Moscow’s ambassador to the EU has welcomed what he called the “reunification” of Crimea with Russia but denied that the move was planned.
Moscow, March 23 (BBC): Vladimir Chizhov told the BBC the move was the end of an “abnormality” which had lasted for 60 years. Russia formally annexed the Ukrainian region on Friday after a referendum. On Saturday Russian troops and pro-Russian protesters stormed two Ukrainian military airbases in Crimea, bringing them under Russian control.
Mr Chizhov said Ukrainian troops in Crimea had to decide whether to resign, join the Russian army or leave the territory in uniform. He warned the US against sending troops or military aid to Ukraine, saying it would be a “grave mistake”. Mr Chizhov said that while Russia did not recognise the new government in Kiev, he expected them to safeguard the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine.
“We want to see the interests of people living in eastern Ukraine - ethnic Russians, Russian speakers, all the population of eastern Ukraine - to be taken into account by whoever is the authority in Kiev today” he said. He added that Russia did not have any intention to send troops into other parts of Ukraine or Europe.
Bases stormed
Correspondents say Russian forces appear to be stepping up their efforts to secure full military control of all of Crimea. The BBC’s Ian Pannell, in Belbek, says the few remaining Ukrainian troops on the peninsula feel beleaguered and abandoned by their commanders. He saw Russian troops use stun grenades and automatic weapons in a raid on the Belbek airbase on Saturday.
The BBC’s Mark Lowen also witnessed the takeover of the Novofedorivka base in eastern Crimea by Russian troops. Russian soldiers and pro-Russian protesters stormed the base and forced Ukrainian troops to leave.
Russia annexed Crimea following a referendum on 16 March, which came after the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February. The Kremlin said it acted to protect its “compatriots” in Crimea from “fascists” moving in from the mainland Ukraine. Moscow does not recognise the new authorities in Kiev and has criticised right-wing elements among them.
Ukraine and the West have condemned the referendum as “illegal”. The US and EU have responded with a series of sanctions targeting those individuals - including senior officials - involved in what Washington and Brussels describe as Crimea’s “annexation”.
