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Those Americans who struggle to correctly point out even the continent Ukraine is located on are more likely to support US military intervention to resolve the crisis and the advancement of US national security interests, a new survey has revealed.
{{about|Russian military activity in Crimea|the secession crisis in Crimea and subsequent Russian annexation|2014 Crimean crisis}}
{{pp-sock|expiry=9 April 2014|small=yes}}


A newly published poll, conducted by three Ivy League professors, revealed that only one out of six Americans surveyed could pinpoint where Ukraine actually is on a world map. The survey also showed a worrying correlation in answers - the further the person thought Ukraine is from its actual geographical location, the more likely he or she was to support military intervention in a sovereign state.
{{pp-move|expiry=2014-06-05 04:55:43|small=yes}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Merge to|2014 Crimean crisis|discuss=Talk:2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine#Merge with 2014 Crimean crisis|date=March 2014}}
{{merge from|Simferopol Incident|discuss=Talk:Simferopol Incident|date=March 2014}}
{{Split|2014 Ukrainian crisis|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine
| partof = the ]
| image = ]
| caption = Crimea (black), Ukraine (light green) and Russia (light red) in Europe</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding-left:5px;">
{{Legend|#000000|'''] & ]'''<br><small>(disputed by Ukraine and the Russian Federation)</small>}}
{{Legend|#32CD32|''']'''}}
{{Legend|#d78776|'''Russia'''}}
| date = 27 February 2014 ''(de facto)''<ref name=guardian/> – present
| place = ]<br>]<br/>], Ukraine<ref name="kherson_invaded"/>
| coordinates =
| map_type =
| map_relief =
| latitude =
| longitude =
| map_size =
| map_marksize =
| map_caption =
| map_label =
| territory =
| result =
| status = Ongoing
* Right Sector leader Dmitry Yarosh announced he was “mobilizing” his movement’s members “to take decisive steps to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” 12 April<ref>http://rt.com/news/eastern-ukraine-violence-slavyansk-240/</ref>
* Russia takes effective military control over Crimea, overpowering aerial and naval fleets<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/world/europe/ukraine.html | title = Ukraine Puts Troops on High Alert, Threatening War | newspaper = ] | date = 2 March 2014}}</ref>
* Russia-Ukraine borders are patrolled by the Russian army until 4 March 2014.<ref name="pcoup"> ]. Retrieved 4 March 2014</ref>
* Russian military entered village of ], ] on 8 March.<ref name="kherson_invaded">. Ukrainian News, 8 March 2014</ref>
* Ukraine sealed border with pro-Russian Moldovan region of ] on 15 March.<ref>http://en.itar-tass.com/world/723682</ref>
* NATO plans Rapid Trident military exercises in Ukraine.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2584693/Ukraine-hold-joint-military-exercises-U-S-Britain-announcing-troop-withdrawal-Crimea.html</ref>
* NATO accuses Russia of covert military operations in Crimea.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TneVqCJ5iUE |title=NATO Secretary General – Doorstep statement to the media |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref>
| combatants_header =
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|Russia}} Russia
* {{flagicon|Crimea}} ]


In their study, conducted between March 28-31, Kyle Dropp of Dartmouth College, Joshua D. Kertzer of Harvard University, and Thomas Zeitzoff of Princeton asked 2,066 Americans where Ukraine was on a map and how they think Washington should respond to the crisis there.
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Ukraine}} ]<ref name="disaster">{{cite web|author=by: Network writers, agencies |url=http://www.news.com.au/world/russian-troop-invasion-encircles-crimeas-capital-as-ukraine-pm-declares-the-nation-to-be-on-brink-of-disaster/story-fndir2ev-1226843109609 |title=Russian troop invasion encircles Crimea's capital as Ukraine PM declares the nation to be on 'brink of disaster' |publisher=News.com.au |date=27 February 2014 |accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref>


The survey was conducted to “see where Americans think Ukraine is and to learn if this knowledge (or lack thereof) is related to their foreign policy views,” the authors explained in a Washington Post blog.
| commander1 = Pres. ]<br>Gen. ]<br>Gen. ]<br>Lt.Gen. ]<br>V.Adm. ]<br>]
| commander2 = Pres. (acting) ]<br>Adm. ]<br>Lt.Gen. ]<br>R.Adm. ] <small>(])</small><br>R.Adm. ]<br><small>(defected)</small>
| units1 = ] ''']:'''<ref name="zsu_henshtab">. ]. 4 March 2014</ref><ref name="zsu_interfax">. ]. 4 March 2014</ref><br>] ]<br>] ]<br>18th Mechanized Brigade
*1st Battalion "Vostok" (])
] ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/russia_redeploys_ships_of_baltic_and_northern_fleets_to_sevastopol_violates_agreement_with_ukraine_317983|title=Russia redeploys ships of Baltic and Northern fleets to Sevastopol, violates agreement with Ukraine|agency=Ukrinform|date=3 March 2014}}</ref><br>
] ]<br>
] ]:
*]
] ]
*]
*]
] ]
*22nd Spetsnaz Brigade
*]
*"Crimean self-defense"
**]<ref>{{cite news|last=Vasovic|first=Aleksandar|title=Serbian paramilitaries join pro-Russian forces in Crimea|url=http://news.yahoo.com/serbian-paramilitaries-join-pro-russian-forces-crimea-080011724.html|newspaper=Yahoo News|date=14 March 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315221758/http://news.yahoo.com/serbian-paramilitaries-join-pro-russian-forces-crimea-080011724.html|archivedate=15 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bacchi|first=Umberto|title=Ukraine Crimea Crisis: Serb Chetnik Militia Joins Pro-Russian Patrols|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ukraine-crimea-crisis-serb-chetnik-militia-joins-pro-russian-patrols-1439654|accessdate=15 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=10 March 2014}}</ref>
**Don Cossacks from Volgograd<ref>. Komsomolskaya Pravda. 13 March 2014</ref><ref name=killed_russian/>
| units2 = ] ''']:''' <br>] ]<br>
*36th Coastal Defense Brigade<ref name="Beast">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/01/so-russia-invaded-crimea.html|title=Russia Stages a Coup in Crimea | work=The Daily Beast |date=3 January 2014|author=Michael Weiss}}</ref> {{surrendered}}
] ]<br> ] ]<br> ] ]<br>] ]
| strength1 = '''Crimean Force''': 25,000–30,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/04/world/europe/ukraine-russia-tensions/ |title=Ukraine looks for 'sign of hope' from Russia over Crimea |publisher=CNN }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/7/7018027/ |title=In Crimea are already 30 thousand of Russian military – part of Sevastopol fleet base which was agreed by the legitimate government of Ukraine and Russian which states that Russia is allowed to keep the military base till 2045. |work=] |date=7 March 2014}}</ref>
*Black Sea Fleet: 11,000 (including ])
**30 + Warships <br> (incl. ])
* 4 Squadrons of fighter aircraft (18 planes each)
'''Reinforcements''':Between 16,000<ref name="Beast"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/04/world/europe/ukraine-mood-on-the-ground/index.html?hpt=bosread |title=An eerie mood on the ground in Crimea |publisher=CNN }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|title=Ukraine crisis: Putin asks Russian parliament's permission for military intervention in Crimea|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-putin-asks-russian-parliaments-permission-for-military-intervention-in-crimea-9162253.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=1 March 2014}}</ref><ref>. ]. 3 March 2014</ref> and 42,000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/insider-view-moscow-control-ukraine-crimea-article-1.1708580 |title=Insider's view: Moscow is in control of Crimea in Ukraine |last1=Anonymous |date=3 March 2014 |work=Daily News|location=New York |accessdate=6 March 2014}}</ref> troops
| strength2 = '''Crimean garrison''':<br>~ 14,500<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine must focus on where its assets are stationed, experts say|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/ukraine-assets-forces-military-crimea|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 March 2014}}</ref> - 18,800<ref name=Carbonnel>{{cite news|last=de Carbonnel|first=Alissa|title=With Russia controlling Crimea, Ukrainian army allegiances waver|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/08/us-ukraine-crisis-military-idUSBREA3710L20140408|accessdate=12 April 2014|date=8 April 2014|agency=Reuters|location=Sevastopol|quote=overwhelming majority of some 18,800 service personnel ignoring orders . Only about 4,300 will continue their service }}</ref> troops<br>10 warships
| casualties1 =2 Pro-Russian militants killed<ref name=killed_russian>. Kavkazskiy uzel. 20 March 2014</ref><ref>. Vse dla vas. 22 March 2014</ref><ref>. Mir i politika. 20 March 2014</ref><ref name=auto> The Associated Press, 18 March 2014</ref><br/> 2 Pro-Russian Militants wounded<br/>1 military intelligence team captured<ref name=spy/><br/>7 servicemen from the Russian Black Sea Fleet arrested<ref name=seven/><br/>4 Russian agitators arrested
| casualties2 =3 killed<ref name=reut> Reuters, 7 April 2014</ref><ref>. ]. 18 March 2014</ref><ref>. ].


The results, combined in a heat map representing where respondents thought Ukraine was, show that only 16 percent of Americans correctly identified Ukraine on a map, with the median respondent being about 1,800 miles off. Some people thought Ukraine could be located as far south as Argentina or Australia, or as north as Finland.
18 March 2014</ref><br>8 wounded<ref name="disaster"/><ref name=photogrammetric_center>. ]. 18 March 2014</ref><br>50+ captured<ref name=photogrammetric_center/><ref name=autogenerated1>. 2 March. In Ukranian. '']''. 2 March 2014</ref><ref> The New York Times, 22 March 2014</ref>1 corvette damaged and captured<br/>3 corvettes captured<br/>1 minesweeper disabled and captured<br/>1 submarine captured<br/>1 amphibious ship captured<br />5 auxiliary ships captured<br/>]


In terms of demographics, the 18- to 24-year-old group provided a more accurate geo-location with 27 percent correctly identifying Ukraine, as compared to 14 percent of the 65+ year-olds group.
| notes =
| campaignbox =
|casualties3 = 1 civilian activist abducted and killed<ref> OSP-UA.info, 18 March 2014</ref><br>'''Overall deaths:''' Seven}}


Image from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cageImage from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage
{{Campaignbox Post-Soviet conflicts}}


Gender correlations showed that 20 percent of males were successful at singling out Ukraine, while women had a 13 percent success rate.
<!-- No bolding per WP:BOLDTITLE -->Following the events of the ], a ] began on ]'s Russian-leaning ]. In late February 2014, unidentified armed forces began to take over the ] in Ukraine. Ukraine and Western commentators claimed the gunmen to be Russian Special Forces<ref>{{cite news |url=http://gulfnews.com/news/world/other-world/russian-special-forces-on-crimea-frontline-experts-1.1299168 |title=Russian special forces on Crimea frontline: experts |date=4 March 2014 |accessdate=4 March 2014 |work=Gulf News }}</ref> and other paramilitaries.


US servicemen and their families also struggled to locate Ukraine on a map, with only 16.1 percent answering correctly. Non-military households had a 16 percent success rate. Self-identified independents secured the highest rating, with 29 percent correctly locating the Eastern European country.
Russia, which has various strategic interests in and historical ties to Crimea,<ref name="beardsley-stars-and-stripes-2014-descend">{{cite news |last=Beardsley |first=Steven |date=4 March 2014 |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/analysts-black-sea-port-in-ukraine-still-key-to-russia-s-naval-interests-1.270904 |title=Black Sea port in Ukraine still key to Russia's naval interests |newspaper=] |accessdate=4 March 2014 }}</ref> insists that the forces did not include Russian troops, but only local self-defense forces,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/03/04/285653335/putin-says-those-arent-russian-forces-in-crimea |title=Putin Says Those Aren't Russian Forces in Crimea |first=Bill |last=Chappell |date=4 March 2014 |accessdate=5 March 2014 |publisher=] }}</ref>
and that the up to 25,000 troops Russia is allowed to station in ] and the Crimea<ref name="Below25000">Dilanian, Ken. , '']'' (3 March 2014): "CIA director John Brennan told a senior lawmaker Monday that a 1997 treaty between Russia and Ukraine allows up to 25,000 Russia troops in the vital Crimea region, so Russia may not consider its recent troop movements to be an invasion, U.S. officials said. The number of Russian troops that have surged into Ukraine in recent days remains well below that threshold, Brennan said, according to U.S. officials who declined to be named in describing private discussions and declined to name the legislator."</ref>
under the 1997 Russia-Ukraine Agreement extended in 2010 at Kharkiv remained uninvolved and within the treaty's limits prior to the referendum and reunification of Crimea with Russia.<ref name="legal">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26481423 |title=Analysis: Why Russia's Crimea move fails legal test |publisher=BBC |date=7 March 2014| quote = President Vladimir Putin ... indicated that the use of force for humanitarian purposes or in defence of Russian assets had not yet occurred. It might become necessary in the future ... For now, Russia claims that its regular forces are not involved in the present stand-off, and that it does not control the local militias supposedly responsible for it.}}</ref> "President Vladimir Putin, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Russian armed forces, had asked Parliament and received permission to use the Russian armed forces to "protect" Russian civilians and military in Ukraine."<ref name=20140303hindu>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/russian-parliament-approves-use-of-force-in-crimea/article5739708.ece |title=Russian Parliament approves use of army in Ukraine |newspaper=] |date=1 March 2014 |accessdate=3 March 2014 |first=Vladimir |last=Radyuhin }}</ref><ref name="walker-the-guardian-2014-descend">{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Shaun |date=4 March 2014 |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/ukraine-crisis-russian-troops-crimea-john-kerry-kiev |title=Russian takeover of Crimea will not descend into war, says Vladimir Putin |newspaper=] |accessdate=4 March 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="bloomberg-news-2014-request">{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-04/russia-calls-ukraine-intervention-legal-citing-yanukovych-letter.html |title=Russia Stays in Ukraine as Putin Channels Yanukovych Request |first1=Sangwon |last1=Yoon |first2=Daryna |last2=Krasnolutska |first3=Kateryna |last3=Choursina |date=4 March 2014 |accessdate=5 March 2014 |newspaper=] }}</ref>
Russia does not recognize the newly installed interim government in Ukraine, instead recognizing ousted-President ] {{efn|Walker (2014) "Putin also insisted that ousted Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovych, was the legitimate leader of Ukraine and that the 'so-called' acting president had no authority and the new government in Kiev illegal."<ref name="walker-the-guardian-2014-descend" />}} whose request for intervention has also been cited.<ref name="bloomberg-news-2014-request" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/putin-ukraine-olive-branches-russian-tanks |title=Putin offers Ukraine olive branches delivered by Russian tanks |newspaper=] |first=Julian |last=Borger |date=4 March 2014 |accessdate=5 March 2014 }}</ref> Russia has accused the United States and the EU of funding and directing the Ukrainian revolution.<ref>http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/02/06/349524/us-accused-of-funding-ukraine-rioters/</ref> The Ukrainian military reaction has included a ] of ]. Western media reported that as of 3 March, Russia had stated that its troops would stay until the political situation was "normalised".<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26414600|title=Ukraine crisis: Russia vows troops will stay|date=3 March 2014|accessdate=3 March 2014|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304360704579417151023498892</ref>


