The Crimea, an integral part of Ukraine, is being occupied by foreign troops.

On March 19, 2014, the developments were characterized by the following:

Assaults and blockade of Ukrainian military bases on the peninsula, extension of Russia’s military presence in Crimea

• In Sevastopol, headquarters of Ukrainian Navy were stormed and seized by Russian military
• In Sevastopol, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy S.Hayduk was kidnapped and is missing
• In Yevpatoriya, Russian military have seized control of measurement base and aircraft factory of Ukrainian Armed Forces
• In Bakhchysarai, servicemen of Ukrainian autobatallion were forced out of their base
• In Belbek, division of Ukrainian Armed Forces was tossed by stun grenades, and was forced to use arms in order to fight off the assault
• In Perevalne, Ukrainian military division have fought off an assault on their base
• In Yevpatoriya, Ukrainian Navy base was assaulted by Russian forces
• In Sevastopol, Russian military surrounded rocket division of Ukrainian Armed Forces and demanded the surrender of arms
• In Feodosia, marine base of Ukraine’s Armed Forces was surrounded by Russian military
• Ukrainian corvette “Ternopil” has received an ultimatum from Russian Black Sea Fleet to surrender arms
• Near Kirovske, Russian military have deployed mobile rocket systems “OSA” on local airfield
• On Crimean border with mainland Ukraine, Ukrainian military were subjected to continuous provocations
• Overnight, Russian military presence in Crimea has increased by 400 servicemen and now constitutes 22,000 of them
• As of March 19, 18 facilities of state infrastructure are seized (12 of them military), and 35 blocked (including 28 military)

Illegal separatist activities of self-proclaimed pro-Russian “puppet” government

• Denial of landing for a plane that carried Ukraine’s Defense Minister I.Teniukh and Vice Prime Minister V.Yarema to Crimea
• Launch of drafting of “blacklists” of Maidan’s supporters, pro-Ukrainian locals and Ukrainian servicemen, which will be passed to Russian security services
• Self-proclaimed “prime-minister” S.Aksionov has called on Russia to “help” Russian-speaking population of eastern Ukraine
• Announcement of plans to nationalize 130 tourist facilities, which are in state property of Ukraine
• First passports of Russia are illegally issued to Crimean locals
• Announcement of plans to rename vessels of Ukrainian Navy in Crimea after they are seized
• Decision has been taken bring in Russian telephone area codes in Crimea and to withdraw Ukrainian Hryvnia from currency circulation

Russian major political party “United Russia” has decided to open its branch in Crimea