-- The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution that affirms Ukraine's territorial integrity.
-- The IMF has announced "a staff-level agreement" with Kyiv on assistance of $14 billion-$18 billion in conjunction with a reform program that will "unlock" up to $27 billion over the next two years, pending final approval next month. Tthe U.S. Congress has also passed an aid bill for Ukraine.
-- Ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko has announced plans to run for president.
-- Members of the Right Sector have been holding a demonstration outside the Ukrainian parliament building to vent their anger at the killing of prominent member Oleksander Muzychkoearlier in the week.
-- Six Ukrainian military officers detained by pro-Russian troops in Crimea have been released, including Colonel Yuliy Mamchur, but five others are still being held captive.
-- Anonymous sources quoted by CNN say U.S. intelligence "concludes it is more likely than previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine."
-- U.S. President Barack Obama, in the keynote speech of his visit to Europe, chided Russia for its use of "brute force" in Ukraine and vowed that a determined alliance of the United States and Europe will prevail over time.
*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv
RFE/RL's Russian Service is also liveblogging the Ukraine situation in Russian.
11:547.3.2014
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic arrived in Ukraine last night for a eight-day visit. He will meet with officials in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Simferopol and coordinate with international organizations including the OSCE and the Council of Europe.
He will address the media on March 14.
12:167.3.2014
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) hasposted photographs of its observer mission -- 47 people from 25 OSCE countries -- sent to Crimea at the request of the government in Kyiv trying to negotiate their way into the region at the Armyansk crossing point on March 6.
"In the midst of the Cold War, leading universities had whole departments dedicated to understanding the Soviet Union. The top national security question of the day drew the top minds, many of whom became fluent in Russian language and culture and graduated into the government or the spy agencies. But the breakup of the Soviet Union broke up those departments, and the national security enthusiasts melted away with the thawing of relations. Professors found themselves out of funding and eventually jobs."
12:237.3.2014
Here are a few drawings from Serbian political cartoonist Predrag Koraksic Corax done specially for RFE/RL's Balkans Service.
Cartoon from Predrag Koraksić Corax "Infusion"
12:517.3.2014
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued a statement saying that "freedom of information is in dire state in Crimea."
“At a time when the entire world is following events in Crimea, those who control the region have duty to allow local and foreign journalists to do their job. The obstruction and censorship taking place under their authority is unacceptable," said RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire.
The statement describes several incidents of harassment of journalists or infringements of access to information in Crimea in the last few days.
12:527.3.2014
13:067.3.2014
The foreign ministers of the Nordic, Baltic, and Visegrad countries, meeting in Narva, Estonia, have issued a statement on the situation in Ukraine.
They describe the situation as "critical" and say "an act of aggression has been committed by Russian military forces." The call the scheduled referendum in Crimea on joining the Russian Federation "illegitimate" and "unacceptable."
"The NB8 and V4 group reaffirms its strong support for Ukraine’s, Moldova’s and Georgia’s goal of further association with the European Union and supports the signing of the Association Agreements in the nearest possible future," the statement reads.
13:127.3.2014
"The Kyiv Post" reports that tourism is collapsing in Crimea this year. Pre-paid holiday packages are down 90 percent over last year. Tourism is worth about $5 billion annually to the region, according to the Crimean Resorts and Tourism Ministry.
13:267.3.2014
RFE/RL video report of French FEMEN activists who were beaten in Crimea on March 6. They spoke to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service today in Kyiv.