When it came to political association, both Democrats (14 percent correct) and Republicans (15 percent correct) struggled to pinpoint the country.
The ] voted to secede from Ukraine, and held ] on whether Crimea should join the Russian Federation or remain part of Ukraine with the autonomy it had in 1992.<ref name="march6bbc">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26465962|title=Ukraine crisis: Crimea MPs vote to join Russia|publisher=BBC News|date=6 March 2014|accessdate=6 March 2014}}</ref> The referendum resulted in a reported turnout of over 81%, where over 95% of voters supported Crimea joining the Russian Federation.<ref>http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26606097</ref><ref>http://rt.com/news/crimea-vote-join-russia-210/</ref> The events caused alarm among the Crimean Tatar ethnic group, whose members were ] to Central Asia in 1944 under orders from ], claiming a huge death toll.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loiko|first=Sergei|title=Crimea occupation stirs dark memories for Tatars|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-crimea-tatars-20140306,0,835922.story|accessdate=8 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=6 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Andrew|title=Tatar Sunni Muslims pose a threat to Russia's occupation of Crimea|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/05/tartar-ukraine-sunni-muslims-threat-russian-rule-crimea|accessdate=8 March 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 March 2014}}</ref> On 27 March 2014, a ] resolution approved by 59% of the member states declared the Crimea referendum invalid and called on all States, international organizations and specialized agencies not to recognize any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol on the basis of 16 March referendum.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443 |title= Backing Ukraine's territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 27 March 2014 |website= |publisher= United Nations|accessdate=31 March 2014}}</ref><ref>Edith M. Lederer. The Associated Press. 27 March 2014. . ''The Globe and Mail''. Retrieved 27 March 2014.</ref>


College graduates also failed the geography exam, with only 21 percent answering correctly. Non-college graduates answered correctly 13 percent of the time.
Internationally, the United States,<ref>{{cite web|title=Obama: Russia 'On The Wrong Side Of History' On Ukraine|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/03/obama-russia_n_4891788.html|work=Huffington Post}}</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: Russia faces 'costs and consequences', warns William Hague|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10672977/Ukraine-crisis-Russia-faces-costs-and-consequences-warns-William-Hague.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=3 March 2014}}</ref> France,<ref>{{cite news|title=UK and France pull out of G8 preparatory talks over Ukraine crisis|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/02/uk-france-pull-out-g8-preparatory-talks-ukraine-russia-military|accessdate=4 March 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 March 2014}}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin has lost the plot, says German chancellor|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/ukraine-vladimir-putin-angela-merkel-russian|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 March 2014}}</ref> Italy,<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Gavin|title=Italy appeals to Russia to negotiate, not invade Ukraine|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/02/us-ukraine-crisis-italy-idUSBREA210OP20140302|accessdate=4 March 2014|agency=Reuters|date=2 March 2014}}</ref> Poland,<ref>{{cite news|last=Waterfield|first=Bruno|title=Ukraine crisis: EU gives Russia 48-hour deadline to return troops to barracks in Crimea|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10674260/Ukraine-crisis-EU-gives-Russia-48-hour-deadline-to-return-troops-to-barracks-in-Crimea.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=3 March 2014}}</ref> Canada,<ref name="PMGCCA">{{cite web|url=http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/03/01/statement-prime-minister-canada-situation-ukraine |title=Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the situation in Ukraine &#124; Prime Minister of Canada |publisher=Pm.gc.ca |date=1 March 2014}}</ref> Japan,<ref name="Kyodo News">{{cite news|url=http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2014/03/279865.html|title=Japan announces steps to punish Russia over Ukraine crisis |agency=Kyodo News |date=18 March 2014}}</ref> South Korea,<ref name="SKOR">{{cite news|title=Seoul refuses to recognize Russia's Crimea annexation|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140319001413|accessdate=20 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=19 March 2014}}</ref> Georgia,<ref name="Georgia">{{cite news|title=Georgian President Condemns 'Illegal Referendum' in Crimea|url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=27045|accessdate=18 March 2014|newspaper=]|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> Moldova,<ref name="Moldova">{{cite web |title=Moldova tells Russia: don't eye annexation here|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/18/us-ukraine-crisis-moldova-idUSBREA2H16F20140318|agency=]|date=18 March 2014 |accessdate=20 March 2014|author=Alexander Tanas}}</ref> Turkey,<ref name="MFA">{{cite web |title=No: 86, 17 March 2014, Press Release Regarding the Referendum held in Crimea|url=http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-86_-17-march-2014_-press-release-regarding-the-referendum-held-in-crimea.en.mfa|publisher=]|date=17 March 2014 |accessdate=18 March 2014}}</ref> Australia<ref name="AU sanction">{{cite news|title=Australia imposes sanctions on Russia after it 'steals' Crimea from Ukraine|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/19/australia-imposes-sanctions-on-russia-after-it-steals-crimea-from-ukraine|newspaper=The Guardian|date=19 March 2014}}</ref> and the ] condemned Russia, accusing it of breaking international law and violating Ukrainian sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/eu-leaders-hold-summit-ukraine-thursday-175852481.html |title=EU leaders to hold summit on Ukraine on Thursday – Yahoo News |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=3 March 2014}}</ref>
The US, EU, and Canada threatened<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/crimea-standoff-russian-gunmen-surround-ukraine-military-base-n42406</ref> and later implemented sanctions against Russian individuals considered to be involved based on "Russia's clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity", to which Russia responded in kind.
China,<ref name="ibtbacchi1">{{cite news|last=FlorCruz |first=Jaime |title=Russia may find ally in China – albeit a passive one for now|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/asia/china-russia-ukraine-analysis/|accessdate=5 March 2014|publisher=CNN|date=6 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="ibtbacchi2">{{cite news|last=Economy|first=Elizabeth|title=China's Soft 'Nyet' To Russia's Ukraine Intervention|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabetheconomy/2014/03/05/chinas-soft-nyet-to-russias-ukraine-intervention/|accessdate=5 March 2014|newspaper=Forbes|date=6 March 2014}}</ref><ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/13/us-ukraine-crisis-china-idUSBREA2C0PB20140313</ref> India<ref> '']'' Retrieved 8 March 2014</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bagchi|first=Indrani|title=Putin calls up PM to explain Ukraine move|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Putin-calls-up-PM-to-explain-Ukraine-move/articleshow/32264912.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=19 March 2014}}</ref> and many developing countries remained relatively neutral.


“The proportion of college grads who could correctly identify Ukraine is only slightly higher than the proportion of Americans who told Pew that President Obama was Muslim in August 2010,” the authors pointed out.
{{TOC limit|3}}


The authors also argue that accuracy in determining the location of Ukraine suggests public opinion predisposition on military foreign involvement abroad. In their assessment, respondents were asked a variety of questions about what they thought about the current situation in Ukraine, and how they would want to see Washington react.
==Background==
{{main|2014 Crimean crisis}}
{{see also|Euromaidan|2014 Ukrainian revolution}}


“The further our respondents thought that Ukraine was from its actual location, the more they wanted the US to intervene militarily, the greater the threat they saw Russia as posing to US interests, and the more they thought that using force would advance US national security interests,” the researchers concluded.
On 22 February 2014 Ukrainian protesters overthrew the democratically elected President of Ukraine, ], after months of protests. The opposition took control of the capital city ] and the government district; soon after President Yanukovych left for Kharkiv to attend a summit of south-eastern regions,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://world.time.com/2014/02/22/ukraines-president-flees-protestors-capture-kiev/|work=Time|title=Ukraine Protestors Seize Kiev As President Flees|date=22 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> the ] (Ukrainian parliament) voted to restore the 2004 version of the ]{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} and remove Yanukovych from power; however, the impeachment procedure, as defined by Ukrainian constitution Article 111, was not followed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sindelar |first=Daisy |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/was-yanukovychs-ouster-constitutional/25274346.html |title=Was Yanukovych's Ouster Constitutional? |publisher=Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (Rferl.org) |date=23 February 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2014}}</ref> President Yanukovych refused to resign and politicians from Ukraine's ] and ] regions, including Crimea, declared continuing loyalty to Yanukovych.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/ukraine-parliament-ousts-president-yanukovich-2014222152035601620.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|title=Ukraine President Yanukovich impeached|date=22 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref>

On 23 February, following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, the ] adopted a ] to repeal the ], which includes Russian.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-western-nations-eu-russia |title=Western nations scramble to contain fallout from Ukraine crisis |date=24 February 2014 | work=The Guardian |first=Ian |last=Traynor}}</ref> In so doing, Russian-speaking regions were infuriated that the new parliament desired to make Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels, seemingly pressing ahead with ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0228/Is-it-too-late-for-Kiev-to-woo-Russian-speaking-Ukraine |title= Is it too late for Kiev to woo Russian-speaking Ukraine? |date= 28 February 2014 | work=] |first=Sabra |last=Ayres}}</ref> A few days later, however, on 1 March 2014, Acting President ] ], effectively stopping its ].<ref>{{cite news|title=На отмену закона о региональных языках на Украине наложат |url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/01/language/|publisher=]|date=1 March 2014}}</ref>{{Source needs translation}}

In the meantime, on the morning of 27 February, ] units from Crimea and other regions of Ukraine (dissolved by the decree of 25 February) seized checkpoints on the ] and ].<ref name="armyansk">{{cite web|url=http://armyansk.info/news/news-archive/120-2014/4592-pod-armyansk-styanulis-siloviki-iz-berkuta |title= Под Армянск стянулись силовики из "Беркута" |date=27 February 2014|website= armyansk.info|language=ru |accessdate=15 March 2014}}</ref>{{Source needs translation}}<ref></ref> According to Ukrainian MP ], former Chief of Crimean police, they had ]s, ]s, ]s, machine guns and other weapons.<ref name="armyansk" /> Since then they have controlled all land traffic between Crimea and continental Ukraine.<ref name="armyansk" />

Also on the early morning of 27 February, men in military uniform in Simferopol, the capital city of the ], seized the ] and the Council of Ministers building and replaced the Ukrainian flag with the Russian flag.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news| url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/armed-men-seize-crimea-parliament-reports | newspaper = The Guardian| title= Armed men seize Crimea parliament|date= 27 February 2014 | accessdate = 1 March 2014}}</ref> They ousted the prime minister appointed by the President of Ukraine and installed a pro-Russian politician, ], as Crimea's prime minister.<ref>{{cite news|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|title=Crimean Leader Says Ukrainian Military Units Are Surrendering|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/world/europe/crimea-ukraine-russia.html|accessdate=4 March 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 March 2014}}</ref> Aksyonov's Russian Unity party took just 4 percent of the votes in the 2010 elections.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} Aksyonov illegally declared himself in charge of local military and law enforcement.<ref name="LATimes2014-03-01a">{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-crimea-referendum-date-20140301,0,2305350.story | title = New Crimea leaders move up referendum date |work= The ]| first =Sergei L | last = Loiko| date=1 March 2014 |accessdate= 3 March 2014| quote= Kiev, Ukraine – Crimea's new pro-Moscow premier, Sergei Aksenov, moved the date of the peninsula's status referendum to March 30. On Thursday, the Crimean parliament, which appointed Aksenov, had called for a referendum on May 25, the date also set for the urgent presidential election in Ukraine.}}</ref> On 1 March, the acting president of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, decreed the Crimean legislature's appointment of Aksyonov as unconstitutional, as the position of prime minister is appointed by the president of Ukraine, and not elected by parliament.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} The Crimean legislature has declared its intention to hold a referendum on greater autonomy from Kiev on 25 May 2014, a move which Hatidzhe Mamutova, the head of the League of Crimean-Tatar Women, called illegal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-27/crimean-tatars-deported-by-stalin-rally-against-putin-in-crimea.html|agency=Bloomberg|title=Crimean Tatars Deported by Stalin Oppose Putin in Ukraine|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref>

Councilors in the Crimean city of ], home to the Russian and Ukrainian Black Sea naval fleets, selected Russian citizen ] as mayor, as pro-Russian demonstrators chanted "a Russian mayor for a Russian city". Furthermore, Sevastopol's police chief said he would refuse orders from Kiev.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/ukraine-sevastopol-installs-pro-russian-mayor|work=The Guardian|title=Ukraine: Sevastopol installs pro-Russian mayor as separatism fears grow|date=25 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> In Sevastopol, ], and other Crimean cities, pro-Russian demonstrators pulled down the ] and replaced it with the ] in clashes with city officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/02/23/328121/demonstrators-raise-russian-flag-in-kerch.html|agency=Focus News|date=23 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014|title=Demonstrators raise Russian flag in Kerch}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/no-ukrainian-flags-left-on-sevastopol-administrative-buildings-337812.html|work=Kyiv Post|title=No Ukrainian flags left on Sevastopol administrative buildings|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref>

Russian units began moving into Crimea almost immediately after the press conference of former president Yanukovych held on 28 February 2014 in ], near the ] of Ukraine, where he called for Putin to "restore order" in Ukraine. During the conference Yanukovych insisted that military action was "unacceptable" and that he would not request Russian military intervention.<ref>, ] (28 February 2014).</ref><ref name="CrimeaRussiaOccupation">{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis live: Russia admits its troops are moving in Crimea|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666893/Ukraine-crisis-live-Russia-admits-its-troops-are-moving-in-Crimea.html|accessdate=28 February 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> On 4 March 2014 Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, ], presented a photocopy of a letter signed by Victor Yanukovich on 1 March 2014 asking to use the Russian armed forces to restore the rule of law, peace, order, stability and protection of the population of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Чуркин сообщил об обращении Януковича к Путину|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/04/yanukovich/|publisher=]|date=4 March 2014}}</ref> Aksyonov also appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide assistance in ensuring the peace in the ]. Both houses of the Russian legislature (Federal Assembly) voted on 1 March 2014 to give Vladimir Putin the right to use Russian troops in Crimea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2014/03/1/7016683/ |title=Putin declared war against Ukraine (in Ukrainian) |newspaper =Ukrayinska Pravda|date= 1 March 2014 | accessdate =3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=22729336&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2F |title= Russian Troops Take Over Ukraine's Crimea Region|publisher= ABC News |accessdate= 1 March 2014}}</ref>

==Strategic importance==
{{see also|Russian Black Sea Fleet|Natural gas in Ukraine|Russia–Ukraine gas disputes}}

The ] occupies most of the Crimean peninsula with only the ] separating it from Russia to the east by a short {{convert|15|km}}. Crimea is a part of Ukraine but, as an autonomous republic, it has ]. According to the ], 58% of the two million residents of ] are ], 24% are ], and 12% are ].<ref name="globe26">{{cite news|first=Mark |last=Mackinnon |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tension-in-crimea-as-pro-russia-and-pro-ukraine-groups-stage-competing-rallies/article17110382/#dashboard/follows/ |title=Globe in Ukraine: Russian-backed fighters restrict access to Crimean city |work=The Globe & Mail |date=27 February 2014}}</ref> As tensions escalated in the region, Russia intervened under the justification that it must "protect Russian civilians and military in Ukraine".{{efn|name = Hindu}}

