Ukrainian forces in Perevalne penned inside their base
bear no insignia and the trucks in the background have
had the identifying license plates removed, but a Ukrainian
captain who has dealt with them says that despite the
political games, they freely admit they are Russians
and occupiers. (Matthew Schofield/MCT)
As tension increases between Russia and Ukraine, European Union leaders threaten Russia with an economic sanction, or restrictions on financial transactions or trade barriers, if they do not negotiate with Kiev, the Ukrainian capitol.
After the Ukrainian Parliament overthrew their pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and replaced him with Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Russia and Ukraine have been fighting over a Southern-Ukraine territory known as Crimea. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, received permission from his Parliament to deploy Russian troops to Crimea to peacefully protect the Russian citizens. However, there are reports of militants using force to take over Ukrainian government buildings, airports and bases. These militants are dressed in Russian uniforms, without insignia, and are driving Russian military vehicles, effectively gaining control of the region.
“It’s very upsetting to [my husband and I]. We have family and friends still there,” world history teacher Christina Bay-Bay Bykov said.
A Ukrainian spokesman said that a few hundred Russian marines landed between the eastern Crimean ports of Kerch and Feodosia on the Black Sea.
“Moscow denies that its troops have seized control of Crimea… calling it the work of local militants working independently,” the Tribune reports in their article “Mixed messages from Crimea.”
But, the Associated Press reported military trucks with Russian license plates rumbling towards the Crimean capitol, Simferopol.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov further denies the claims, insisting that Kiev’s new government was “illegitimate and full of radical rightists.” According the Lavrov, Russia takes no part in the confrontation in Crimea.
The EU wants Russia and Ukraine to a compromise before they intervene. Intervening could mean economic sanctions.
“I hope it will end diplomatically. If sanctions are placed on imports or exports it will be detrimental to the people in Crimea,” Bykov said.
The Ukrainian government is confident that Crimea will remain in the hands of Ukraine.
“Crimea is and will remain Ukrainian land…the boarders of Ukraine are inviolable,” Andriy Deshchytsia, Ukraine’s acting foriegn minister said.
Hopeful pro-Russian members of Crimea’s regional assembly have scheduled a vote on March 16 to break away from Ukraine to become a part of Russia.
“I think they will come to a solution soon, but unfortunately Russia may overpower them because they have such an influence,” sophomore Elena Berisha said.
National Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen reports “in these difficult moments, NATO stands by Ukraine. NATO stands by the right of every nation to decide its own future. NATO stands by Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and by the fundamental principles of international law”.