INVASION OF CRIMEA – Chronicle of March 3rd, 2014 – REPORTS FROM THE GROUND
Russian Troops Accumulating near Ukraine’s Borders
Source:Ukrainian Policy
Regional officials indicated on March 2nd that 10km from the Russian border in the northern Chernihiv region, Russian military movements were spotted, including tanks. Interim president Turchynov later informed that a no-fly zone over the country had been initiated for military aircraft.
On Monday March 3rd, the State Border Service of Ukraine announced that Russian forces were accumulating forces, including artillery and armored carriers, along the country’s eastern borders along the Donbas region of Luhansk, Donetsk, and Kharkiv. Russian border services have also closed the border for Russian citizens traveling into Donetsk, while the governor of neighboring Rostov-on-Don ordered the setup of refugee camps.
In response, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said that Russian troops will not be allowed into the eastern regions of Ukraine. “I am convinced that no Russian military contingents will be allowed into [Ukraine’s] eastern regions,” he said.
Attempt to seize the state penitentiary directorate in Simferopol failed
Earlier today a group of unidentified persons were trying to capture the Directorate of the State Penitentiary Service in Simferopol, Crimea. The aggressors demanded that the penitentiary personnel swear allegiance to the Crimean authorities and subordinated to fulfill their orders. The personnel refused. All penitentiary bodies in Crimea have been put under extraordinary surveillance by Ukrainian troops.
Source: Pavlo Petrenko, Minister of Justice of Ukraine, via Facebook
Russian ships blocking Striletska bay near Sevastopol
Source:Euromaidan PR, KRYM.SOS
Eyewitnesses say that the ships have been there since morning.
FAMILIES OF UKRAINIAN MILITARY MEN IN CRIMEA RECEIVE THREATENING PHONE CALLS
TV 5 UKRAINE. 03.03.2014, 14:15
Vladylav Selezniov, Head of the Regional Media Center of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense in AR CRIMEA, Ukraine, on the phone.
“In Feodosia, Crimea, the situation remains very tense. If yesterday the Russian party tried to “buy” Ukrainian Marines by offering them high salaries and other financial bonuses, today an unidentified person called Mr. Deliatinsky, Commander of a Battalion, and threatened to take his family to an undisclosed location unless the Ukrainian Marines swear an oath of allegiance to the self-proclaimed Crimean government.”
https://www.facebook.com/euromaidanpr/posts/238342036349606?stream_ref=10
Loved ones of Ukrainian servicemen form a human shield to protect them from Putin’s invaders
Ukrainian Military in Feodosiya Refuse to Surrender
The Defense Ministry of Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian military, locked in Feodosiya, in Crimea refuse to give in to the Russians and forswear allegiance.
“The soldiers of Feodosian air defense missile regiment ceremoniously raised the state flag of Ukraine and sang the national anthem over the parade ground… The entire personnel of the regiment continued to serve the people of Ukraine and perform tasks,” quoted a message from RBK-Ukraine.
Yesterday, the servicemen of the Feodosian separate battalion of marines refused Russian military and radical activists proposals to side with the Crimean government for “large salaries and other material benefits.”
Apart from this, as noted in the press service of the Defense Ministry, the battalion commander, received an anonymous phone call to remove the threat of the members of his family in an unknown direction, if the Marines do not swear allegiance to the Crimean leadership.
Source: Euromaidan PR via Focus.ua
The Ukrainian marine base in Feodosia, Crimea, surrounded by Russian soldiers. Photograph: Rex Features.
ENCIRCLEMENT OF UKRAINIAN MILITARY INSTALLATION BY RUSSIAN UNIT IN CRIMEA
TV 5, Ukraine. 03.03.2014, 14:12
Volodymyr Sadovnik, Commander of the Ukrainian military installation No. 2904, Bakhchisaray, Crimea, Ukraine, on the phone.
“There are about 300 armed men in camouflage uniform around our installation. The machineguns, sniper rifles, grenade launchers and 6 APCs. Every hour or hour and a half they re-start negotiations. No serious attacking for now, but we are encircled and blocked by a tight ring of soldiers and nobody can access or leave the territory of the installation. Our installation is of prime interest for them because we have a considerable stock of weapons.”
https://www.facebook.com/euromaidanpr/posts/238296206354189?stream_ref=10
Military vehicles, believed to be property of Russian army, are seen near the territory of a Ukrainian military unit in the village of Perevalnoye outside Simferopol March 2, 2014.
