Rykov @ Rykov : You know what is the main podstava Europe from the U.S.. If the confrontation begins, the EU will be forced to grant asylum to citizens of Ukraine ..


Breaking : Russian sea-soldiers are gathering near the Command of the Naval Forces in Sevastopol, the officers of the Command were able to fight back the attack of the pro-Russian Cossacks. Russian regular army is coming to help the Cosssacks. Vladislav Seleznev. Head of the Press Service of the Ministry of Defence in the Crimea.

Live updates Ukraine - Crimea crisis.

Ukraine - Crimea cricis Live updates from France 24 , Interpreter , Kyevpost and RT Russian.

BIG QUESTION OF THE DAY ! WHY IS CHINA SILENT AND WHAT ARE THEY UP TO?

My thoughts: 

"I'm not a fortune teller, but if Putin go's 'All the way' one of the first things he'll do is shut off the gas supply to Europe and the UK. don't expect any 'presents' from this Guy......he means Business.

Secondly if war breaks out we might see China move in on the Diaoyu islands and even Taiwan - Japan.

Turkey will come to the aid of the Tartars and this will drag in the Islamic World and of Course Israel.  We're at the brink of WWIII if cool heads don't prevail.

Updates:

Putin to Obama: "Russia retains right 2 protect its interests & Russian-speaking population" in E. Ukraine and Crimea. http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6752


Blog: Does the 1994 'Budapest Memorandum' obligate the US to intervene in Ukraine? 

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/03/does_the_1994_budapest_memorandum_obligate_the_us_to_intervene_in_ukraine.html

Obama Skips National Security Team Meeting on Russia, Ukraine.

Putin made an appeal in the Federal Council on the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine.

Putin made an appeal in the Federal Council on the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine (RN).

Earlier, the State Duma Council and the Federation Council Vladimir Putin urged to use all available means to protect the population of Crimea from tyranny and violence. Senators expressed the view that this can be entered in Crimea limited contingent of troops.

MOSCOW, March 1 - RIA Novosti. Russian President Vladimir Putin made ​​an appeal to the Federal Council on the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine to the normalization of the political situation in the country, according to the Kremlin press service.

"Due to the extraordinary situation on Ukraine, threatened the lives of citizens of the Russian Federation, our compatriots, the personnel of the military contingent of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation located in accordance with the international agreement on the territory of Ukraine (Autonomous Republic of Crimea), on the basis of paragraph" d " Part 1 of Article 102 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation am submitting to the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation appeal for use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine to the normalization of the political situation in this country, "- the statement says. (RN).

РИА Новости http://ria.ru/politics/20140301/997687424.html#ixzz2uifp3KnQ

Ukraine - Crimea cricis Live updates.

Ukraine - Crimea cricis Live updates from France 24 , Interpreter , Kyevpost and RT Russian.

Blog: Does the 1994 'Budapest Memorandum' obligate the US to intervene in Ukraine? 

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/03/does_the_1994_budapest_memorandum_obligate_the_us_to_intervene_in_ukraine.html

Putin submitted to the Federation Council appeal to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine to the normalization of the situation in the country - the Kremlin. RT.


Russia's parliament calls early elections in Ukraine set for May 25 'Illegitimate', will not recognize them -  http://ria.ru/world/20140301/997674647.html?utm_source=tw1#ixzz2uiJEFatw …

Moscow Times reporter Ivan Nechepurenko speaks to FRANCE 24 .






Urgent! Federation Council of Russia allows entry of Russian troops in the Crimea! 

Federation Council is subject to input a limited contingent of Russian troops in the Crimea for the security of the Black Sea Fleet, and there are Russians.

This statement was made on Saturday, speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, Valentina Matvienko.

 "Perhaps in this situation, going to a government request Crimea even enter our limited contingent in order to ensure the safety of the Black Sea Fleet and Russian citizens residing in the territory of Crimea. Solution, of course wives, the president of our country, for the supreme commander. But Today, given the situation, even this option can not be ruled out. We must protect the people, "- said Matvienko.

Editor in chief of National Defense, Director of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade Moscow · I-korotchenko.livejournal.com : 

Russian Duma calls on Putin to use all means necessary to protect the Crimean population from "tyranny and violence." http://m.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2014/03/01/n_5984249.shtml




Ukrtelekom says Internet, phone connections cut between Crimea and rest of Ukraine

Update: "Ukrtelecom" restored fixed telephony and Internet access almost the entire territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea - Interfax.

Moscow gravely concerned about developments in Crimea – Russian FM (VOR).

Russia is extremely concerned by the latest events in Crimea, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Unidentified armed men sent from Kiev attempted to seize the building of the Interior Ministry of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the early hours of March 1. The treacherous provocation resulted in casualties. Self-defense units' resolute actions helped avert the attempt to seize the Interior Ministry building. These events confirm the desire of well-known political circles in Kiev to destabilize the situation on the peninsula," says the statement available on the Russian Foreign Ministry website. "We are calling on those who issue such orders from Kiev to exercise restraint. We view the attempts to further escalate the already tense situation in Crimea as extremely irresponsible," it said.

