Pro-Russians storm Ukrainian navy base in Crimea

CNN ^ | Mar 19, 2014 | Laura Smith-Spark, Nick Paton Walsh and Alla Eshchenko

[KeyLargo]

Pro-Russians storm Ukrainian navy base in Crimea

By Laura Smith-Spark, Nick Paton Walsh and Alla Eshchenko, CNN

updated 11:12 AM EDT, Wed March 19, 2014

Simferopol, Crimea (CNN) -- A day after Russia claimed Crimea as its own, there are signs the uneasy standoff between pro-Russian and Ukrainian forces could ignite into bloody conflict.

Almost 300 armed pro-Russian supporters took over the Ukrainian navy's headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Wednesday, said Marina Kanalyuk, assistant to the commander of Ukraine's navy fleet.

"They are everywhere here, they surround us, they threaten us," she said, adding that she was sure that Russian security forces were involved.

Kanalyuk said the 70 or so Ukrainian naval officers at the headquarters had tried to stop the armed men from entering and were negotiating with them. She said that the armed men had replaced Ukrainian flags with Russian ones but that no shots had been fired.

[KeyLargo]

[Marguerite]

A question addressed to all FReepers: WHY is the US/NATO so interested in Crimea?

(I know the answer, but I also would like to know your opinion)

[areukiddingme1]

When news of the Pro-Russians storming the Ukrainian navy base in Crimea President Obama was asked for comment -- This was his only response.

[listenhillary]

Which is the greater danger?

Russia retaking Crimea OR the out of control US federal government, representatives and bureaucrats that routinely ignore our constitution despite repeated protests?

Just curious where people are at.

[rjsimmon]

When news of the Pro-Russians storming the Ukrainian navy base in Crimea President Obama was asked for comment -- This was his only response.

I don't care who you are, that's funny, right there.
I almost shipped my drawers...

[Natufian]

I don’t think either the US or NATO had much interest in Crimea until a neighboring country put it’s troops on the streets.

[Genoa]

I'll bite. Assuming that the premise is correct (that US/NATO is interested) it could be that someone realizes Turkey is in jeopardy (Turkey does at least). A Russia/Turkey/Iran axis would dominate the Middle East and the world economy. Check mate, barring divine intervention of some kind.

[Altenkrug]

I’ve just been watching a TV footage from Cremea. Ukranian soldiers are defecting to Russia en masse on their free will. For those who aren’t, Russians render buses to give them a free ride to the Ukraine posing no danger to their lives...

[Tallguy]

“Almost 300 armed pro-Russian supporters took over the Ukrainian navy’s headquarters...”

“Pro-Russians”? Is that what they’re calling the Spetznatz these days?

Seriously, only CNN could be so gullible as to believe the line put out by Moscow that these are Crimean locals pulling off these commando-raids.

[ex-snook]

" A question addressed to all FReepers: WHY is the US/NATO so interested in Crimea?

Because they think it is 'doable' like Iraq. Besides they don't like another country acting like us in changing governments.

[1rudeboy]

The answer, of course, is George Soros and Monsanto.

[1rudeboy]

“OR?” How about both?

[pleasenotcalifornia]

The Russians can repeat these tactics allover Eastern Europe. Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, all or parts of these countries are up for grabs.

[Natufian]

I want to have a life like yours. Y’know, the one were you’re only able to deal with one issue at a time. Must be great.

[Genoa]

What worked nicely for Putin in this case was that he had local discontent to exploit.

[sport]

Then, they learn very quickly that The Russians are not Iraqi's. They need to clean up around their own front porch before meddling in a family fight. There is enough corruption here to keep them busy for 50 years.

[jagusafr]

Kanalyuk said the 70 or so Ukrainian naval officers at the headquarters had tried to stop the armed men from entering and were negotiating with them. She said that the armed men had replaced Ukrainian flags with Russian ones but that no shots had been fired.

First mistake. Start with shooting when some foreign force is forcing its way onto your sovereign territory. I hope we can remember that.

Colonel, USAFR

[Marguerite]

“they don’t like another country acting like us in changing governments.”

We almost have a winner. But that’s not all.

[dfwgator]

Pro-Russians storm Ukrainian navy base in Crimea

As opposed to Amateur Russians?

[listenhillary]

We have a communist in the White house. We are suffering under more crap now than the revolutionaries fought a war over to gain their freedom from an oppressive government.

I think that one situation is more life changing than the other.