The head of police in Sevastopol, Gen Vitaliy Malikov, has resigned according to the ATR television channel. (BBC Monitoring)
THIS IS INTERESTING: Turchynov to veto the Rada decision to repeal the language law. Turchynov vetoes cancellation of language bill is significant. Had been viewed as a snub to Russian speakers. Some in the Crimea had complained.
BBC: Visitors to the
YanukovychLeaks.org website can browse through what appear to be the expense payments for running the sprawling compound of the former president’s home just outside Kiev, AP reports.
White House Press Secretary Carney says US watching closely to see if Russia crosses “intervention line” in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev says “we are strong enough to defend ourselves”, Reuters reports.
Ukraine
is not the pushover that Georgia was.
Here is the statement by Ukrainian acting president Oleksandr Turchynov
"In an act of naked aggression against Ukraine, and under the pretense of military exercises, Russia has brought military forces into the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Not only have they seized Crimea’s parliament and Council, they’ve tried to take control of civilian facilities and communications, and tried to block the positions of Ukrainian forces.
“They are provoking us into an armed conflict. Based on our intelligence, they’re working on scenarios analogous to Abkhazia, in which they provoke conflict, and then they start to annex territory.
“Ukraine’s military will fulfill its duties, but will not succumb to provocation, and is not entering into armed conflict, understanding the high danger that this would expose to the civilian population of Crimea.
“I personally address President Putin with the demand that he immediately end this provocation and recall troops from Crimea, and that we work within the frames of existing agreements.
“In 1994 Ukraine unilaterally renounced nuclear weapons in exchange for a guarantee of its safety from the US, Russia and Great Britain. … The whole civilized world supports Ukraine.”
“We are trying to neutralize this provocation, we are trying to normalize the situation. We are sure that Ukraine will preserve its territory, Ukraine will defend its independence, and any attempt at annexation, invasion, will have very serious consequences.”