16:32
7.3.2014
"Yes, I am a Russian soldier! I have no flag on my uniform, because it is a secret mission" #Ukraine #Crimea http://t.co/PTkEO002fr
— NATOSource (@NATOSource) March 7, 2014
16:41
7.3.2014
Interfax was reporting earlier that OSCE monitors were refused entry -- once again -- to Crimea. More from the wires:
The Organization for Security and Co-operation In Europe (OSCE) says its military observers have again been denied access to Crimea and are heading back to the Ukrainian city of Kherson to plan their next step.
The OSCE's announcement via Twitter on Friday came after news agencies reported that armed men at a checkpoint blocked two buses carrying OSCE observers from entering Crimea.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday that the OSCE observers had failed to obtain "official invitations" from the Crimean authorities.
The OSCE team of 47 military and civilian observers was similarly blocked on Thursday and spent the night in Kherson, the nearest big town north of the peninsula.
The OSCE's announcement via Twitter on Friday came after news agencies reported that armed men at a checkpoint blocked two buses carrying OSCE observers from entering Crimea.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday that the OSCE observers had failed to obtain "official invitations" from the Crimean authorities.
The OSCE team of 47 military and civilian observers was similarly blocked on Thursday and spent the night in Kherson, the nearest big town north of the peninsula.
17:08
7.3.2014
If you're looking for some weekend listening, you could do a lot worse than listen to our very own Brian Whitmore's Power Vertical podcast. It's on Crimea.
The @PowerVertical podcast is out. @MarkGaleotti @llywelyn The Crimean Game Changer http://t.co/iMSu5Awvnz
— Brian Whitmore (@PowerVertical) March 7, 2014
17:29
7.3.2014
RussiaToday @RT_com has updated its maps to show #Crimea as part of Russia. Not Putin propaganda organ, eh? pic.twitter.com/WAKM0aSCR0 #Ukraine
— Daniel Hamilton (@danielrhamilton) March 7, 2014
18:25
7.3.2014
Meanwhile, the Paralympics is opening in Sochi
No insignia I presume RT @RT_com: #SOCHI2014: Ice breaker of peace enters the #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/U0kBI6dd50 (Photo @Sochi2014)
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) March 7, 2014
19:39
7.3.2014
Another interesting piece on the role of the far-right in the Maidan protests:
The new deputy prime minister, Oleksandr Sych, is from Svoboda; National Security Secretary Andriy Parubiy is a co-founder of the neo-Nazi Social-National Party, Svoboda's earlier incarnation; the deputy secretary for National Security is Dmytro Yarosh, the head of Right Sector. Chief prosecutor Oleh Makhnitsky is another Svoboda member, as are the ministers for Agriculture and Ecology (Channel 4, 3/5/14). In short, if the prospect of fascists taking power again in Europe worries you, you should be very worried about Ukraine.
19:48
7.3.2014
More preparation for annexation? From Interfax and ITAR-TASS:
Authorities in Crimea have stopped the broadcasting of two more Ukrainian national TV channels and replaced them with broadcasts from Russian channels.
According to reports Friday five Ukrainian TV channels and one Crimean TV channel have now been taken off the air in the Crimean Peninsula and replaced with Russian channels.
In Kyiv, authorities have requested television and radio broadcasting authorities to "temporarily" suspend retranslation of Russian channels "Vesti," "Rossiya 24," "ORT," and "RTR Planeta."
These moves come amid tensions between Kyiv and Moscow over the presence of pro-Russian forces in Crimea and attempts by Crimean officials to hold a referendum on joining Russia.
According to reports Friday five Ukrainian TV channels and one Crimean TV channel have now been taken off the air in the Crimean Peninsula and replaced with Russian channels.
In Kyiv, authorities have requested television and radio broadcasting authorities to "temporarily" suspend retranslation of Russian channels "Vesti," "Rossiya 24," "ORT," and "RTR Planeta."
These moves come amid tensions between Kyiv and Moscow over the presence of pro-Russian forces in Crimea and attempts by Crimean officials to hold a referendum on joining Russia.
20:08
7.3.2014
20:21
7.3.2014
Hearing that a couple of journalists have been quite badly beaten up by the self defence units near the Sevastopol base being stormed. Grim.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) March 7, 2014
20:51
7.3.2014
BREAKING: Western news agencies are reporting armed men, thought to be pro-Russian militia, have entered a Ukrainian military post in Crimea.
Details are still sketchy, but Ukrainian defense officials say members of the militia are now in talks with Ukrainian commanders at the missile defense base near Sevastopol. No violence has been reported.
Details are still sketchy, but Ukrainian defense officials say members of the militia are now in talks with Ukrainian commanders at the missile defense base near Sevastopol. No violence has been reported.