| BBC News | - |
Ukraine's
military says an officer has been killed in an attack on a base in
Crimea, the first such death since pro-Russia forces took control in
February.
Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'
Ben Brown reports from outside the Simferopol base where automatic gunfire has been heard
Ukraine's
military says an officer has been killed in an attack on a base in
Crimea, the first such death since pro-Russia forces took control in
February.
Ukraine has now authorised its troops to fire in self defence.The attack came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Crimea signed a bill to absorb the peninsula into Russia.
Western powers condemned the treaty and a G7 and EU crisis meeting has been called for next week in The Hague.
The Ukrainian crisis began in November last year after pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an EU deal in favour of stronger ties with Russia. He fled Ukraine on 22 February after protests in which many died.
'Military stage' An eyewitness told the BBC that armed men arrived in two unmarked vehicles, storming the base in Simferopol firing automatic weapons.
Putin told Russia's parliament Crimea had "always been part of Russia"
The government said the commander of the unit was captured by men wearing Russian uniforms.
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Crisis timeline
- 21 Nov 2013: President Viktor Yanukovych abandons an EU deal
- Dec: Pro-EU protesters occupy Kiev city hall and Independence Square
- 20-21 Feb 2014: At least 88 people killed in Kiev clashes
- 22 Feb: Mr Yanukovych flees; parliament removes him and calls election
- 27-28 Feb: Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in Crimea
- 6 Mar: Crimea's parliament votes to join Russia
- 16 Mar: Crimea voters choose to secede in disputed referendum
- 17 Mar: Crimean parliament declares independence and formally applies to join Russia
Defence ministry spokesman
Vladislav Seleznyov told Reuters the attack was by "unknown forces,
fully equipped and their faces covered".
The Ukrainians had had their IDs, weapons and money confiscated, he said.Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told an emergency government meeting: "The conflict is shifting from a political to a military stage.
"Russian soldiers have started shooting at Ukrainian military servicemen and that is a war crime."
Reports from the Crimean news agency, Kryminform, said a pro-Russia defence force member had been shot dead.
Neither of the accounts can be independently confirmed or whether they relate to the same incident.
The BBC's Mark Lowen, in Simferopol, says up until now only warning shots have been fired amid a truce - but it appears the tension has boiled over and there are fears that further clashes could follow.
'Glory to Russia' Earlier, Mr Putin told Russia's parliament that Crimea had "always been part of Russia" and in signing the treaty he was righting a "historical injustice".
After Mr Putin's speech a huge "We are together" rally was held in Moscow's Red Square
A sailor stands guard on Ukraine's Slavutych military ship in Sevastopol
Pro-Russia supporters gathered in Sevastopol in Crimea as President Putin's speech was relayed
But our correspondent says there were conciliatory words, too - Mr Putin stressed Russia did not want to "divide" the rest of Ukraine.
The president later appeared before crowds in Moscow's Red Square, telling them: "Crimea and Sevastopol are returning to... their home shores, to their home port, to Russia!"
He shouted "Glory to Russia" as the crowds chanted "Putin!"
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The striking thing was the relaxed mood. Security was minimal and nobody seemed bothered by the media presence now. Presumably supporters of union felt they had got their result and could breathe easy.
Afterwards families headed down to the nearby quays to photograph each other against the picturesque backdrop of the bay, tricolours in hand. The waterfront, scene of many tragic chapters in this city of sieges, is a happy place this afternoon.
At the scene
Nakhimov Square may not have been packed out for the broadcast of Vladimir Putin's speech but the numbers were decent and the mood good-humoured. Small children cut arcs in the air with the Russian tricolour as their parents' faces creased into smiles in the sunshine.The striking thing was the relaxed mood. Security was minimal and nobody seemed bothered by the media presence now. Presumably supporters of union felt they had got their result and could breathe easy.
Afterwards families headed down to the nearby quays to photograph each other against the picturesque backdrop of the bay, tricolours in hand. The waterfront, scene of many tragic chapters in this city of sieges, is a happy place this afternoon.
The predominantly ethnic-Russian
region of Crimea held a referendum on Sunday in which it said 97% of
voters had backed joining Russia.
Crimea's leaders declared independence on Monday and Russia acknowledged it as a nation.'Land grab' Ukraine's interim President Olexander Turchynov said Russia's actions were reminiscent of Nazi Germany's takeover of Austria and the Sudetenland.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry said: "We do not recognise and never will recognise the so-called independence or the so-called agreement on Crimea joining the Russian Federation."
Western powers have declared the Crimea referendum illegal and roundly condemned Tuesday's treaty.
US Vice-President Joe Biden, speaking earlier in Poland, said Russia's involvement in Crimea was "a brazen military incursion" and its annexation of the territory was "nothing more than a land grab" by Moscow.
The White House said Monday's round of targeted sanctions on Ukrainian and Russian officials by the US and EU would be expanded.
"This action - the results of the referendum and the attempt to annex a region of Ukraine - will never be recognised by the United States and the international community," spokesman Jay Carney said.
President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov says
Ukrainian soldiers need to make a choice about joining the Crimean
forces or leaving the peninsula
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the referendum, the declaration of independence and Crimea's "absorption into the Russian Federation" were "against international law".
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