The Russian-Ukrainian Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet, signed in 1997 and prolonged in 2010, determined the status of the military bases and vessels in Crimea. Russia is allowed to maintain up to 25,000 troops, 24 artillery systems (with a caliber smaller than 100&nbsp;mm), 132 armored vehicles, and 22 military planes, on the Crimean and Sevastopol. The Russian Black Sea fleet is allowed to stay in Crimea until 2042.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/2014/03/oh-russia-didnt-invade-ukraine-after-all/ Oh, Russia didn't invade Ukraine after all!</ref>
{{stack
| {{Location map many
| Crimea
| width = 300
| caption = Location of the ] and ] in relation to ] and Russia. Newly stationed soldiers have been posted in ],{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} a major ] in the Crimean peninsula where two major railways and two major ] pass. Dzhankoy is also home to many industrial factories and is considered an entry point to Crimea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/report-crimean-berkut-police-on-perekopsky-isthmus-to-prevent-armed-invasion-337859.html |title=Report: Crimean Berkut police on Perekopsky isthmus to prevent armed invasion |newspaper=] |agency=Interfax |date=28 February 2014 |accessdate=5 March 2014 }}</ref>
| label1 = Kacha
| position1 = left
| lat1_deg = 44
| lat1_min = 46
| lat2_sec = 0
| lat1_dir = N
| lon1_deg = 33
| lon1_min = 33
| lon1_sec = 0
| lon1_dir = E
| label2 = Port of Sevastopol
| lat2_deg = 44
| lat2_min = 36
| lat2_sec = 50
| lat2_dir = N
| lon2_deg = 33
| lon2_min = 31
| lon2_sec = 27
| lon2_dir = E
| label3 = CRIMEA
| mark3 = 1x1.png
| lat3_deg = 45
| lat3_min = 17
| lat3_sec = 25
| lat3_dir = N
| lon3_deg = 33
| lon3_min = 49
| lon3_sec = 24
| lon3_dir = E
| label4 = Krasnodar Krai, <br /> Russia
| position4 = left
| lat4_deg = 45
| lat4_min = 09
| lat4_sec = 38
| lat4_dir = N
| lon4_deg = 36
| lon4_min = 41
| lon4_sec = 42
| lon4_dir = E
| label5 = Dzhankoy ("Vostok")
| lat5_deg = 45
| lat5_min = 42
| lat5_sec = 31
| lat5_dir = N
| lon5_deg = 34
| lon5_min = 23
| lon5_sec = 36
| lon5_dir = E
}}
| ]
}}
At the same time, the ] and the town of ] are located in Sevastopol, a city in the southwestern area of the peninsula that does not belong to Crimea administratively. Both locations hold key strategic value for Russia, economically and militarily.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/1f749b24-9f8c-11e3-b6c7-00144feab7de.html |title=Ukrainian port is key to Russia's naval power |first=Kathrin |last=Hille |newspaper=Financial Times |date=27 February 2014 |accessdate=4 March 2014 }}</ref> The Port of Sevastopol, ], is considered a key hold for maritime routes between the ] and the ], and by extension the ] and Atlantic Ocean.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/.premium-1.576212 |title=Putin's Ukrainian dilemma: the port at Sevastopol |first=Amatzia |last=Baram |newspaper=] |date=25 February 2014 |accessdate=4 March 2014 }}</ref> It is also one of the few warm deepwater ports in the Black Sea available to Russia.

As the ] unfolded—and as the newly installed Ukrainian government began to distance itself from Russia—it may have been the case that Russia felt that its access to the port and its military bases in the Crimean peninsula were in jeopardy, according to an analyst at the CNA corporation.<ref name="beardsley-stars-and-stripes-2014-port">{{cite news |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/analysts-black-sea-port-in-ukraine-still-key-to-russia-s-naval-interests-1.270904 |title=Analysts: Black Sea port in Ukraine still key to Russia's naval interests |first=Steven |last=Beardsley |newspaper=] |date=3 March 2014 |accessdate=4 March 2014 }}</ref> On the other hand, the town of Kacha serves as military headquarters for Russia's 25th Independent Anti-submarine Helicopter Regiment (25th AHR) and the 917th Independent Composite Air Regiment (917th ICAR) of the ] Naval Air Force. Ensuring access to the port and Russia's military bases in the Crimean peninsula may have been two of the main factors that sparked Russia's military intervention, according to an analyst at the CNA corporation, adding that it is however hard to speculate on motivations.<ref name="beardsley-stars-and-stripes-2014-port" />

===Petroleum resources===
Crimea also possesses several ]s both ] and ], all connected to Ukraine's pipeline system.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/07/ukraine-crisis-gas-crimea-idUSL6N0M41R320140307 |title=Ukraine's Black Sea gas ambitions seen at risk over Crimea |date=7 March 2014 |accessdate=7 March 2014 |first=Henning |last=Gloystein |agency=Reuters }}</ref> The inland fields are located in ] and ], while offshore fields are located in the western coast in the Black Sea and in the northeastern coast in the Azov Sea:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26387353 |title=Ukraine crisis in maps |date=5 March 2014 |accessdate=7 March 2014 |publisher=BBC }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Type
! Location
! Reserves
|-
| ]
| ]
| ]
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| ]
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| ]
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| ]
|
|-
| ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.invest-crimea.gov.ua/news_body.php?news_id=504&locale=en |title=Investment portal of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea – investments in Crimea – "Chernomorneftegaz" presented a program of development till 2015 |publisher=Invest-crimea.gov.ua }}</ref>
| ]
| ]
| 21 billion m<sup>3</sup>
|-
| ]
| ]
| ]
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| ]
|
|-
| ]
| ]
| ]
|
|}

The republic also possesses two ]s: one onshore, the ] in ], and one offshore, the ] in the Black Sea.

==Timeline of military events in Ukraine==
{{see also|Timeline of the 2014 Crimean crisis}}

===Crimea===
{{see also|List of military units in the 2014 Crimean crisis}}
], 28 February 2014]]

====February====
On 24 February 2014, additional soldiers arrived,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/russian-ships-arrive-ukraines-crimean-coast-fears-mount-over-russian-invasion-region-1557639 |title=Russian Ships Arrive on Ukraine's Crimean Coast As Fears Mount Over Russian Invasion in the Region |first=Christopher |last=Harress |date=24 February 2014 |accessdate=24 February 2014 |work=International Business Times }}</ref> on the Crimean Peninsula, but the total number remained well below 25,000.<ref name="Below25000" />

On 26 February 2014, Russian President ] ordered urgent military exercises to test the combat readiness of his armed forces across western Russia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gutterman |first=Steve |url= http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-military-idUSBREA1P0RW20140226 |title= Putin puts troops in western Russia on alert in drill |agency=Reuters |date=26 February 2014 |accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> From that day onwards, there were reports that Russian soldiers had established a checkpoint between the major Crimean cities of ] and ].<ref>{{cite news | first =Mark | last = Mackinnon |url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tension-in-crimea-as-pro-russia-and-pro-ukraine-groups-stage-competing-rallies/article17110382/ |title = Globe in Ukraine: Russian-backed fighters restrict access to Crimean city |publisher = The Globe & Mail |date= 26 February 2014 | accessdate= 2 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/26/world/europe/ukraine-politics | title= Russia flexes military muscle as tensions rise in Ukraine's Crimea | publisher = CNN | date = 26 February 2014 | accessdate= 2 March 2014}}</ref>

Crimea saw a sudden increase in armed presence, with militiamen dressed in camouflage but lacking any distinctive markings appearing all over the region. President Putin denied that Russian troops stationed in Crimea left their barracks, claiming these men were "pro-Russian local self-defence forces,".<ref name="20140301wsjcullison" /> The presence of Russian troops is acknowledged by new Crimean leader Sergei Aksyenov.<ref name="LATimes2014-03-01a" />

According to Suomen Sotilas (Soldier of Finland) magazine's expert, the troops belonged to high readiness forces of the Russian Federation.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.suomensotilas.fi/en/artikkelit/crimea-invaded-high-readiness-forces-russian-federation | title= Crimea Invaded By High Readiness Forces of the Russian Federation | publisher = Suomen Sotilas | author = Arto Pulkki | date = 4 March 2014 | accessdate= 5 March 2014}}</ref>

Soldiers were seen patrolling ] and ], while Western and independent media reported Russian troop movements in Crimea, including Russian military helicopters moving into the peninsula and ] trucks approaching Simferopol, the Crimean capital.<ref name="20140302cnnyes">{{cite web|url = http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/03/01/nr-magnay-russian-soldiers-present.cnn.html |title = Soldier: Yes, I am a Russian | publisher = CNN | type = video | date= 1 March 2014 |accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26379722|title=Ukraine crisis: 'Russians' occupy Crimea airports| publisher = BBC News |date= 28 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> Ukrainian officials said Russian forces took over a military airbase in Sevastopol, landed troops at another airbase,<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pro-russia-separatists-flex-muscle-in-ukraines-crimean-peninsula/2014/02/27/dac10d54-9ff0-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html |work=The Washington Post |title= Pro-Russia separatists flex muscles in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula |date= 28 February 2014|accessdate= 1 March 2014}}</ref> and surrounded a coast guard base.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.stltoday.com/news/world/ukraine-s-state-border-guard-says-coast-guard-base-surrounded/article_c807c6c3-73f3-54bc-805a-f69695835724.html | newspaper =St. Louis Post-Dispatch|title= Ukraine's State Border Guard says coast guard base surrounded by about 30 Russian marines| date= 28 February 2014| accessdate= 1 March 2014}}</ref>
{{Crimean Crisis of 2014}}

====March 2014====
By 2 March, Ukrainian military bases in Crimea were under the control of these unidentified soldiers.<ref name="20140301wsjcullison">{{cite news|url= http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303801304579413032042408044 |author=Cullison, Alan| newspaper = The Wall Street Journal| title= Moscow Seals off Ukrainian Bases in Crimea|date=1 March 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> Soldiers infiltrated the radio-technical company at the Maganome Cape near ];<ref name="military_sezures">{{Citation | url = http://seabreeze.org.ua/zahvatyi-voennyih-obektov-v-kryimu-obnovlyaetsya/ | title = Seizures of military facilities in the Crimea | type = photo | publisher = Marine portal | place = Ukraine| date = 2 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/1,114912,15314620.html |title=Kryzys na Krymie. Kijów zarzadzil mobilizacje wojsk. Rosjanie wejda na Ukraine? | trans_title = The crisis in the Crimea. Kiev ordered the mobilization of troops. The Russians will come to Ukraine? |work=Gazeta Wyborcza |date=2 March 2014 |archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwiadomosci.gazeta.pl%2Fwiadomosci%2F1%2C114912%2C15314620.html&date=2014-03-02 |archivedate=2 March 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2014}} the 55th Anti-Air Defense in ] had been seized.<ref name="military_sezures" /> Soldiers without identification, blocked the 36th Ukrainian Coastal Defense unit (Ukrainian Navy) in ] (between Simferopol and ]) and demanded that the besieged ] surrender,<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/2/7017018/ | title = Russian forces blocked Ukrainian unit in Perevalne and demand to lay down arms | newspaper = ] | date = 2 March 2014}}</ref> and 400 Russian special operations troops arrived by the Russian ] BDK "Azov".<ref>{{Citation | url = http://seabreeze.org.ua/rossiyskie-voennosluzhashhie-blokirovali-36-brigadu-beregovoy-oboronyi-vms-ukrainyi/ | title = Russian soldiers blocked the 36th coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian Navy | publisher = Marine portal | place = Ukraine| date = 2 March 2014}}</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2014}} ] soldiers attempted to disarm the 191st Training unit of Ukrainian Navy in Sevastopol;<ref>{{Citation | url = http://seabreeze.org.ua/ukrainskie-ofitseryi-nedopustili-zahvat-i-vyivoz-oruzhiya-spetsnazom-rf-sevastopol/ | title = Ukrainian officers did not allow capture and extract of arms by special forces of the Russian Federation (Sevastopol) | publisher = Marine portal | place = Ukraine| date = 2 March 2014}}{{dead link|date=March 2014}}.</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2014}}<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/2/7017105/ | title = Russian special forces left the Ukrainian military unit in Sevastopol | newspaper = ] | date = 2 March 2014}}</ref> there also was an attempt by another 30 soldiers of Russia to take over the 39th Training unit of Ukrainian Navy (Sevastopol).<ref>{{Citation | url = http://seabreeze.org.ua/vtorzhenie-rossiyskih-voennyih-v-ukrainskuyu-voennuyu-chast-video/ | title = Drills of the Russian military inside the Crimea peninsula | publisher = Marine portal | place = Ukraine| date = 2 March 2014}}{{dead link|date=March 2014}}.</ref><ref>. '']''. 2 March 2014</ref> The ] acknowledged seizure of its headquarters of the Azov-Black Sea regional administration and the Simferopol border detachment by the armed soldiers.<ref>. ]. 2 March 2014</ref><ref>. ]. 2 March 2014</ref> The Crimea Front took over the building of Trade Unions in Simferopol and under the ] announced that they protect the ];<ref>ATR TV. atr.ua</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2014}} Soldiers without identification blocked the Ukrainian military installation ?-0669 in ].<ref>. ]. 2 March 2014</ref>

=====2 March =====
* Ukrainian Navy Rear Admiral ] officially defected and pledged allegiance to Crimea.<ref>. ]. 2 March 2014</ref> According to MP ], Berezovsky had already been dismissed before his defection<ref name="berezovsky">. '']''. 2 March 2014</ref> for ordering his troops not to resist the Russian forces in case of blockade or isolation.<ref name="berezovsky" /> Ukrainian units which refused to surrender informed the acting ] ], who replaced Berezovsky with Rear Admiral ].<ref name="berezovsky" /> ] in Simferopol refused to lay down their arms and side with the Russians.<ref>. ]. 2 March 2014</ref> By 3 March 2014, Russian troops captured the Ukrainian Border Guard base in ] after repeated assaults.<ref name="autogenerated1" />{{failed verification|date=March 2014}} There was reportedly one occasion when the wives of Ukrainian soldiers requested that the Russian soldiers not provoke the Ukrainian military.<ref>{{Citation | newspaper = News in brief | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/news_in_brief/2014/03/140303_or_crimea_officers_wives.shtml | title = Wives of Ukrainian troops in the Crimea are defending men | publisher = BBC | place = Ukraine| date = 3 March 2014}}</ref> Russia vowed troops would stay until the ] has been "normalised".<ref name="autogenerated2" /> Ukrainian media claimed at around 21:00 (LST), five vehicles with soldiers without insignia broke through the ] "Krym-Kuban" at the ].<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/3/7017386/ | title = Over the Kerch crossing to UKRAINE broke through trucks with armed men | newspaper = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{citation | url = http://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/about/news/news_3437.htm | title = Russian troops broke through the border at checkpoint 'Krym-Kuban' | publisher = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | url = http://interfax.com.ua/news/political/194169.html | title = Into Ukraine across the Kerch crossing broke through buses and trucks with gunmen ignoring border control | agency = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref> <span>The same day in Sevastopol, the crew of the command ship </span>''Slavutych ''<span>thwarted an attempt to hijack the vessel by a boat manned by unidentified armed personnel.</span><ref name="NavalToday.com">{{Citation | url = http://navaltoday.com/2014/03/04/ukrainian-warship-thwarts-attack-in-sevastopol/ | title = Ukrainian Warship Thwarts Attack in Sevastopol | publisher= NavalToday.com |date=4 March 2014}}</ref>

] to Ukrainian 55th Anti-Aircraft Artillery regiment in ] to lay down arms under control of ] for the period of ]]]
] and ] trucks near Ukrainian military base in ]]]
]

