Pro-Russians seize Sevastopol Ukrainian naval base
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Pro-Russian activists have taken control of the HQ of Ukraine's navy in the Crimean city of Sevastopol.
Ukrainian navy chief Serhiy Hayduk has reportedly been detained and the Russian flag is flying over the base. Many Ukrainian personnel have left.
On Tuesday, Crimean leaders signed a treaty with Moscow absorbing the peninsula into Russia, according to a news agency.
That followed Sunday's referendum approving Crimea's split from Ukraine - a vote that has been widely condemned.
Crimean and Russian officials say the vote showed overwhelming public support for joining Russia, with 97% of voters in favour.
But the West and the Ukrainian government in Kiev say the hastily organised referendum - boycotted by many of Crimea's Ukrainian and Tatar minorities - was illegal and will not be recognised.