Summary from The Guardian
• Military units took over airports and roads in Crimea Friday. Soldiers in unmarked uniforms took over the airports at Sevastopol and Simferopol. Russian
armored personnel carriers and
helicopters were sighted in the region.
**• The Russian Black Sea fleet, harbored at Sevastopol, said it was taking “anti-terror” measures **to protect the fleet and associated outposts. Russia denied a broader deployment.
• The United States warned Russia against an intervention in Ukraine.“It would be a grave mistake to intervene,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
**• The new leaders of the Ukrainian government said an intervention had already taken place, **accusing Russia of carrying out an “armed invasion.” Some air traffic in Crimea was
shut down.
• The U.N. Security Council was to hold private consultations today to discuss the crisis.
• Deposed president Vladimir Yanukovych held a news conference in Russia. He said he was still the “legitimate president” and said elections scheduled by parliament for 25 May were a sham. He said Western powers “connived” to depose him.
**• Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke separately with British prime minister David Cameron, **German chancellor Angela Merkel and the European council president. Putin “stressed the need to avoid further escalation of violence and the necessity to quickly normalize the situation,” the Kremlin said.
• The Russian foreign ministry has authorized the issuance of passports for members of the Berkut, the Ukrainian paramilitary force that acted in support of Yanukovych during the Independence Square protests.
• The United States promised to add economic aid to anticipated IMF and EU packages for the Ukraine. The country has asked for $35bn. EU officials put its short-term needs at $4bn.