The Crimea, an integral part of Ukraine, is being occupied by foreign troops.

On March 19, 2014, the developments were characterized by the following:

Assaults and blockade of Ukrainian military bases on the peninsula, extension of Russia’s military presence in Crimea

• In Sevastopol, headquarters of Ukrainian Navy were stormed and seized by Russian military
• In Sevastopol, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy S.Hayduk was kidnapped and is missing
• In Yevpatoriya, Russian military have seized control of measurement base and aircraft factory of Ukrainian Armed Forces
• In Bakhchysarai, servicemen of Ukrainian autobatallion were forced out of their base
• In Belbek, division of Ukrainian Armed Forces was tossed by stun grenades, and was forced to use arms in order to fight off the assault
• In Perevalne, Ukrainian military division have fought off an assault on their base
• In Yevpatoriya, Ukrainian Navy base was assaulted by Russian forces
• In Sevastopol, Russian military surrounded rocket division of Ukrainian Armed Forces and demanded the surrender of arms
• In Feodosia, marine base of Ukraine’s Armed Forces was surrounded by Russian military
• Ukrainian corvette “Ternopil” has received an ultimatum from Russian Black Sea Fleet to surrender arms
• Near Kirovske, Russian military have deployed mobile rocket systems “OSA” on local airfield
• On Crimean border with mainland Ukraine, Ukrainian military were subjected to continuous provocations
• Overnight, Russian military presence in Crimea has increased by 400 servicemen and now constitutes 22,000 of them
• As of March 19, 18 facilities of state infrastructure are seized (12 of them military), and 35 blocked (including 28 military)

Illegal separatist activities of self-proclaimed pro-Russian “puppet” government

• Denial of landing for a plane that carried Ukraine’s Defense Minister I.Teniukh and Vice Prime Minister V.Yarema to Crimea
• Launch of drafting of “blacklists” of Maidan’s supporters, pro-Ukrainian locals and Ukrainian servicemen, which will be passed to Russian security services
• Self-proclaimed “prime-minister” S.Aksionov has called on Russia to “help” Russian-speaking population of eastern Ukraine
• Announcement of plans to nationalize 130 tourist facilities, which are in state property of Ukraine
• First passports of Russia are illegally issued to Crimean locals
• Announcement of plans to rename vessels of Ukrainian Navy in Crimea after they are seized
• Decision has been taken bring in Russian telephone area codes in Crimea and to withdraw Ukrainian Hryvnia from currency circulation
• Russian major political party “United Russia” has decided to open its branch in Crimea

Image: Bloomberg