* Ukrainian defence sources alleged that the commander of Russian ] Vice-Admiral ] had issued an official ultimatum to all Ukrainian military servicemen to surrender by 05:00 (LST) 4 March 2014 or face a military confrontation.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/3/7017330/ | title = Black Sea Fleet demands from the Ukrainian military to surrender | newspaper = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | url = http://interfax.com.ua/news/general/194107.html | title = The commander of the Black Sea Fleet issued an ultimatum to the Ukrainian military, declared the Defense Ministry | agency = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref> These allegations were denied by the Russian foreign ministry<ref name="Vedomosti">{{cite news | last = Nikolsky| first = Alexei | place = RU | trans_title = Russian Defense Ministry denies an ultimatum to the Ukrainian military in Crimea | title = минобороны украины | language = Russian | url = http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/news/23525211/minoborony-ukrainy |accessdate= 3 March 2014|newspaper = Vedomosti}}</ref> and a representative of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters.<ref>. ]. 3 March 2014</ref><ref name="reuters no ultimatum">{{cite news | url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/03/uk-ukraine-crisis-russia-fleet-idUKBREA221NA20140303 | title=Russian Black Sea Fleet says no assault ultimatum in Crimea | agency= Interfax | date= 3 March 2014 | accessdate=3 March 2014 | last =Baczynska | first = Gabriela | editor-last =Heritage | editor-first = Timothy}}</ref> The deadline came and went without incident or attempt to storm.<ref name="req">{{Citation | url = http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26427848 | title = Ukraine's Yanukovych asked for troops, Russia tells UN | publisher = BBC | accessdate = 4 March 2014}}</ref> A Ukrainian human rights group claimed that Russian soldiers were openly standing on the perimeter of the Ukrainian hamlet ].<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/3/7017366/ | title = In Russia confirmed that the unit in Perevalne is blocked by Russian soldiers | newspaper = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref>

==== 4 March ====
On 4 March two Russian vessels, the ] ''Saratov'' and the ] ''Yamal'', entered the Black Sea through the Boshphorus strait, as did the Ukrainian frigate'' Hetman Sahaydachny''.<ref name="RT305">{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/news/us-warship-black-sea-966/|title=Turkey grants US warship permission to enter Black Sea|date=5 March 2014|publisher=RT}}</ref>

=====6 March =====
* Russian sailors scuttled the decommissioned cruiser '']'' at the entrance to ] in western Crimea as a ], in an attempt to prevent Ukrainian navy ships from gaining access to the Black Sea.<ref name="navaltoday.com">{{Citation | url = http://navaltoday.com/2014/03/06/russia-sinks-ship-to-block-ukrainian-navy-ships/|title= Russia sinks ship to block Ukrainian Navy ships| publisher = NavalToday.com | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref> The ocean-going tug ''Shakhter ''was also scuttled some hours later at the same location.<ref name="shak">. Unian, 6 March 2014
</ref>

===== 7 March =====
* On 7 March, Ukraine claimed armed men attempted to storm a Ukrainian military base in ] by ramming trucks through the main gate of the base. However international media who visited the scene, said the gates did not appear to have been driven through, and there was no sign that the base had been seized.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26492053|title=Armed men 'seize Crimea military base'|publisher=]|accessdate= 7 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/world-news/ukraine-latest-russian-troops-thwarted-in-attempt-to-storm-missile-base-in-sevastopol-30074817.html|title=Russian troops thwarted in attempt to storm missile base in Sevastopol|work=]|accessdate=8 March 2014}}</ref> Also, another blockship, the former Black Sea Fleet rescue/diving support vessel '''BM-416''' (VM-416) was scuttled near the ''Ochakov''.<ref name="autogenerated3">. ''Ukrayinska Pravda'', 7 March 2014</ref>

<!--===== 8 March 2014 =====
* Unidentified individuals opened fire on an unarmed aircraft manned by members of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine near the Crimean city of ].{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} No casualties were reported.<ref>. Корреспондент, 8 March 2014</ref> Earlier, members of the ] mission were prevented from entering Crimea at the same spot.<ref>. CBC news, 8 March 2014
</ref>{{failed verification|date=March 2014}}-->

===== 9 March =====
* The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported that 80 Russian soldiers in trucks and supported by 40 to 50 civilians broke into and took over the ].<ref name=":2" /> The air base had been previously overflown by four ] helicopters.<ref name=":2" /> Another airstrip was captured earlier in the day at ].<ref name=":2">. tsn.uk, 9 March 2014</ref>

===== 10 March =====
*Pro-Russian forces captured a motorized infantry battalion at ], a missile base at Chornomorskoe and the main military hospital in Crimea. They had occupied thirteen military posts by that date.<ref>. The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 March 2014
<br>
</ref><ref>. ''Kyiv Post'', 10 March 2014
</ref>

===== 12 March =====
* At evening, Pro-Russian forces seized an ] outpost at the village of Olenevka. The unarmed Ukrainian personnel kept inside the compound, after dismantling the main power station.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 12 March 2014
</ref>

===== 13 March =====
* At noon, a recoinnasance aircraft of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine was fired at by Russian armoured vehicles near the border city of Armyansk. It was the second incident of this kind in the last five days.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 13 March 2014
</ref> Earlier, an unidentified fourth Russian vessel was sunk by the Russian navy as a blockship at ].<ref name="unid"> Gazeta, 13 March 2014</ref>

===== 14 March =====
* On 14 March, the Russian amphibious assault ship '']'' landed troops, trucks and at least one armoured personnel carrier at Kazachaya bay near Sevastopol.<ref>, by Andrew Osborn and Lina Kushch. Reuters, 14 March 2014</ref> Russian high-tech corporation ] claims that Russian troops used equipment from the company to capture a US ] drone over Crimea, after jamming radio controlers signals to the unmanned aircraft. The report says that the UAV "belonged to the 66th American Reconnaissance Brigade, based in Bavaria".<ref name="drone">{{cite web|publisher=Yahoo News|url=http://news.yahoo.com/russia-says-intercepted-us-drone-over-crimea-arms-180430584.html|title=Russia says intercepted US drone over Crimea: arms group|date=14 March 2014|accessdate=17 March 2014}}</ref> An unnamed ] official denied the report on the basis that no US drone were flying missions over Crimea, and that the MQ-5B would be too basic and outdated to carry out such high-profile operation.<ref>Pentagon Denies Downed U.S. Drone Report in Crimea, by Mike Hoffman. Defensetech, 14 March 2014</ref> ] itself later officially denied that the ''Avtobaza'' complex, a company product, had been used on Crimean territory, stating it ''is by no means responsible for the relocation and the results of the use of the equipment supplied by the Corporation's organizations within the framework of contractors' orders.<ref>, ] State Corporation. Retrieved 19 March 2014.</ref><ref>, Forbes.ru (Russian), 14 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.</ref>''

===== 16 March =====
* On 16 March, the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries agreed to a truce regarding besieged Crimean bases through 21 March, according to the Ukrainian ministry of defense. The Ukrainian military began to replenish supplies at its Crimean facilities, according to the Ukrainian ministry of defense while Crimean officials said the bases' troops would be given safe passage out; the bases were expected to be taken over at the ceasefire's end.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harding|first=Luke|title=Ukraine and Russia agree truce as Crimea votes in referendum|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/16/ukraine-russia-truce-crimea-referendum|accessdate=16 March 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=16 March 2014}}</ref> Earlier, Russian troops planted anti-tank mines around a Ukrainian marines battalion at Feodosia.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 16 March 2014
</ref>

===== 18 March: Simferopol Incident =====
{{main|Simferopol Incident}}
* One Ukrainian soldier and one pro-Russian soldier were killed and several wounded during an assault by unknown gunmen of the Ukrainian Army's Topographic Centre in ]. The remainder of the Ukrainian troops were disarmed and taken prisoners. Crimean police later said that both the pro-Russian and Ukrainian forces had been fired upon from a single location. Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused the pro-Russian soldiers of committing a war crime.<ref name="auto" /><ref> ] Retrieved 18 March 2014</ref><ref>. Livivska Gazeta, 18 March 2014
</ref>

===== 19 March =====
* Pro-Russian militiamen by sending women ahead<ref>. ]. 19 March 2014</ref> attacked the Ukrainian Navy's headquarters at Sevastopol, and captured Ukrainian Navy's commander-in-chief, ]. Ukrainian Defense ministry reported another incident at the ] in Novoozyorne, where a tractor rammed the compound's gates and blocked the entrance.<ref>. BBC News, 19 March 2014
</ref> At evening, another naval base was seized without a fight by Pro-Russian forces at Bakhchisaray, and the Ukrainian personnel inside was expelled.<ref>, Reuters, 19 March 2014
</ref> At 20:30, Ukrainian troops fired on unidentified hostile forces which attempted to break into ] throwing stun grenades. The attackers were repulsed.<ref> Livivska Gazeta, 20 March 2014
</ref>

===== 20 March =====
* Earlier in the morning on 20 March 2014 the administration ship ''Donbas'', the tugboat ''Kremenets'' and the fire prevention motorboat ''Borshchiv'' raised the Russian Naval flags.<ref name="captured_corvettes">. ]. 20 March 2014</ref><ref name="three_defected">. ]. 20 March 2014</ref> At the same time, Russian military servicemen captured two Ukrainian corvettes in the Sevastopol Naval Base: ''Lutsk'' and ''Khmelnytskyi''.<ref name="captured_corvettes" /><ref name="three_defected" /> About 200 Ukrainian sailors were brought to the coast.<ref name="captured_corvettes" /><ref name="three_defected" /> It was reported that the ], which had departed from her base at Odessa on 14 March, confronted four Russian warships with two assault helicopters (]) attempting to sail into Ukraine ] and, although initially refused on a peaceful request, they were forced to withdraw to open sea when the frigate raised armed alert.<ref>. Голос України, 20 March 2014</ref><ref>. ]. 20 March 2014</ref><ref>. Dumskaya. 20 March 2014</ref><ref>. ]. 20 March 2014</ref> At Sevastopol, a Russian fleet's tug attacked the Ukrainian corvette ''Ternopil'' with grenades, inflicting some damage.<ref>. IPress, 20 March 2014
</ref> At evening, 15–20 Russian special troops from the tug stormed the corvette and captured her using stun grenades and automatic fire.<ref>. ]. 20 March 2014</ref><ref>. Korrespondent.net, 20 March 2014
</ref>

===== 21 March =====
* At Sevastopol, Russian warships surrounded the Ukrainian submarine '']'', and attacked her with grenades. The submarine was later seized by Russian personnel.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 21 March 2014
</ref> At Donuzlav Bay, the Ukrainian minesweeper '']'' made a fruitless attempt to negotiate the scuttled vessels and gain access to open sea; after the failure, she and the landing ship ''Konstantin Olshansky ''dropped anchor and adopted a defensive formation.<ref>. DT, 21 March 2014</ref>

===== 22 March =====
*The Ukrainian air base at Belbek was overrun and taken over by Russian special forces forces supported by six ] armoured vehicles. The commander of the base, Yuli Mamchur, was captured, and the rest of the Ukrainian personnel evicted.<ref>. Unian, 22 March 2014
</ref> One Ukrainian serviceman and one journalist were injured.<ref>. Podrobnosti, 22 March 2014
</ref> At the same time, Pro-Russian militias and activists launched an assault and took control of the Ukrainian air base at Novofedorovka. The attackers threw smoke grenades on the coumpound. The Ukrainian personnel eventually abandoned the barracks.<ref>. Теперь это база ЧФ РФ. Ukrainskaya Pravda, 22 March 2014
</ref> At Sevastopol, the command ship ''Slavutych'' was seized by Pro-Russian and Russian troops from a tug after her crew put up a two-hour long resistance.<ref>. Delo.ua, 22 March 2014</ref> Earlier, the corvette ''] ''was also stormed and captured by Russian forces.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 22 March 2014
</ref> At Donuzlav Bay, the crew of the amphibious ship ''Konstantin Olshansky'' was called to battle stations after being threatened by Russian forces.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 22 March 2014
</ref>

===== 23 March =====
* According to sources from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, three senior Ukrainian military officers -among them Yuli Mamchur- remained unaccounted for in Crimea, presumably captured by Pro-Russian militias.<ref>], by Sergei L. Loiko. ''Los Angeles Times'', 23 March 2014</ref> At Donuzlav Bay, the Ukrainian minesweeper ''Cherkasy ''made a second ill-fated attempt to negotiate the scuttled ships at the bay's entrance.<ref>. DT.ua, 23 March 2014</ref> At night, the Russian navy scuttled a fifth ship at the mouth of the bay.<ref>. Livivska Gazeta, 24 March 2014
</ref>

===== 24 March =====
* Russian Mi-24 and ] helicopters attacked the marines base at Feodosia at early morning,<ref name=":0">Российские оккупационные войска открыли огонь в Феодосии. Liga News, 24 March 2014
</ref> firing unguided rockets on the facilities there.<ref>]. tsn.ua, 24 March 2014</ref> One building was seen engulfed by thick smoke.<ref name=":0" /> Later, Russian special forces, backed by at least three BTR-80s armoured vehicles assaulted the barracks<ref name=":0" /> from two different directions firing automatic weapons and using stun grenades.<ref>. BBC News, 24 March 2014
</ref> The two top Ukrainian officers, Colonel Dmitry Delyatytskyy and Mayor Rostislav Lomtev, were captured and brought to an undisclosed location.<ref name=":1">. RBK, 24 March 2014
</ref> Other 80 marines were taken prisoners. There were several wounded among the Ukrainian personnel.<ref name=":1" /> A tug carrying Russian forces boarded and seized the amphibious ship ''Konstantin Olshansky'' at Donuzlav Bay.'' ''Ukrainian sources claim that 200 troops assaulted the vessel with the use of automatic weapons and stun grenades. The Ukrainian ship was manned by 20 crewmembers at the time, who laid up a smokescreen.<ref>. Livivska Gazeta, 24 March 2014
</ref><ref>. Korrespondent.net, 24 March 2014
</ref> Ukrainian sources report that the crew disabled beyond repair the electronics and the engines of the vessel before surrender.<ref>. Unian, 25 March 2014
</ref> The auxiliary ship ''Henichesk'' was also taken over earlier in the morning. The minesweeper ''Cherkasy ''successfully repulsed an assault by two speedboats by manoeuvering at full speed and launching explosive charges overboard in order to keep the hostile vessels away.<ref>. DT.ua, 24 March 2014</ref>

===== 25 March =====
* The last warship waving the Ukrainian flag in Crimea, the minesweeper ''Cherkasy,'' was captured by the Russians after a two-hour long battle against two Mi-35 helicopters, three speedboats and the ocean-going tug ''Kovel ''at Donuzlav Bay''. ''Bursts of automatic fire and explosions were heard by witnesses on shore. There were no casualties, but the minesweeper's rudder was disabled by the explosion of a grenade. The crew was allowed to stay in their vessel until the morning of 26 March, and hoist the Ukrainian flag until the last member of the complement leave the warship.<ref>. ATN, 25 March 2014</ref><ref>. TVI, 25 March 2014
</ref><ref>. Ukrainska Pravda, 25 March 2014
</ref>