Following an appeal by the Prime Minister of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, for assistance in securing peace and quiet in Crimea the Russian presidential administration said Russia would not disregard the request.

Earlier this Saturday, Sergei Aksenov asked the Russian President to render assistance in ensuring peace and quiet in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Aksenov also said he had subordinated all of the republic's security agencies to himself. Meanwhile, the cordoned-off area around the eastern and southern parts of the Crimean Council of Ministers building has been enlarged by one street block, so the closest one can now approach the building is 300 metres. Police and Road Traffic Police prevent motor vehicles and pedestrians from entering the area, but allow street-cleaners to work there, and let everyone living in the nearby houses out.

The Simferopol streets are currently half-deserted, and almost no motor vehicles have been seen around. Crimea leader asks Russia's Putin for help in restoring peace and calm

The newly-chosen prime minister of the Ukrainian southern region of Crimea on Saturday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to held restore "peace and calm" to the Black Sea peninsula, amid a standoff with the new authorities in Kiev.

"Taking into account my responsibility for the life and security of citizens, I ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to help in ensuring peace and calm on the territory of Crimea," Sergiy Aksenov said in an address quoted by local media and broadcast in full by Russian state television.

Sergey Aksenov, the prime minister of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, has announced his decision to temporarily put all security and law enforcement agencies in the republic under his own control.

Aksenov also appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide assistance in maintaining peace and accord in Crimea. "As the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, exercising the powers delegated to me by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, I make the decision to temporarily put the armed units and groups of the Interior Ministry, the Security Service, the armed forces, the Emergency Situations Ministry, the fleet, the Tax Service, and the border guards under my direct control. All commanders shall follow only my orders and instructions, and I ask those who disagree to retire from service," Aksenov said in a statement Interfax obtained from Crimean Supreme Council secretariat chief Olga Sonnikova.

In motivating his decision, Aksenov said, "Despite the agreements with the central authorities on not appointing law enforcement and security chiefs without the Crimean Supreme Council's consent and not violating the Republic of Crimea's regulations stipulated by Ukrainian laws and the law on police, Ihor Yakovlevych Avrutsky was appointed chief of the Crimean police department yesterday, on February 28, 2014."

The security and law enforcement agencies stationed in Crimea are unable to efficiently control the situation in the republic, where riots have sparked with the use of firearms, the statement says.

"Taking into account the abovementioned, understanding my responsibility for the people's lives and security, I am appealing to Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide assistance in ensuring peace and accord on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea," Aksenov's statement says.

Ukraine's main problem isn't Russia, but Kiev-Crimea relations - Russian MP The Head of the State Duma International Affairs Committee, Alexei Pushkov, has said Ukraine's main problem is not Russia, but Kiev’s relations with the regions, above all, Crimea.

"The main problem is not Russia, the main problem is that several regions, above all Crimea, refuse to recognize the legality of Supreme Rada decisions", Pushkov wrote on his Twitter microblog.

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea: The referendum on the status of autonomy will be held March 30 in the Crimea.

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea: The referendum on the status of autonomy will be held March 30 in the Crimea. (RT).[Googletranslate].

"Due to the need we have decided to accelerate the holding of a referendum on the status of an autonomous republic of Crimea. Referendum appointed for March 30, "- said Aksenov during the first meeting of the Council of Ministers of Crimea in the new structure. 

Recall the morning of 1 March, Prime Minister of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Sergey Aksenov asked President Vladimir Putin to assist in bringing peace to the ARC. Chairman of the Council of Ministers made an official emergency appeal to employees of all power units of the republic after reassigned directly all the units and structures of the Interior Ministry, CVM, Sun, MOE and navy.

"Russia will not ignored this appeal" - ​​quoted by ITAR-TASS administration's response, citing a source in the Kremlin.

"Afghans" and veteran paratroopers surrounded the Interior Ministry building in Simferopol.

"Afghans" and veteran paratroopers surrounded the Interior Ministry building in Simferopol.

Crimean volunteers and people's militia lined chain in front of the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Simferopol

Gathered in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are Crimean Union of Afghan Veterans, Veterans of airborne troops, representatives of other public organizations of Crimea. They hold flags Airborne, St. Andrew's flag, pinned to their clothes St. George ribbons and ribbons in the form of the flag of Russia.

In this passage of police officers in the Interior Ministry building is carried out smoothly. According to the participants, they express their solidarity with police officers and try to avoid any provocations in front of the office.

The overall situation remains calm in Simferopol: people going about their usual business, often of limited interest to the recent developments in the country, reports ITAR-TASS.

Читать полностью: http://rus.ruvr.ru/news/2014_03_01/Afganci-i-veterani-desantniki-ocepili-zdanie-MVD-v-Simferopole-3766/

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.