Image by: VASILY FEDOSENKO / REUTERS
ATTEMPTS OF ARMED SOLDIERS TO SEIZE CONTROL OVER UKRAINIAN NAVY COMMAND CENTER IN CRIMEA
TV 5 UKRAINE. 03.03.2014, 14:13
Serhiy Haiduk, Acting Ukrainian Navy Commander, AR CRIMEA, on the phone.
“An attempt was made by military units wearing camouflage uniform to block 10 military installations of the Ukrainian Navy. The commanders of the Ukrainian units acted in compliance with the orders they received. The plans of guarding and defense of the units have been launched. At 8:38 a.m., March 3, 2014, an attempt was made to seize control over the Ukrainian Navy and the Command Center of the Ukrainian Navy. During the preventive actions, the attempting unit was localized and driven outside the territory of the Ukrainian encampment.”
https://www.facebook.com/euromaidanpr/posts/238297423020734?stream_ref=10
Armed men, believed to be Russian soldiers, stand outside the civilian port in the Crimean town of Kerch. Russia started a build up of armored vehicles on the Russian side of a narrow stretch of water between Russia and the Ukrainian region of Crimea, Ukrainian border guards said.
Two Ukrainian Navy Ships Blocked by Russian Navy in Sevastopol
TV 5 UKRAINE. 3 Mar., 2014, 14:14
Vladylav Selezniov, Head of Regional Media Center under of Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in AR CRIMEA, Ukraine, on the phone.
“Ukrainian navy ships “Ternopil” and “Slavutych” are being blocked by the ships of the Black See Fleet of the Russian Navy near Pier 15 in the Streletskaya Bay, Sevastopol, Ukraine. The Russian ships stay some 200 m. away from the Ukrainian ones and, naturally, block our ships from any maneuvering.”
Source: Euromaidan PR via Facebook
Russian Navy vessels off the coast of Sevastopol
Vice Admiral Alexander Vitko.
RUSSIAN FORCES POSE ULTIMATUM
03.03.2014, 14:16
Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Alexander Vitko posed an ultimatum to the Ukrainian military units – unless they surrender before 5 am tomorrow (04.03), an attack will start on all Ukrainian military units throughout Crimea. The Russian occupation forces are communicating this decision to the Ukrainian military.
Report of “Information Resistance”
RUSSIAN FORCES BREAK THROUGH STATE BORDER AT KRYM-KUBAN CROSSING POINT
Source: Euromaidan PR
On March 3, 2014 near 19 o’clock, the ferry “Yeisk” arrived at “Krym-Kuban” BCP for entering Ukraine.
During the border control of two minibuses there were 7 persons with automatic fire arm and automatic pistols were detected.
There were no permits for firearm weapon transportation. The border guard statements regarding prohibition of bringing the fire arm weapon into Ukraine were ignored.
Later, three auto trucks “Kamaz” with armed people arrived at “Kerch-Kuban” BCP on the next ferry. They burst into the BCP’s territory from the Ukrainian side, overrunning positions across the BCP. Despite resistance from the border guards, the minibuses smashed through to the territory of Ukraine.
Hereupon, the group of armed people used physical force to occupy the station of “Kerch” border guard division of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
Russian Troops Travelling Through Crimea to Checkpoint in Armyansk – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
Monday morning, March 3, 2014 about 30 Russian military vehicles were spotted moving past the village of Voykovo towards Armyansk to fortify checkpoints at the eтtrance to Crimean Peninsula.
Source: EuroMaidan PR YouTube Channel, KRYM.SOS
Ukrainian Army Officer: In Balaklava, Our Soldiers Were Told to Lie Down on the Floor and ‘Kicked Like Kittens’
Russian soldiers who seized the military base # 2382 in Balaklava were beating the Ukrainian servicemen, reports Espreso.TV correspondent citing one of the officers currently blocked inside the base.
According to the officer, Ukrainians were defending the base with batons and shields, while facing Russian troops with machine guns. Ukrainian soldiers also received proposals “to switch to the Russian army’s side.”
“At 2 am, our soldiers were told to lie down on the floor and kicked like kittens”, told the officer.
Source: Euromaidan PR, Espreso.TV
Russian Soldier’s Status Update – ON HOLIDAY
Putin’s Former Advisor Speaks on Russia Invasion to Ukraine – VIDEO w. Eng subtitles
Source: EuroMaidan PR YouTube Channel
(If you can’t see the subtitles, click ‘CC’ in the bottom right corner of the video.)
