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Wednesday 19 March 2014

A step closer to all-out war: One Ukrainian officer shot dead, one militia killed and dozens rounded up by masked gunmen at under-siege Crimean army base

Armed Russian forces arrest Ukrainian army officers during an operation in Simferopol
With Ukraine vowing it will fight to protect the Black Sea peninsula, the incident will spark fears the two countries are edging ever closer to war. It happened at a military facility on the outskirts of the Crimean capital Simferopol, but it was unclear who was responsible. Meanwhile in Moscow, Mr Putin defiantly added Crimea to the map of Russia despite protests among the international community. In an emotional 40-minute speech televised live from the Kremlin, Mr Putin claimed the move corrected past injustice and responded to what he called Western encroachment his country's vital interests.
Ukraine suffers its first deaths in Crimea as the crisis between Russia and Ukraine hits a 'military stage'.


A Ukrainian serviceman and a member of a local self-defence brigade were shot dead, and many more were arrested in a Military base in Simferopol as the crisis between Russia and Ukraine escalates closer to all-out war. 
News of the death of the militia member, who is said to be loyal to the Russian Federation came from the news service Interfax
The Ukrainian base was stormed by armed men at a military base in Simferopol in the Crimean Capital.
The men arrived in a truck bearing the Russian flag, and proceeded to storm the compound, firing shots and clearing the Ukrainian compound of its troops, arresting most of the soldiers, killing one, and injuring another. 
Following the base attack, Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has now warned that the conflict with Russia has escalated, saying: 'The conflict is shifting from a political to a military stage.
'Russian soldiers have started shooting at Ukrainian military servicemen, and that is a war crime.'
As a response, Ukrainian troops have been authorised to open fire in self defence after suffering their first casualty in the dramatic escalation to the now military crisis between the two countries.
After the attack Britain warned that the West and Russia faced a changed relationship in coming years, and London has suspended all bilateral military cooperation and halted arms exports to Russia.
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Armed Russian forces arrest Ukrainian army officers during an operation in Simferopol, after the crisis moves from from political to military action between the two countries, after one Ukrainian serviceman has been shot dead
Armed Russian forces arrest Ukrainian army officers during an operation in Simferopol, after the crisis moves from from political to military action between the two countries, after one Ukrainian serviceman has been shot dead
Armed Russian forces take part in a military operation at a Ukrainian military base in Simferopol, which led to the first act of bloodshed when a Ukrainian serviceman was shot dead
Armed Russian forces take part in a military operation at a Ukrainian military base in Simferopol, which led to the first act of bloodshed when a Ukrainian serviceman was shot dead
An armed man clears a roof of an Ukrainian military unit in the Ukrainian military base, thought to be a Russian soldier instigating an act of war on behalf of his country
An armed man clears a roof of an Ukrainian military unit in the Ukrainian military base, thought to be a Russian soldier instigating an act of war on behalf of his country
Ukraine's interim president Oleksandr Turchnynov later issued a statement placing responsibility for 'the blood of Ukrainian soldiers on the leadership of the Russian Federation and specifically President Putin.'
Regional defence ministry spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said the soldier died after being shot in the neck when a group of gunmen stormed a Ukrainian military base in the northeast of Crimea's main city of Simferopol.
The men that stormed the Ukrainian compound did not have direct markings apart from the truck, but they were wearing the military uniforms of Russian Federation servicemen.'
 


Another soldier, part of the local Ukrainian self-defence brigade, was also shot, and died later, but there were no specifications as to whether the base was stormed by Russian soldiers or pro-Kremlin militia who also patrol the peninsula.
But the Ukrainian defence ministry said: 'For their self defence and protection of their lives, Ukrainian servicemen...deployed in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea are allowed to use arms.' 
Ukrainian authorities have previously forbidden its Crimean soldiers from opening fire - in some cases forcing them to stand guard at their bases with empty rifles - in order not to provoke a Russian offensive that could spill into an all-out war.
The first soldier who was shot dead, indicating the first bloodshed of the now military conflict, was identified as warrant officer S. V. Kakurin.
Reports have emerged that the incident may have occurred when when the a pro-Russian militia attempted to climb a wall in the Ukrainian compound, and was told to get back by Ukrainian forces. 
Russian soldiers then intervened and shots were fired, with one soldier being shot in the neck, dying on the scene, and another being wounded. 
British Prime Minister David Cameron, reflecting Western worries that Putin's encroachment could spread farther in Ukraine and beyond, said 'The Russian moves were in flagrant breach of international law and send a chilling message across the continent of Europe.
'President Putin should be in no doubt that Russia will face more serious consequences.'
NATO has also condemned the activity, saying they are heading down 'a dangerous path'.
Armed Russian forces take part in the military operation - causing the first bloodshed in the escalating conflict between the two countries
Armed Russian forces take part in the military operation - causing the first bloodshed in the escalating conflict between the two countries
The arrests of the Ukrainian military officers is not the first act of aggression by Russia but it is one of the most direct
The arrests of the Ukrainian military officers is not the first act of aggression by Russia but it is one of the most direct
Unidentified armed men search an area close to an Ukrainian military unit in Simferopol, after  gunfire at the military facility in the capital of separatist Crimea killed one serviceman and a member of a local self-defense brigade
Unidentified armed men search an area close to an Ukrainian military unit in Simferopol, after gunfire at the military facility in the capital of separatist Crimea killed one serviceman and a member of a local self-defense brigade

The shooting has caused Ukraine to strengthen their frontier defences in response to the seizure of Crimea, digging anti-tank trenches across a stretch of a highway that links Russia to Ukraine. 
In addition, they put a stretch of anti-tank chicane of house high concrete blocks to strengthen the area, in a move that was to show the media they are ready for an attack. 
Sergeant Olesky Romanenko, a soldier on the border, said: 'We are ready to defend out country.'
While there was no sign of large unit armed activity in the region, a few military trucks and armoured vehicles were seen moving around in the area.
Border guards are instead more concerned about what Kiev calls 'Kremlin agents' from Russia to spread dissent and spark violent street clashes in the Russian-speaking cities of Donetsk and Khariv. 
Ukraine says these agent's goals are to 'turn local people against the leaders in Kiev', in order to justify Moscow moving to 'protect' ethnic Russians, as in Crimea.
Many civilians are worried about the border for more economic reasons, with one businessman, Sergei Alexandrovich, from Rostov, saying 'We've got very good economic relations. 
'It would be very bad for business if the border closes.'
Another said: 'This is a tense situation. 
'It's all a political game in which ordinary people are suffering.'
Many unmarked soldiers stormed the Ukrainian compound inside Crimea, but experts have said while they did not bear markings, they were identified as wearing military uniforms that are worn by the servicemen of the Russian Federation
Many unmarked soldiers stormed the Ukrainian compound inside Crimea, but experts have said while they did not bear markings, they were identified as wearing military uniforms that are worn by the servicemen of the Russian Federation


Culled From: Daily Mail

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