Geography and cities of Crimea, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Kerch, Kerch Strait ,Black Sea,Sea of Azov, Crimea,Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta,Kerch,Kerch Strait ,Black Sea,Russian,Ukraine,Ukranian,Vladimir Putin,Putin,Russia,soldiers,troops,russian soldiers,referendum,violation,bridge over Kerch Strait, Viktor Yanukovich,Black Sea Fleet, Aksyonov,Crimean Tatars,Yevpatoriya,Sudak,Sergey Aksyonov,occupied,protests,crimean mountains,tourism,marine,marine base,Sea of Azov, On 26 February 2014, following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, thousands of pro-Russian and pro-Ukraine protesters clashed in front of the parliament building in Simferopol. The pretext of the clash has been the abolishion, on 23 February 2014, of the law on languages of minorities, including Russian.[42] It is important to note that this decision, that would make Ukrainian the sole state language, has not been uphold by the interim president. Unmarked militarians were seen in the Crimea. The protests followed the ousting of the Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych on 22 February 2014, and a push by pro-Russian protesters for Crimea to secede from Ukraine and seek assistance from Russia.[43] On 28 February 2014, Russian military forces, many unmarked, occupied key posts, buildings, airports, and other assets in Crimea.[44] The interim Government of Ukraine described the events as an invasion and occupation of Crimea by Russian forces.[45][46] However, Russian troops have been stationed in Crimea for over a decade under an agreement with Ukraine,[47] although the number of forces present in late February 2014 constituted a violation of Ukrainian-Russian treaty agreements. Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov, elected in an emergency session earlier in the week, said he asserted sole control over Crimea's security forces and appealed to Russia "for assistance in guaranteeing peace and calmness" on the peninsula. The central Ukrainian government does not recognize the Aksyonov administration and considers it illegal.[48][49] Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich sent a letter to Putin asking him to use military force in Ukraine to restore law and order.[50] The Russian foreign ministry stated that "movement of the Black Sea Fleet armored vehicles in Crimea (...) happens in full accordance with basic Russian-Ukrainian agreements on the Black Sea Fleet".[51] On March 1, the Russian parliament granted President Vladimir Putin the authority to use military force in Ukraine.[52] The international community widely condemned this move. On the same day, the acting president of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov decried the appointment of the Prime Minister of Crimea as unconstitutional.[53] Russia has since established de facto control of the territory. On March 3, it was reported that the head of Russia's Black Sea Fleet gave Ukraine a deadline of dawn on the 4th to surrender their control of the Crimea, or face an assault by Russian troops occupying the area. [54] However, Interfax news agency later quoted a fleet spokesman who denied that any ultimatum had been issued.[54] Nothing came to pass at the deadline. On March 4, several Ukrainian bases and navy ships in Crimea reported being intimidated by Russian forces but vowed non-violence. In one particular display, Ukrainian soldiers at Belbek airbase marched unarmed from their barracks to Russian lines where they were stopped by Russian soldiers who fired warning shots in the air and surrounded them. Journalists recorded the encounter.[55] Ukrainian warships were also effectively blockaded in their port of Sevastopol. [56][57]

• published: 05 Mar 2014
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