Russian forces storm Ukraine naval HQ in Crimea

[ProSense]

Russian forces storm Ukraine naval HQ in Crimea

By Aleksandar Vasovic and Gabriela Baczynska

(Reuters) - Russian troops and unarmed men stormed Ukraine's naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Wednesday and raised the Russian flag in a tense but peaceful takeover that signals Moscow's intent to neutralize any armed opposition.

Russian soldiers, and so-called "self-defense" units of mainly unarmed volunteers who are supporting them across the Black Sea peninsula, moved in early in the morning and quickly took control.

Shortly after the incident, Ukraine's acting Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh said in Kiev that the country's forces would not withdraw from Crimea even though Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a treaty to make it part of Russia.

But an hour later, Ukrainian servicemen, unarmed and in civilian clothing, began walking out of the headquarters.

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/19/us-ukraine-crisis-sevastopol-idUSBREA2I0MK20140319

[ProSense]

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