Are there Russian troops in Crimea operating outside Russian bases?

[cthulu2016]

We might as well start with the basic propositions.

It is held by most people that Russian troops are operating in Crimea beyond their normal and accepted roles as manning Russian naval facilities, and establishing effective control over Crimea.

All parties agree that the forces who are establishing themselves as controlling Crimea are not wearing standard Russian uniforms.

Putin say that there are no Russian soldiers operating off-base in Crimea and that those forces are local domestic militia self-organizing to protect Crimea from attacks by Nazis.

So, to start with the most basic thing to be established, is Putin telling the truth about that? Is the whole "Russian military establishing itself as practical/effective power in Crimea" thing a lie concocted by Ukraine and/or the west?

Or to put it more succinctly—is the Russian military action we hear about real?

I vote yes. This is not a vote for every claim any person has ever made about the thing, but a vote that members of Russian military forces, following orders, have acted establish themselves as the effective power on the street, while operating out of uniform.

[The Magistrate]

1. Mr. Putin Is Lying, Sir

That is the safest assumption about damned near any statement from any head of state, particularly where military matters are concerned, and especially when the thing concerns occupation of someone else's territory.

[cthulu2016]

2. I agree. I am curious, however, what DU consensus can be reached...

I am curious whether general agreement can be found that there is, at very least, some Russian action to discuss.

Because what we are getting is the usual, "It was self defense, plus I was not there at all," kitchen sink defense.

I read here that Russia is not doing anything, and is justified in what they are doing.

It provokes dizziness.

[steve2470]

3. Everything I have read points to Russian troops past their base in Sevastopol

Yes, there may be militias operating in Crimea unaffiliated with Russia, but the troops that are unmarked have been identified as Russian or (I think I read this) mercernaries of Russia.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Yes. the unmarked troops are russian.

I believe the plan is to retain control of Crimea, breaking it off from Kiev. The upcoming referendum will be used as a fig leaf of legality. If all goes well I assume a similar maneuver will be attempted in the Donetsk region.

Russia is re-asserting its traditional sphere of influence. We can wail away and gnash teeth, but as Russia recovered from the devastation of the post USSR collapse, our deliberate policy of eastward expansion and encirclement and utterances of US planetary military hegemony was guaranteed to have this reaction. Poking a bear has consequences.