===== 26 March =====
* All the Ukrainian personnel held prisoners by local authorities in Crimea were released unharmed on this day, according to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense.<ref>Всіх захоплених в Криму українських офіцерів звільнили – Міноборони. Fakti, 26 March 2014</ref>

===== 2 April =====
* Captain Vyacheslav Demyanenko, still in captivity in Crimea, was released by the Russian Army. He had been taken prisoner on 20 March.<ref>. Volynpost, 2 April 2014
</ref><ref>. Fakti, 2 April 2014</ref>

===== 7 April =====
* A Russian soldier broke into the barracks where Ukrainian navy personnel was waiting to be evacuated to the mainland{{failed verification |date=April 2014}} and killed a Ukrainian officer in Novofyodorovka, according to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense.<ref name="reut" /> A murder investigation has been initiated by Crimean authorities.<ref name="bbc-eu-26919928">. BBC News, 7 April 2014</ref>

=== Kherson Oblast ===
]

* Ukrainian media claimed that on or prior to 8 March, Russian soldiers entered the territory of ] village in ] of ],<ref name="Chonhar">{{cite news|title=Russian Military Forces Come into Chonhar Village, Kherson Region|url=http://un.ua/eng/article/497094.html|accessdate=10 March 2014|newspaper=Ukrainian News|date=8 March 2014}}</ref> and that they placed anti-tank mines and boundary pillars.<ref name="Chonhar" /><ref name="Feldman">{{cite news|last=Feldman|first=Evgeny|title=On the Front Lines: Exclusive Photos of the Ukraine-Russia Standoff|url=http://mashable.com/2014/03/08/ukraine-russia-crimea/|accessdate=10 March 2014|date=9 March 2014|location=Chonhar|quote=Evgeny Feldman, a staff photographer for the Russian publication, Novaya Gazeta, visited a checkpoint Saturday on a road a few kilometers north of Crimea.}}</ref> Chonhar is several kilometers north of the middle land connection to Crimea, and is now guarded by a Russian checkpoint.<ref name="Feldman" />
* On 7 March, the ] observer mission attempted to enter Crimea via Chonhar, but was blocked at the checkpoint.<ref>{{cite news|last=Plokhii|first=Olesia|title=Warning shots turn OSCE observers away from Crimea border|url=http://www.ipolitics.ca/2014/03/07/thrice-denied-osce-observers-plan-fourth-bid-to-enter-crimea-saturday/|accessdate=10 March 2014|newspaper=iPolitics|date=7 March 2014}}</ref>
* On 12 March, members of the ] claimed to have captured a Russian military intelligence team which had infiltrated into Kherson from Crimea.<ref name="spy">. ''Kyiv Post'', 12 March 2014</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SBU detains Russian spies in Kherson region|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/sbu-detains-russian-spies-in-kherson-region-339112.html|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=Kyiv Post|date=12 March 2014|agency=Interfax}}</ref>
* On 15 March, the ] claimed that the Ukrainian military repelled an attempt by Russian forces to enter the ] portion that belongs to the ] adjacent to Crimea.<ref>http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3dfe36d0-ac2b-11e3-b510-00144feab7de.html</ref><ref>http://www.mil.gov.ua/index.php?lang=ua&part=news&sub=read&id=33046</ref> The Ukrainian military allegedly used aircraft, ground forces, and its aeromobile battalion in the operation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/15/ukraine-crisis-fatal-clashes-as-tensions-rise-before-crimea-vote-live |title=Russia vetoes Crimea motion as Kiev claims it repelled Russian troops in south Ukraine |first1=Conal |last1=Urquhart |first2=Lewis |last2=Williamson |newspaper=] |date=15 March 2014 |accessdate=15 March 2014 }}</ref> It was reported that 40 Russian soldiers had been landed by helicopter near the village of Strilkove, and that they were later supported by three armoured vehicles and 60 troops landed from another six helicopters.<ref name="Strilkove">. Ukrainska Pravda, 15 March 2014
</ref><ref name="Grytsenko">http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/15/7018897/</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Grytsenko|first=Oksana|title=Russian troops invade Kherson Oblast, Ukrainians declare right to fight back|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/russian-troops-invade-kherson-oblast-ukrainians-declare-right-to-fight-back-339509.html|accessdate=16 March 2014|newspaper=KyivvPost|date=15 March 2014}}</ref> A Ukrainian border guard spokesman estimated that there were as many as 120 Russian soldiers in the area.<ref>{{cite news|last=Politi|first=Daniel|title=Ukraine Accuses Russia of "Invasion" of Mainland as Referendum Nears|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/03/15/strilkove_ukraine_accuses_russia_of_invasion_in_mainland_as_referendum_nears.html|accessdate=15 March 2014|newspaper=Slate|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> The Russian troops claimed they sought to protect a ] gas pumping station from possible terrorists actions.<ref name="Strilkove" /><ref name="Grytsenko" /> Some reports claimed that the Russian troops remained in the area.<ref name="Grytsenko" /> The ]n authorities has announced the plan to nationalize the company and privatize it at an open tender.<ref name="interfax140314">{{cite news
| url = http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/crimean-authorities-not-ruling-out-future-privatization-of-chornomornaftogaz-339347.html
| title = Crimean authorities not ruling out future privatization of Chornomornaftogaz
| newspaper = ]
| agency = ]
| date = 14 March 2014
| accessdate = 16 March 2014}}
</ref> The Crimean deputy prime minister ] has said that the new owner of the company would be ].<ref name="espreso2140314">{{cite news
| url = http://espreso.tv/new/2014/03/14/naftohaz_pokynuv_svoyu_dochku___chornomornaftohaz___napryzvolyasche
| title = ""Нафтогаз" покинув свою "дочку" – "Чорноморнафтогаз" – напризволяще
| trans_title = "Naftogaz" left his "daughter" – "Chornomornaftogas" – to fend for themselves
| language = Ukrainian
| work = ]
| date = 14 March 2014
| accessdate = 16 March 2014}}
</ref>
* On 26 March, the Ukrainian State Border Service reported that two Russian Navy ships were on station 7&nbsp;km (3.9 nautical miles) off Strilkove, Kherson Oblast. One of the ships was identified as the ] ''Priazov'ye.''<ref name=":3" />
* On 27 March, Ukrainian paratroopers, supported by several armoured vehicles, seized the "Mars 75" hydrographic station in Henichesk, which belongs to the Russian Black Sea fleet. The station had been vacated by Russian troops two months ago, and the Ukrainian forces only met local civilian workers. There had been a long conflict between the Ukrainian government and Russian military authorities about the control of the facilities.<ref>. The Moscow Times, 27 March 2014
</ref><ref>. Vizit.ks.ua, 27 March 2014
</ref><ref>. Liga news, 27 March 2014
</ref>
* On 28 March, two Russian helicopters from Crimea overflew Ukrainian territory in Kherson Oblast "by accident".<ref name=":4" />
* On 9 April, the Security Service of Ukraine arrested a Russian saboteur and spy who was recruiting people to take control of strategic points, such as the ].<ref>. RBC, 9 April 2014</ref>

===Eastern Ukraine and Transnistrian border===

{{off topic|date=April 2014}} <!--Some of the events listed in this section did not happen in Ukraine as the article title suggests, Please see the talkpage-->
{{See also|2014 pro-Russian protests in Ukraine}}
*The head of Chernihiv regional council announced that the Russians were conducting military movements on the ] segment of the ] on 2 March.<ref>. ]. 2 March 2014.</ref> The ] said on 3 March that Russia had started to amass troops on several segments of the eastern borders with Ukraine (Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts).<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.unian.ua/politics/892403-rosiyu-zapidozrili-v-pidgotovtsi-vtorgnennya-v-ukrajinu-cherez-suhoputni-kordoni.html | title = Russia is suspected of preparing an invasion in Ukraine through the land borders | agency = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref> Later, the Luhansk border detachment dismissed those claims as a disinformation by media.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/rosiyskoii_bronetehniki_na_dilyantsi_luganskogo_prikordonnogo_zagonu_nemae____prikordonniki_1914164 | title = No Russian armored vehicles on the segment of Luhansk border detachment – border guards | agency = ] | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref> On 3 March, Russia deployed 3,500 troops and heavy equipment on the Baltic coast in ] near Polish and Lithuanian borders,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.kresy.pl/wydarzenia,wojskowosc?zobacz/niespodziewane-manewry-w-obwodzie-kaliningradzkim |title=Niespodziewane manewry w Obwodzie Kaliningradzkim : wojskowosc |publisher=Kresy | place = Poland |accessdate=4 March 2014}}</ref> causing ] and ], who are members of ], to ask for protection against a Russian invasion.<ref>{{cite web | last =Karsten | first = Østergaard Nielsen |url= http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Udland/2014/03/03/03152357.htm | title =Polens præsident: Obama har lovet mig at beskytte os mod Rusland |publisher=Dr | place = Denmark | accessdate =4 March 2014 |language= ]}}</ref>

*On 8 March, Ukrainian border guards began a special deployment along the border with ], in the ] area, in order to prevent any provocations by pro-Russian activists in ].<ref>. Interfax Ukraina, 8 March 2014
</ref>

*On 13 March, the Russian Defence Ministry announced a buildup of Russian troops in regions along Ukraine's eastern borders, confirming at least some earlier reports.<ref name="mass_at_border">{{cite news|title=Russian Troops Mass at Border With Ukraine|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/world/europe/ukraine.html|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=13 March 2014|author=Steven Lee Myers|author2=Alison Smale}}</ref> "Heavy training" involving over 10,000 troops and large amounts of equipment took place in the ], ], and ] Oblasts.<ref name="mass_at_border" /> The drills were not announced in advance as is the norm.<ref name="80,000">{{cite news|last=Kelley|first=Michael|title=Ukraine Says 80,000 Russian Soldiers And 270 Tanks Are Threatening A 'Full-Scale Invasion'|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-troop-buildup-near-ukrainian-border-2014-3|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=Business Insider|date=13 March 2014}}</ref> Ukrainian officials claimed the assembled force included 80,000 soldiers and several hundred each of tanks, planes, and field artillery.<ref name="80,000" /> Following the death of a 22-year-old man in clashes between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian protesters in Donetsk, Russia declared its readiness to intervene in Eastern Ukraine to protect ethnic Russians there.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia Warns It Is Ready To Place Eastern Ukraine 'Under Its Protection'|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-warns-eastern-ukraine-over-riots-2014-3|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=Business Insider|date=14 March 2014|agency=Reuters}}</ref>
*By 20 March, US officials claimed the number of Russian troops had reached 20,000, including airborne and special forces.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miklaszewski|first=Jim|title=Russian Troops on 'Hair Trigger' Near Ukraine, Officials Say|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/russian-troops-hair-trigger-near-ukraine-officials-say-n57921|accessdate=29 March 2014|publisher=NBC News|date=20 March 2014}}</ref>
* On 23 March, seven Russian servicemen from the Russian Black Sea Fleet were arrested by Ukrainian Border Guards at a railway checkpoint in Donetsk Oblast while traveling in civilian clothes from ] to Sevastopol.<ref name="seven">. Focus.ua, 23 March 2014
</ref> At night, a group of at least ten unidentified armed persons in camouflage fatigues attacked a ] base at Odessa, and robbed a sentry of his ] before fleeing the scene when another sentry fired warning shots.<ref>. Dumskaya.net, 24 March 2014</ref>
* On 26 March, the Ukrainian State Border Service claim that there were 40 recorded reports of Russian UAVs flights over the border, 11 of them in violation of the procedures for the use of the Ukrainian airspace.<ref name=":3">. Fakti, 26 March 2014
</ref>
* On 27 March, President Obama warned that Russian troops were "massing along the border".<ref name="HiddenArmy">{{cite news|last=Oliphant|first=Roland|title=Ukraine crisis: the border hunt for Vladimir Putin’s hidden army|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10730661/Ukraine-crisis-the-border-hunt-for-Vladimir-Putins-hidden-army.html|accessdate=29 March 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 March 2014}}</ref> The Pentagon estimated the number to be at least 40,000 to 50,000, an apparent increase from previous figures of 20,000<ref name="BuildupStokes">{{cite news|title=Russian Buildup Stokes Worries|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303779504579465830294243784|accessdate=29 March 2014|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=28 March 2014|author=Adam Entous|author2=Julian E. Barnes}}</ref> to 30,000,<ref name="HiddenArmy" /> and claimed that the Russian forces were preparing logistics (which could be used for exercises or other military actions) and camouflaging their positions.<ref name="HiddenArmy" /><ref name="BuildupStokes" /> Russian officials reiterated that the troops were participating in exercises<ref name="BuildupStokes" /> and that there was "no intention" to invade;<ref>{{cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|title=Ukraine crisis: Vitaly Klitschko pulls out of presidential race as Russia says it has 'no intention' of invasion into east of country|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-russia-has-no-intention-of-invasion-into-eastern-ukraine-9223268.html|accessdate=29 March 2014|date=29 March 2014|agency=Reuters}}</ref> the Pentagon had "seen no specific indications that exercises are taking place." Ukraine's estimate had risen to nearly 100,000 soldiers.<ref name="BuildupStokes" /> The inhabitants of Senkovka, a village located in the ] between Belarus, Ukraine and Russia could spot Russian tanks on the road which leads to their settlement. The vehicles were part of a force consisting of the ] and the ] and ] Airborne Divisions.<ref>]. tsn.ua, 27 March 2014</ref> The ] conducted an unprecedented large-scale exercise involving 100 ]<nowiki/>s and ]<nowiki/>s, 23 ]<nowiki/>s, 39 ]<nowiki/>s and 60 anti-aircraft battalions operating ], ] and S-300PS systems.<ref>. Gazeta, 28 March 2014</ref>
* On 28 March, a Ukrainian ] claimed that Russian troops were regrouping along the northwestern border, around Kharkiv and Chernigov Oblasts, while they apparently withdrew from the border area of Luhansk Oblast. The Ukrainian State Border Service reported that Russian intelligence activities along Ukraine boundaries had increased, and that agents of the ] were trying to destabilize the situation in the south-eastern regions.<ref name=":4">. Liga news, 28 March 2014</ref>

* On 30 March, Ukrainian analyst Dmitry Tymchuk claimed the number of Russian soldiers on the eastern border dropped to 10,000 from an estimated of 30,000 reported by US and European intelligence agencies two days before.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tymchuk|first=Dmitry|title=Dmitry Tymchuk: Hopeful developments on a spring day|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/dmitry-tymchuk-hopeful-developments-on-a-spring-day-341400.html|accessdate=1 April 2014|newspaper=Kyiv Post|date=30 March 2014}}</ref> A concentration of armoured vehicles, however, was observed heading to the frontier in the area of ], including ] main-battle tanks.<ref>. LB.ua, 29 March 2014</ref> Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense, Leonid Polyakov said that Russia was engaging in "psychological pressure" and probing maneuvers around the border.<ref>. Gazeta.ua, 29 March 2014</ref> The Ukrainian army received the last batch of a 330,000 dry-rations consignment supplied by the US Army through the Office of Defense Cooperation of the US embassy in Kiev, headed by Mayor Alexis Scott.<ref>. Korrespondent, 30 March 2014</ref>

