Ukraine – Pro-Russian Militants Occupy Crimean Regional Assembly

Ukraine – Pro-Russian Militants Occupy Crimean Regional Assembly: Media and Official sources confirm (27.02.2014) that pro-Russian protesters in Crimea successfully occupied the local regional representatives offices of the Ukrainian Government and the local Crimean Regional Assembly in Simferopol (map). Crimea is the only region in Ukraine marked by a majority of ethnic Russian citizens, and home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastapol (map). The Interim President of Ukraine, Turchinov, issued a statement (27.02.2014 – Kiev) warning the current military commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet not to abuse its naval base rights, and that any movement of troops the more so if they are with weapons,will be considered a military aggression. The Russian acting envoy in Kiev has been summoned by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, while the Russian Defence Minister, Shoigu, released a statement yesterday (26.02.2014 – Moscow) confirming that the Russian Army is put on high-alert in the Western Military District of Russia (bordering Ukraine), setting up a major military exercise involving 150’000 troops (army/air force/navy). The US Secretary of State, Kerry, also issued a warning against any intervention by Moscow, specifying that (NATO?) will protect Ukrainian sovereignty, and that it would be a grave mistake for Russia to intervene military in Crimea, especially in consideration of the fact that Moscow always opposed military intervention into foreign countries (Kerry refers specifically to Libya, Syria, Iraq – see the Telegraph). Although the former President, Yanukovych, is still at large, sources suggest he reached Moscow.