* On 31 March, the ] reportedly captured a Captain of the Security Committee of Transnistria who attempted to set up a network to smuggle arms from Transnistria into Ukraine. He was accused of attempting to disrupt the upcoming presidential elections and of spying on the Ukrainian army and State Border Service. A Ukrainian citizen was arrested along with him.<ref>. Ukrainskaya Pravda, 31 March 2014</ref>
* On 1 April, NATO officials declared there was no evidence of a Russian withdrawal from the border area.<ref name="Gearan">{{cite news|last=Gearan|first=Anne|title=NATO chief recommits to defending Eastern European, Baltic nations|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/nato-sees-no-evidence-russia-pulling-back-troops-from-ukrainian-border/2014/04/01/eea9b6fe-b99f-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245_story.html|accessdate=1 April 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=1 April 2014}}</ref>
* On 2 April, the Ukrainian State Border Service confirmed NATO reports claiming that Russian troops didn't withdraw from the common border with Ukraine.<ref>. Channel 5, 2 April 2014
</ref> Ukraine's Channel 5 reporter Oleg Khryshtopa and two other members of his crew were captured by Russian soldiers near the village of Senkovka, Chernigov Oblast, while attempting to record the presence of Russian tanks on the border. According to his fiancée, Khryshtopa had sent her a message before being arrested, notifying her that the Russians had declared him '']''.<ref>. Korrespondent, 2 April 2014</ref><ref>. Channel 5, 2 April 2014</ref> Khrystopa and his team were released five hours later after being interrogated.<ref>. Channel 5, 2 April 2014</ref>
* On 3 April, the Security Service of Ukraine arrested two Russian citizens accused of planning the kidnapping of a Presidential candidate and members of the local council in Lviv. They were caught with a cache of ] blocks, small-arms ammunition, detonators, and sketchs depicting the daily movements of their intended victims.<ref>СБУ задержала россиян, которые планировали взять в заложники кандидата в президенты. Korrespondent, 3 April 2014
</ref><ref>Двоє росіян хотіли викрасти кандидата в президенти України. OstaniiPodii.com, 3 April 2014</ref>
* On 5 April, the Security Service of Ukraine confiscated another cache of weapons in Luhansk, consisting of 300 rifles, five pistols, a grenade-launcher, hand grenades, ]<nowiki/>s and a number of ]<nowiki/>s. They arrested 15 Pro-Russian militants.<ref>. Ukrainska Pravda, 5 April 2014
</ref> In ], a crowd of supporters of the self-declared Mayor Dimitri Kuzmenko, arrested by the Security Service, broke into the prosecutor's office to demand his release. Later, the protestors surrounded the city council.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 5 April 2014</ref>
* On 6 April, in the course of a separatist demonstration in Donetsk's Lenin Square, at least 150 masked militants came out from the crowd and broke through the police lines, taking over the offices of the local administration. They threw grenades to clear their way to the building, where they hoisted a Russian flag.<ref>. Ukrainska Pravda, 6 April 2014</ref><ref>. Dobass.ua, 6 April 2014</ref> Meanwhile in Luhansk, Pro-Russian protestors stormed the local headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine, leaving at least two people wounded.<ref>. UKR Inform, 6 April 2014</ref><ref>. Itar-Tass, 6 April 2014</ref> Six detainees were released after members of the Security Service and militants reached an 'agreement'.<ref>. Segodnya, 6 April 2014</ref> In Kharkiv, 'several hundred' Pro-Russian activists overpowered 200 riot policemen and broke into the local administration's office, where they also raised the Russian flag.<ref>. Unian, 6 April 2014</ref>
* On 7 April, the separatists declared Donetsk "an independent republic" and called for a referendum on secession by 11 May,<ref name="bbc-eu-26919928" /> and asked Russian President Putin to send in peacekeepers.<ref>. ITAR-TASS, 7 April 2014
</ref> Kharkiv's activists also declared independence from Ukraine from the lobby of the RSA, amid clashes with riot police. Separatists used molotov cocktails to set the RSA on fire. The protestors were evicted from the local administration building by security forces, but a number of them eventually made their way back in after the fires were put out.<ref>. RT, 7 April 2014</ref><ref>http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/04/8/7021684/</ref> Other protestors seized a local TV station and tower. At night, Ukrainian Special forces stormed a Security Service office in Donetsk that had been taken by Pro-Russian militants. No casualties were reported. In Luhansk, members of a self-styled "Army of the Southeast" asked for support in order to preserve "our rights and values." They also claim to be ready to send a "reserve" to Donetsk to assist separatists there.<ref>. CNN, 7 April 2014
</ref> At ], there were clashes between ] members, riot police and Pro-Russian activists when the latter attempted to storm the local administration building.<ref>. Ukrainska Pravda, 7 April 2014
</ref> There were ten wounded.<ref>. RBK, 7 April 2014
</ref>
* On 8 April 70 separatists were arrested after the downtown core of Kharkiv was blocked up<ref> Ukrainska Pravda, 8 March 2014</ref> by members of Ukraine's Security Service special squad ''Janguar'' from ].<ref> Ukrainska Pravda, 8 April 2014</ref> Pro-Russian protestors held a rally on ] in front of the Regional Administration building, and at evening several dozens of them unsuccessfully tried to storm the building. The crowd also attacked a police bus.<ref>, Interfax-Ukraine, 8 April 2014</ref><ref>, Status Quo, 8 April 2014</ref><ref>, Ukrainska Pravda, 8 April 2014</ref> In Luhansk, separatists occupying the Security Service building declared themselves the "Lugansk Parliamentary Republic".<ref></ref> According to Ukrainian security officials, the militants planted mines in the building and have taken 60 people hostage.<ref>, Interfax-Ukraine, 8 April 2014</ref><ref> Unian, 8 April 2014</ref>
* On 9 April, at least 51 hostages were released by separatist forces who occupied the Security Service building in Luhansk.<ref>. Gazeta.ua, 9 April 2014</ref> Later, a column of Ukrainian armoured personnel carriers from ] arrived in Luhansk, just to be used as a 'last resort', according to official sources.<ref>. Korrespondent,net, 9 April 2014</ref> A Russian woman was arrested in Kherson under the charges of espionage and setting up a Pro-Russian network in Kherson and Novokakhovka to promote unrest in Donetsk. She was also accused of a shooting during the 7 April clashes at Mykolaiv, where three people were wounded.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 9 April 2014</ref>
* April 10, 2014 Western media published satellite images showing Russian forces mobilized near Ukraine, images which Russia claimed to be of an August 2013 military excersise.<ref>http://rt.com/news/nato-satellite-images-drills-712/</ref><ref> April 10, 2014 ]</ref>
* On 12 April, a police station in the city of ] was seized by at least 40 Pro-Russian armed personnel.<ref>. The Associated Press, 12 April 2014
</ref> In Donetsk, where the local administration building continued to be occupied by the members of the self-proclaimed "Popular Republic of Donetsk", Pro-Russian activists broke into the building of the ] and forced the local commander Konstantin Pozhidayev to resign.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 12 April 2014
</ref> In ], in the course of a Pro-Russian rally, protestors overpowered a police line and took over the building of the local executive committee, where they hoisted the flag of the new-proclaimed republic.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 12 April 2014
</ref> At evening, the local police station was captured by armed men in camouflage fatigues after a protracted firefight.<ref>. Korrespondent.net, 12 April 2014
</ref><ref>. Gazeta.ua, 12 April 2014</ref> Russian-language media claim that the police station at ] was occupied by veterans of the ] and Cossacks. The towns of ] and ] were allegedly also under rebel control.<ref>. Rossyskaya Gazeta, 12 April 2014</ref><ref>. LB.ua, 12 April 2014
</ref> Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs denied the capture of the police stations of Krasny Lyman and Kramatorsk and the occupation of Krasnoarmiisk.<ref>. Interfax, 12 April 2014</ref> In ], Pro-Russian militias and activists attempted to break into the local police station, but after talks, they withdrew and occupied instead the city council, where the Russian flag was raised.<ref>. LB.ua, 12 April 2014</ref>
* On 13 April. Ukraine's Security Service troops clashed with Pro-Rusian militias near Slovyansk. One Ukraine officer was killed and five wounded, while the Pro-Russian militants suffered one dead and two wounded.<ref>. Voice of America, 13 April 2014
</ref> The attempt to dislodge the militants was not succesful,<ref> The Telegraph, 13 April 2014
</ref> and the rebels remained in control.<ref>. The Associated Press, 13 April 2014</ref> Elsewhere, Pro-Russian demostrators occupied the town councils in Mariupol, ] y ]. Rebel forces established checkpoints in the villages of Mirni, Bylbasovsky, Mayakovsky and Raygorodok, in the area adjacent to Slovyansk.<ref>. Komsomolskaya Pravda, 13 April 2014</ref> At evening, the city council of ] was occupied by rebel militants. Apparently, local authorities colluded with the separatists.<ref>. Ukraine Press, 14 April 2014</ref>

==Non-military events==
<!--===USA===
On 4 March 2014, the U.S.A pledges $1 billion in aid to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. pledges $1 billion in aid to Ukraine|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-ukraine-us-aid-20140304,0,177084.story|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=4 March 2014}}</ref>
-->

===Russia===
<!--*Before the presence, Russia recalled its ambassador to Ukraine for consultations.<ref name="korrespondent1">{{cite web| work =Фото: doninformburo.ru |url= http://korrespondent.net/ukraine/politics/3310539-rossyia-otozvala-svoeho-posla-yz-za-neponiatnoi-sytuatsyy-v-ukrayne-medvedev |title=Россия отозвала своего посла из-за непонятной ситуации в Украине – Медведев |publisher=Korrespondent | place = Russia |accessdate=3 March 2014}}</ref> Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told US President Barack Obama, that Russia was acting to protect ethnic Russians and Russian-speakers in Crimea and ].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/pro-russian-leader-of-ukraines-crimea-claims-control-of-military-police/article17185557/ |work= The Globe and Mail|title=Russian troops take over Ukraine's Crimea region as Putin gets approval to use military|date= 1 March 2014|accessdate= 1 March 2014}}</ref> He also drew a parallel between Crimea and ].<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/putin-ukraine-olive-branches-russian-tanks |work= The Guardian|title= Putin offers Ukraine olive branches delivered by Russian tanks|date= 4 March 2014}}</ref> Aleksei Pushkov, the Chairman of the ] committee on Foreign Affairs, said that the majority of people in Crimea should be given the right of self-determination. He added that he thought the ]'s planned ]<ref name="LATimes2014-03-01a">{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-crimea-referendum-date-20140301,0,2305350.story | title = New Crimea leaders move up referendum date |work= The ]| first =Sergei L | last = Loiko| date=1 March 2014 |accessdate= 3 March 2014| quote= Kiev, Ukraine – Crimea's new pro-Moscow premier, Sergei Aksenov, moved the date of the peninsula's status referendum to March 30. On Thursday, the Crimean parliament, which appointed Aksenov, had called for a referendum on May 25, the date also set for the urgent presidential election in Ukraine.}}</ref> (on greater Crimean autonomy, according to the BBC Russian-language service)<ref name="BBC-Pushkov" /> was a much more legitimate way to achieve political change than ].<ref name="BBC-Pushkov">{{cite news|title=Пушков сравнил ситуацию в Крыму с Косовом||url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/rolling_news/2014/02/140228_rn_crimea_pushkov.shtml |publisher=BBC|date=28 February 2014}}</ref>

*On 1 March, ] (a Russian federal media oversight agency) blocked access to the pages of 13 "Ukrainian nationalist organizations" to users in Russia on ], the most popular social network in Russia and second most popular in Europe (after Facebook). ], the ], ordered Roskomnadzor to effect this block.<ref name="Mashable-Berkman">{{cite news|title=Russia Blocks Pro-Ukraine Groups on Social Media|url= http://mashable.com/2014/03/03/russia-ukraine-internet/ |publisher=Mashable|date=3 March 2014}}</ref>-->

*At a meeting to protest against the Russian intervention in Ukraine that took place near to the ] building in Moscow on 2 March 28 protesters were arrested by the police.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/02/detained/ |title=Россия: Общество: Число задержанных на антивоенном митинге в Москве выросло вдвое |publisher=Lenta.ru |accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref> Andrei Yurov, an expert of the ], said that the decision of the ] allowing President Putin to use military force within the territory of Ukraine was taken on the basis of unconfirmed information about the "victims" among citizens in Crimea.<ref> Urkainska pravda, Merch 1, 2014</ref>

===In Crimea===
{{see also|2014 Crimean crisis|Timeline of the 2014 Crimean crisis}}

*The Crimean Prime Minister Aksyonov asserted control over all security forces in Crimea and appealed to Russia for assistance in maintaining peace and tranquility.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/crimea-pm-takes-control-army-police-seeks-russian-help-n41826|publisher=NBC News|title=Crimea PM Takes Control of Army, Police And Seeks Russian Help|date=1 March 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> The position of Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Ukraine;<ref>{{uk icon}} ]<span>, </span>'']''<span> (27 February 2014)</span></ref> On 1 March, acting president Turchynov decried the appointment of Sergei Aksyonov as the head of the government of Crimea as unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/politics/_turchinov-izdal-ukaz-o-nezakonnosti-naznacheniya-aksenova-premerom-kryma/545023 |title=Турчинов издал указ о незаконности назначения Аксенова премьером Крыма |publisher=Gazeta.ua |accessdate=4 March 2014}}</ref>
* On 4 March Prime Minister Aksyonov announced the creation of a Crimean navy and Ministry of Defence. He also stated that three air defence units and over 5000 personnel pledged allegiance to Crimea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/04/ministry |publisher=Lenta.ru|title=В Крыму создадут министерство обороны|date=4 March 2014|accessdate=10 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://rt.com/news/ukraine-crimea-fascists-forces-707/ |publisher=RT|location=Russia|title=Self-defense forces ranks swell in anticipation of Crimea showdown with radicals|date=4 March 2014|accessdate=10 March 2014}}</ref>

<!--
*The chairman of the ], ], expressed concern that Tatars in Crimea would be threatened as a result of the Russian takeover. He said Crimea is part of Ukraine and warned of a collapse in "world order" if Russia succeeds in separating Crimea from Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/chubarov-russian-invasion-of-crimea-is-threat-to-world-peace-security-338117.html|work=Kyiv Post|title=Chubarov: Russian invasion of Crimea is threat to world peace, security|date=2 March 2014|accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref>
-->*On 5 March the OSCE mission in Ukraine started its work in Crimea and carried out the meetings with the representatives of local communities and of the Crimean parliament.<ref> ''Ukrayinska Pravda'', 5 March 2014.</ref> Secretary of the ] ] announced that Russia was trying to move its military troops to hide their presence from OSCE on the ].<ref> ''Ukrayinska Pravda'', 5 March 2014</ref>
* On 26 March, it was announced that Ukrainian officers detained by Russian forces, including Col. Yuliy Mamchur, were being released. Those who did not join the Russian military were expected to leave the Crimean peninsula.<ref>{{cite news|title=Meet Ukraine's New Hero, Besieged Base Commander Yuliy Mamchur|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/27/yuliy-mamchur-ukraine_n_5045207.html?utm_hp_ref=world|accessdate=29 March 2014|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=26 March 2014|author=John-Thor Dahlburg|author2=Peter Leonard|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

<!--
*The website of the ] came down at some point in the intervention. It currently points to an ] managed by ], an ] located in ].

*The Ukrainian government claimed that 3,500 Russians had traveled to Ukraine, particularly Crimea, to take part in the pro-Russian demonstrations.<ref>http://dpsu.gov.ua/en/about/news/news_3541.htm</ref>
-->*On 28 March, the Russian Defense Minister said that captured Ukrainian military hardware would be returned.<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama: Russia Must Pull Back Troops from Ukrainian Border|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-uns-crimea-resolution-counterproductive/1881128.html|accessdate=29 March 2014|newspaper=VOA News|agency=Reuters}}</ref>

==Legal aspects ==
{{missing information|section|the actions undertaken by the ] before Russia intervened in Ukraine|date=March 2014}}
Both Russia and Ukraine are signatories to the ]. The ratification of said charter has several ramifications in terms of ], particularly those that cover the subjects of ], ], ], and ]. Ukraine and many Western nations claim that Russia has intervened in Crimea and argue that it was in violation of ].

Russia contested that it has undertaken a ] to protect ethnic Russians in Crimea from threats to their safety.<ref name="bbc-2014-analysis-legal">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26481423 |title=Analysis: Why Russia's Crimea move fails legal test |date=7 March 2014 |accessdate=10 March 2014 |publisher=BBC News }}</ref> However, critics have claimed that such threats did not exist and that Russia's claim to humanitarian intervention is not valid.<ref name="bbc-2014-analysis-legal" /> This doctrine stipulates that it is acceptable for a state to intervene into another state on exceptional circumstances of a grave humanitarian emergency to save a whole population whose lives are threatened.<ref name="bbc-2014-analysis-legal" /> The precedent of incursion into another nation's sovereign territorial boundaries on such basis—without a mandate from the United Nations Security Council—was made during the ].<ref name="bbc-2014-analysis-legal" /> During the Kosovo War, ] engaged forces of the ] on the basis of claims that the ethnic Albanian population was facing persecution and genocide.<ref name="bbc-2014-analysis-legal" /> NATO at that time claimed that the inability of the UN Security Council to act on the emergency required intervention without a mandate.<ref name="bbc-2014-analysis-legal" />

The United States has also stated that Russia's actions have violated Ukraine's sovereignty while Russia's concerns of threats to ethnic Russians have been addressed by a proposal to send international monitors to Ukraine to ensure that the rights of all Ukrainians—including ethnic Russians—are upheld.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/live-president-obama-speaking-ukraine/ |title=Obama to Putin: Russia's actions violate Ukraine's sovereignty &#124; PBS NewsHour |publisher=PBS }}</ref>

Furthermore, both nations have also ratified several treaties between themselves. One such treaty, the ]—signed in 1997 and still in effect—allows Russia to maintain up to 25,000 Russian troops in Crimea. The US administration has asserted that Russia violated the treaty by not coordinating the troop movements with Ukraine, even though it didn't exceed the 25,000 threshold. CIA director John Brennan has stated that the legal force enacted by the treaty might have made Russia not consider its troop movements to be an invasion.{{efn|Dilanian (2014) "CIA director John Brennan told a senior lawmaker Monday that a 1997 treaty between Russia and Ukraine allows up to 25,000 Russia troops in the vital Crimea region, so Russia may not consider its recent troop movements to be an invasion, U.S. officials said."<ref name="Dilanian">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-us-intelligence-russia-ukraine-20140303,0,4657644.story |title=CIA reportedly says Russia sees treaty as justifying Ukraine moves |date=3 March 2014 |accessdate=6 March 2014 |newspaper=] |first=Ken |last=Dilanian }}</ref>}}

===Commentary===

], a ] professor of ], analyzed some legal aspects of what he believed to be Russia's actions (that Russia militarilly involved itself in the Ukraine - consistently denied by Russia), concluding that they are for the most part contraventions of established law. He has opined as follows:

# "Russia has clearly and unambiguously recognised Ukraine and its present borders, confirmed in the ] of December 1991, which consigned the Soviet Union to history, the ] of 1994, offering security guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for removing nuclear weapons from its territory, the 1997 agreement on the stationing of the Black Sea fleet in Crimean ports."<ref name="bbc26481423"> – BBC News, 7 March 2014</ref>
# The activity seen breached the latter agreement as it prohibited any unilateral increase of Russian forces in Crimea.<ref name="bbc26481423" />
# A 1974 United Nations definition{{which|date=March 2014}} deems using "foreign armed forces on the territory of a state in contravention of the agreement governing that presence" to be an act of "aggression", adding that "under present conditions an 'armed attack', which is the trigger point in the UN Charter for the application of the right to self-defence, has probably not yet occurred."<ref name="bbc26481423" />
# The motive claimed by Russia – to protect Russians in another country – "lacks substance" in law according to Weller. It is, according to Weller, primarily Ukraine's responsibility (not Russia's) in law to protect Ukrainian citizens from violence (including ethnic Russian Ukrainians). There is a doctrine allowing "rescuing citizens abroad", but it only applies to "grave humanitarian emergency" (for which evidence Weller argues did not exist; although ] is sometimes viewed as such), does not apply to "foreigners declared nationals principally for the purpose of rescuing them forcibly", and can at most be used to rescue citizens back to their country, rather than occupying parts of another country. Further, "a state intervening for genuine humanitarian purposes would not be entitled to cause a change in the status of the territory concerned."<ref name="bbc26481423" />
# Although the past president of Ukraine was not removed in the correct manner (via impeachment) he was, according to Weller, "unanimously disowned by the parliament." Weller argues that the ousted President could no longer claim to represent the true sovereign of Ukraine, the people. The regional government of Crimea, according to Weller, seems to "lack the legal power" to require intervention by a foreign state.<ref name="bbc26481423" />
# "According to international precedent,{{which|date=March 2014}} cannot simply secede unilaterally, even if that wish is supported by the local population in a referendum",{{dubious|Legal aspects section; be careful|date=March 2014}} not least since, according to Weller, "international practice generally seeks to accommodate separatist demands within the existing territorial boundaries". Weller also argues that, "divorce at gunpoint" is not recognized in international law.<ref name="bbc26481423" />

Another expert, {{ill|de|Stefan Talmon}}, a professor of international law at the University of Bonn, shares the same legal view,<ref name="dw.de_legal">{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/crimea-a-breach-of-international-law/a-17483425 |title=Crimea: A breach of international law |publisher=Deutsche Welle }}</ref> as does former professor of Public Law and Eastern European Law {{ill|de|Otto Luchtenhandt}}, who notes that a referendum by Crimea alone would previously have been invalid, as "Article 73 of the Ukrainian constitution {{which|date=March 2014}} states very clearly that questions of Ukraine's territorial sovereignty can only be decided by referendums put to the whole of the population." He states "hardly any" countries would recognize Crimea as Russia, even with a regional referendum. He draws a parallel to ] which, 30 years after its 1983 separation, is still only recognized by the country – Turkey – that claims it.<ref name="dw.de_legal" />

Sumantra Maitra, from the University of Otago, New Zealand, argued that this Russian aggression can be attributed to Vladimir Putin's foreign policy and economic policy correlation, and Russian aggression is directly proportional to its economic performance.<ref>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2405234</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Maitra|first=Sumantra|title=Understanding Putin's Foreign and Economic Policy Correlation|journal=The Nottingham Economic Review|date=7 March 2014|pages=28|url=http://ssrn.com/abstract=2405234}}</ref> He also mentioned that Russian actions in Ukraine implies the ] Russia is currently facing.<ref>http://libertyunyielding.com/2014/03/08/date-history-crimea/</ref>

==Reactions==

===Ukrainian response===
Interim Ukrainian President ] accused Russia of "provoking a conflict" by invading Crimea. He compared Russia's military actions to the 2008 ], when Russian troops occupied parts of the ], and the breakaway enclaves of ] and ] were established under the control of Russian-backed administrations. He called on Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Crimea and stated that Ukraine will "preserve its territory" and "defend its independence".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/turchynov-russia-waging-war-of-aggression-in-crimea-337972.html|work=Kyiv Post|title=Turchynov: Russia starts aggression in Crimea|date=28 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> On 1 March, he warned, "Military intervention would be the beginning of war and the end of any relations between Ukraine and Russia."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10669670/Ukraine-live-Crimea-leader-appeals-to-Putin-to-help-as-Obama-warns-of-costs-to-Moscow.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Ukraine live: Prime Minister of Ukraine says Russian military intervention would lead to war|date=1 March 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref>

On 1 March, Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov placed the Armed Forces of Ukraine on full alert and combat readiness.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303801304579413443251173188|title=Ukraine Puts Military on Full Alert After Russian Intervention Threat}}</ref>

===Military actions in other countries===
Russia's actions increased tensions in nearby countries historically within its ], particularly the ] and ]; all have large Russian-speaking populations, and ] in the breakaway Moldovan territory of ].<ref name="Herald">{{cite news|title=Russian aggression unnerves other neighbours|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/world/1193466-russian-aggression-unnerves-other-neighbours|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=The Chronicle Herald|date=12 March 2014|author=Scislowska|author2=Pablo Gorondi|author3=Karel Janicek|author4=Jovana Gec|author5=Corneliu Rusnac|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Some devoted resources to increasing defensive capabilities,<ref name="NTI">{{cite news|title=Russia's Neighbors Want Stronger Defenses After Ukraine Incursion|url=http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/baltic-states-want-stronger-defenses-face-russian-incursion-ukraine/|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=Global Security Newswire|date=7 March 2014}}</ref> and many requested increased support from the U.S. and the ], which they had joined in recent years.<ref name="Herald" /><ref name="NTI" /> The conflict "reinvigorated" NATO, which had been created to face the Soviet Union, but had devoted more resources to "expeditionary missions" in recent years.<ref name="Gearan" />

====United States====
*On 5 March the Pentagon announced it would send six fighter jets and a refueling aircraft to augment the four already participating in the ] mission.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stewart |first=Phil |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/05/us-ukraine-crisis-pentagon-idUSBREA242D320140305 |title=More U.S. jets on NATO patrol in Baltics amid Ukraine crisis: source |agency=Reuters |date=5 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Moves Six Fighter Jets to Baltics, More Airmen to Poland|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/u-s-moves-six-fighter-jets-baltics-more-airmen-poland-n45386|accessdate=7 March 2014|publisher=NBC News|date=5 March 2014|author=Jim Miklaszewski|author2=Courtney Kube}}</ref>
*7 U.S. F-16's were scheduled to participate in a training exercise in Poland. On 6 March, it was announced that 12 fighters and 300 service personnel would go to Poland.<ref name="Moore">{{cite news|last=Moore|first=Jack|title=Ukraine Crisis: Obama Orders 12 F-16 Fighter Jets and 300 US Troops to Poland|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ukraine-crisis-obama-orders-12-f-16-fighter-jets-300-us-troops-poland-1439216|accessdate=7 March 2014|newspaper=International Business Times|date=6 March 2014}}</ref> The increase was attributed to concerns over Russian activities in Crimea.<ref name="Moore" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: US sends fighter jets to Baltic and increases pressure on Vladimir Putin|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10682004/US-sends-fighter-jets-to-Baltic-and-boosts-pressure-on-Putin-over-Ukraine.html|accessdate=7 March 2014|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 March 2014|author=Raf Sanchez|author2=Bruno Waterfield}}</ref>
*An ], the {{USS|Truxtun|DDG-103|6}}, crossed into the Black Sea on 6 March to participate in long-planned exercises with Bulgaria and Romania.{{efn|Baldor (2014) "A U.S. warship is also now in the Black Sea to participate in long-planned exercises."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/us-fighter-jets-warship-arrive-ukraine-region |title=US fighter jets, warship arrive in Ukraine region |first=Lolita |last=Baldor |agency=Associated Press |date=6 March 2014 |accessdate=10 March 2014 }}</ref>}} It was the only ] vessel in the ] besides the ] {{USS|Taylor|FFG-50|6}}.{{relevance-inline|date=March 2014}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://rt.com/news/us-navy-black-sea-482/ |title=Navy destroyer USS Truxtun crosses Dardanelles en route to Black Sea |publisher=] |date=7 March 2014}}</ref> American officials stated that it was part of a routine deployment for exercises with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies.<ref name="reuters.com">, ] (6 March 2014)</ref><ref> Stars and Stripes. 6 March 2014</ref> The ''Truxtun'' left the Black Sea by 28 March, but some politicians argued that it should return as a show of support.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Tim|title=House Intelligence Chairman Calls for Sending Arms to Ukraine|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/house-intelligence-chairman-calls-sending-arms-ukraine-n59826|accessdate=30 March 2014|publisher=NBC News|date=30 March 2014}}</ref> In early April, the US planned to send a warship to conduct exercises with "Black Sea partners". An additional 175 Marines were to be deployed to the ] in Romania, though this was decided in late 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. sending additional Marines to Romania|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-sending-additional-marines-to-romania/|accessdate=7 April 2014|publisher=CBS News|date=2 April 2014|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
* On 10 April, the destroyer ]'' ''entered the Black Sea to "reassure NATO allies and Black Sea partners of America's commitment to strengthen and improve interoperability while working towards mutual goals in the region", according to a Pentagon spokesman.<ref name="Carbonnel" /><ref>]. Navy Times, 9 April 2014
</ref>

====NATO====
*On 10 March, NATO began using ] AWACS airborne radar aircraft to monitor ]'s and ]'s border with ].<ref name="NATO BBC">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26521311|title=Nato jets to monitor Ukraine border|publisher=BBC|date=10 March 2014|accessdate=10 March 2014}}</ref> Monitoring also took place in ].<ref>{{cite news|title=NATO sends AWACS to monitor Ukraine borders with Poland, Romania as tension with Russia mounts over Crimea invasion|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nato-awacs-ukraine-borders-poland-romania-tension-with-russia-mounts-over-crimea/|accessdate=14 March 2014|publisher=CBS News|date=12 March 2014|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

*On 26 March, US and UK defense chiefs agreed to accelerate the development of the ]. Talks were "dominated" by the situation in Ukraine, but officials emphasized that this was not a response to Russian actions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sisk|first=Richard|title=US-UK: Expand Missile Defense in Eastern Europe|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/03/26/us-uk-expand-missile-defense-in-eastern-europe.html?comp=7000023317828&rank=1|accessdate=30 March 2014|publisher=Military.com|date=26 March 2014}}</ref>

NATO foreign ministers at a meeting in early April did not rule out stationing troops in countries near Russia, saying that Russia had "gravely breached the trust upon which our cooperation must be based".<ref name="Gearan" /> Poland requested that "two heavy brigades" be stationed on its territory. Responses were mixed, and NATO considered increased support for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Moldova.<ref>{{cite news|last=Waterfield|first=Bruno|title=Ukraine crisis: Poland asks Nato to station 10,000 troops on its territory|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10737838/Ukraine-crisis-Poland-asks-Nato-to-station-10000-troops-on-its-territory.html|accessdate=7 April 2014|newspaper=The Telegrapg|date=1 April 2014}}</ref>

====Suspension of military cooperation with Russia====
*As of 17 March, according to the semi-independent US military paper '']'', the Atlas Vision exercise with Russia (planned for July) was cancelled.<ref name="Montgomer">{{cite news|last=Montgomer|first=Nancy|title=US Army to Proceed with Planned Exercise in Ukraine|url=http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/natosource/us-army-to-proceed-with-planned-exercise-in-ukraine|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=Stars and Stripes|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> The Rapid Trident exercise in western Ukraine, scheduled for the same time, was to proceed as planned,<ref name="Montgomer" /><ref name="SeaBreeze">{{cite news|title=Ukraine Seeks Joint US War Games After Crimea Takeover|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140326/DEFREG01/303260039/Ukraine-Seeks-Joint-US-War-Games-After-Crimea-Takeover|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=Defense News|date=26 March 2014|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> as was the naval exercise See Breeze.<ref name="SeaBreeze" />

France suspended most military cooperation with Russia and considered halting the sale of two ] warships it had been contracted to build.<ref>{{cite news|title=France suspends 'most' military cooperation with Russia|url=http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/france-suspends-most--military-cooperation-with-russia_288335.html|accessdate=30 March 2014|publisher=Expatica.com|date=21 March 2014|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref>
Canada,<ref>{{cite news|title=Canada suspends military cooperation with Russia over Ukraine events|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/world/722113|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=ITAR-TASS News Agency.|date=5 March 2014|agency=Information Telegraph Agency of Russia}}</ref> the UK,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: March 18 as it happened|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10704798/Ukraine-crisis-March-18-as-it-happened.html|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=18 March 2014|author=Josie Ensor|author2=Lucy Kinder}}</ref>
and Norway<ref>{{cite news|title=Norway suspends military cooperation with Russia|url=http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/03/25/330993/norway-suspends-military-cooperation-with-russia.html|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=FOCUS Information Agency|date=25 March 2014|agency=FOCUS}}</ref>
all suspended cooperation to some extent. On 1 April, NATO suspended all military and civilian cooperation with Russia.<ref>{{cite news|title=NATO suspends civilian and military cooperation with Russia|url=http://rt.com/news/nato-military-cooperation-russia-641/|accessdate=1 April 2014|publisher=RT|date=1 April 2014|agency=RIA Novosti}}</ref> Russian diplomatic access to NATO headquarters was restricted.<ref>{{cite news|last=Croft|first=Adrian|title=NATO limits access by Russian diplomats in Crimea fallout|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/07/us-ukraine-crisis-nato-idUSBREA3614K20140407|accessdate=7 April 2014|date=7 April 2014|agency=Reuters|location=Brussels}}</ref>

=====Expanded participation in Baltic Air Policing=====
The augmented US rotation of the ] mission was due to last through the end of April. The ] was scheduled to participate from 1 May through 31 August.
*Throughout the second half of March, the UK, France, the Czech Republic, and Denmark all offered aircraft to augment the Polish rotation. UK officials announced plans to send six ].<ref name="Kashi">{{cite news|last=Kashi|first=David|title=UK Sends Typhoon Fighters to Baltic States To Guard Against Russia|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/uk-sends-typhoon-fighters-baltic-states-guard-against-russia-1561859|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=International Business Times|date=17 March 2014}}</ref> Over the next two weeks, France offered four fighters, and anonymous officials mentioned possible air support for Poland and stationing AWACs in Poland and Romania.<ref>{{cite news|title=France offers 4 warplanes for Baltic air patrols|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/France-offers-4-warplanes-for-Baltic-air-patrols/articleshow/32433422.cms|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Times of India|date=21 March 2014|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="Jennings">{{cite news|last=Jennings|first=Gareth|title=France and Czech Republic offer fighter support as Ukraine crisis continues|url=http://www.janes.com/article/35850/france-and-czech-republic-offer-fighter-support-as-ukraine-crisis-continues|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=IHS Jane's Defence Weekly|date=23 March 2014|location=London}}</ref> The ] offered to deploy fighter aircraft to interested countries bordering or near Ukraine.<ref name="Jennings" /> ] planned to send six F-16 fighters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Denmark to send six fighter jets to the Baltics: Media|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/denmark-to-send-six-fighter-jets-to-the-baltics-media-114032700054_1.html|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=Business Standard|date=27 March 2014|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref>

*Germany considered sending up to six fighter planes and a naval vessel to monitor the Baltic area.<ref>{{cite news|title=Germany ready to give military aid to Baltic states over Ukraine crisis|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140329/germany-ready-give-military-aid-baltic-states-over-ukraine-crisis|accessdate=30 March 2014|newspaper=Global Post|date=29 March 2014|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref>

* Swedish, Lithuanian, and US aircraft took part in exercises over the Baltics in early April.<ref>{{cite news|title=NATO preps for military exercises in Baltic airspace|url=http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/66002/nato-preps-for-military-exercises-in-baltic-airspace-201466002/|accessdate=1 April 2014|newspaper=Lithuania Tribune|date=31 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="Aviationist">{{cite news|last=Siminski|first=Jacek|title=These days, the Baltic region is a buzzing hive of NATO planes|url=http://theaviationist.com/2014/04/02/nato-deploying-planes-baltics/|accessdate=7 April 2014|newspaper=The Aviationist|date=2 April 2014}}</ref> The US was considering establishing a small but "continuous" military force in the Baltics to reassure its allies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hõbemägi|first=Toomas|title=US may deploy rotating units in Baltic states|url=http://balticbusinessnews.com/article/2014/3/28/us-may-deploy-rotating-units-in-baltic-states|accessdate=1 April 2014|newspaper=Baltic Business News|date=28 March 2014}}</ref> NATO and Estonia agreed to base aircraft at the ], which was reportedly possible due to the increased number of planes offered by allies.<ref>{{cite news|title=NATO to open air base in Estonia in response to Ukraine conflict|url=http://www.lse.co.uk/AllNews.asp?code=bttzhx6i&headline=NATO_to_open_air_base_in_Estonia_in_response_to_Ukraine_conflict|accessdate=7 April 2014|newspaper=London South East|date=3 April 2014|agency=Deutsche Presse-Agentur}}</ref> The Lithuanian defense ministry reported that the number of Russian planes flying close to the border had increased in January and February.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lithuania says rising number of Russian jets flying too close for comfort|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/lithuania-says-rising-number-of-russian-jets-flying-too-close-for-comfort-20140404-zqqfk.html|accessdate=7 April 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 April 2014|agency=Reuters}}</ref>

====Belarus====
*Ukraine reported that Russian units in ] were participating in Russia's military exercises near the Ukrainian border.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2014/3/14/90495/|title=Ukraine's MFA: Russian military units holding exercise in territory of Belarus|publisher=Charter'97|date=14 March 2014|accessdate=14 March 2014}}</ref>
*On 13 March, Russia sent six ] and three military transport planes to participate in exercises in Belarus, in response to the exercises in Poland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_13/Six-Russian-SU-27-three-military-aircrafts-redeployed-to-Belarus-Belarusian-officials-3884/|title=Six Russian SU-27, three military {{sic|nolink=y|aircrafts}} redeployed to Belarus – Belarusian officials|date=13 March 2014|accessdate=14 March 2014|publisher=The Voice of Russia}}</ref>
*On 24 March, ], commander of the ], announced plans to station 24 Su-27 fighters in ] by the end of the year.<ref name="Kashi" />

====Turkey====
*On 7 March, the ] reported it ]d six F-16 fighter jets after a Russian ] flew along Turkey's Black Sea coast.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/turkish-fighters-scrambled-after-russian-spy-plane-spotted-n47011 |title=Turkish Fighters Scrambled After Russian Spy Plane Spotted |agency=Reuters |date=7 March 2014 |accessdate=10 March 2014 }}</ref> It was the second incident of its kind reported that week, with one occurring the day before on 6 March. The Russian plane remained in ]. Diplomatic sources revealed that Turkey has warned Russia that if it attacks Ukraine and its Crimean Tatar population, it would blockade Russian ships' passage to the Black Sea.<ref>http://ukrainianpolicy.com/turkey-warns-russia-it-will-blockade-bosphorus/</ref>

===International diplomatic and economic responses===
{{further|International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis}}
] meets with Ukrainian members of parliament, 4 March 2014]]
A number of countries condemned and expressed grave concerns over the Russian intervention in Ukraine. The UN Security Council held a special meeting at the weekend on the crisis.<ref>{{cite news| date = 20 April 2011|url=http://news.yahoo.com/un-security-council-meets-ukraine-213108555.html |title=UN Security Council meets on Ukraine |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher= Yahoo! |accessdate= 3 March 2014}}</ref> The ] countries condemned the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, and urged Russia to withdraw.<ref name="wpinv" /><ref name="g7_condemn">{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: 'G7' condemn Russia|url = http://www.theage.com.au/world/ukraine-crisis-g7-condemn-russia-20140303-hvfw2.html |newspaper=]|date=3 March 2014}}</ref> All G7 leaders are refusing to participate in it due to assumed violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in contravention of Russia's obligations under the UN Charter and its 1997 basing agreement with Ukraine.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/02/g-7-leaders-statement | title = G-7 Leaders Statement |publisher= ] | type = press release | date = 2 March 2014}}</ref>

The United States raised the likelihood of sanctions against Russia unless they withdrew.<ref name="wpinv">{{cite news|last=DeYoung|first=Karen|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-and-allies-try-to-decide-on-response-to-ukraine-crisis/2014/03/01/463d1922-a174-11e3-b8d8-94577ff66b28_story.html |title=Obama speaks with Putin by phone, calls on Russia to pull forces back to Crimea bases | accessdate=2 March 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=1 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="20140303reuters" /> United States President Barack Obama has put visa restrictions in place against "those responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," and the United States State Department has announced its own plans to do the same .<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2014/03/06/obama-ukraine-putin-sanctions-crimea/6113865/ | title=Obama: Sanctions will 'impose a cost' on Russia | work=] | date=6 March 2014 | accessdate=6 March 2014 | author=Jackson, David}}</ref> Canada recalled its ambassador from Russia.<ref>{{cite news| first = Kathryn Blaze | last = Carlson |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-recalling-ambassador-from-moscow-over-russian-intervention-in-ukraine/article17185805/ |title=Canada recalling ambassador from Moscow over Russian intervention in Ukraine |work=The Globe and Mail |accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref> British Foreign Minister William Hague removed Britain from preparations for the upcoming ] summit and said the UK would work with international partners to "ensure that reforms by Ukraine are matched by international willingness to provide economic support".<ref>{{cite web| first =Emily | last = Buchanan |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26404584 | work = News | publisher =BBC | title = Ukraine crisis: Britain pulls out of G8 preparatory talks | date=1 January 1970 |accessdate = 3 March 2014}}</ref>

===Financial markets===

The intervention has caused turbulence on the financial markets. Many markets around the world fell slightly due to the threat of instability. The Swiss franc climbed to a 2-year high against the dollar and 1-year high against the Euro. The Euro and the US dollar both rose, as did the Australian dollar.<ref name="20140303reuters" /> The Russian stock market declined by more than 10 percent, whilst the Russian ] hit an all time lows against the US dollar and the Euro.<ref>Associated Press (4 March 2014). . NBC News.</ref><ref name="20140303aphosted">{{Citation | title = Putin: troops to bases; warning shots in Crimea|author=Sullivan, Tim | url = http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-03-03-12-34-01 | agency = Associated Press}}</ref> The Russian Central bank hiked interest rates and intervened in the foreign exchange markets to the tune of $12 billion to try to stabilize its currency.<ref name="20140303reuters">Chua, Ian (3 March 2014). . Reuters</ref> Prices for wheat and grain rose, with Ukraine being a major exporter of both crops.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dreibus|first=Tony|title=Wheat, Corn Prices Surge on Ukraine Crisis|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304815004579417112576465126|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Crimea|Ukraine|Russia|2010s|International relations}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist |30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last=Bremmer |first=Ian |title=The Politics of Ethnicity: Russians in the New Ukraine |journal=Europe-Asia Studies |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=261–283 |year=1994 |doi=10.1080/09668139408412161 }}
* {{cite book |last=Hagendoorn |first=A. |last2=Linssen |first2=H. |last3=Tumanov |first3=S. V. |title=Intergroup Relations in States of the former Soviet Union: The Perception of Russians |location=New York |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2001 |isbn=1-84169-231-X }}
* {{cite book |last=Legvold |first=Robert |title=Russian Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century and the Shadow of the Past |location=New York |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-231-51217-6 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine}}
* {{YouTube|TneVqCJ5iUE|NATO Secretary General – Doorstep statement to the media}}. 2 March 2014
* . '']. 5 March 2014
* . '']''. 2 March 2014
* on YouTube
* {{uk icon}} . 2 March 2014. '']''.
* - ]

{{2014 Crimean crisis}}
{{Crimea topics}}
{{Ukraine topics}}
{{Euromaidan}}
{{Post-Cold War European conflicts}}
{{Russian Conflicts}}
{{Conspiracy theories}}

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Revision as of 01:04, 14 April 2014

Those Americans who struggle to correctly point out even the continent Ukraine is located on are more likely to support US military intervention to resolve the crisis and the advancement of US national security interests, a new survey has revealed.

A newly published poll, conducted by three Ivy League professors, revealed that only one out of six Americans surveyed could pinpoint where Ukraine actually is on a world map. The survey also showed a worrying correlation in answers - the further the person thought Ukraine is from its actual geographical location, the more likely he or she was to support military intervention in a sovereign state.

In their study, conducted between March 28-31, Kyle Dropp of Dartmouth College, Joshua D. Kertzer of Harvard University, and Thomas Zeitzoff of Princeton asked 2,066 Americans where Ukraine was on a map and how they think Washington should respond to the crisis there.

The survey was conducted to “see where Americans think Ukraine is and to learn if this knowledge (or lack thereof) is related to their foreign policy views,” the authors explained in a Washington Post blog.

The results, combined in a heat map representing where respondents thought Ukraine was, show that only 16 percent of Americans correctly identified Ukraine on a map, with the median respondent being about 1,800 miles off. Some people thought Ukraine could be located as far south as Argentina or Australia, or as north as Finland.

In terms of demographics, the 18- to 24-year-old group provided a more accurate geo-location with 27 percent correctly identifying Ukraine, as compared to 14 percent of the 65+ year-olds group.

Image from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cageImage from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage

Gender correlations showed that 20 percent of males were successful at singling out Ukraine, while women had a 13 percent success rate.

US servicemen and their families also struggled to locate Ukraine on a map, with only 16.1 percent answering correctly. Non-military households had a 16 percent success rate. Self-identified independents secured the highest rating, with 29 percent correctly locating the Eastern European country.

When it came to political association, both Democrats (14 percent correct) and Republicans (15 percent correct) struggled to pinpoint the country.

College graduates also failed the geography exam, with only 21 percent answering correctly. Non-college graduates answered correctly 13 percent of the time.

“The proportion of college grads who could correctly identify Ukraine is only slightly higher than the proportion of Americans who told Pew that President Obama was Muslim in August 2010,” the authors pointed out.

The authors also argue that accuracy in determining the location of Ukraine suggests public opinion predisposition on military foreign involvement abroad. In their assessment, respondents were asked a variety of questions about what they thought about the current situation in Ukraine, and how they would want to see Washington react.

“The further our respondents thought that Ukraine was from its actual location, the more they wanted the US to intervene militarily, the greater the threat they saw Russia as posing to US interests, and the more they thought that using force would advance US national security interests,” the researchers concluded.