06:14:

Russian troops taking part in military exercises near the Ukrainian border are ordered by President Putin to return to their bases, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov is quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

06:04:

Nadzhiye Femi, a Crimean journalist in Bakhchysarai, tells Ukraine's Espreso TV that life is quieter now and there are fewer cars on the streets. Some people are scared, but there's no mass evacuation of families. She adds that Crimean Tatars - some of whom remember the Stalinist deportations in the 1940s - feel that they are in danger.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26428296

06:21: More on the statement by Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov that troops taking part in military exercises across western Russia are to return to base. He says the manoeuvres had been "a success". Moscow denies that they were linked to events in Ukraine, Reuters reports.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26428296

Still not hoping too much.

Incredible. Half the Ukraine troops from Belbek base now marching to airstrip occupied by Russians. Unarmed. To take it back.

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440733209694060544

It looks like they are at parade rest. Would be interesting to get confirmation on which flag that is for sure.

Ukraine column has reached Russian checkpoint. Russians begin firing in the air. Ukrainians keep marching

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440740946993754112

The red flag the Ukrainians marched with is the banner of the fighter pilots who fought Nazis in 1941 and guarded the Yalta Conference

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440750786432479232

If they become hostages, then they will no doubt embolden other Ukrainians, if they are allowed to walk around unencumbered, then Putin's invasion will be unmasked as a threat with no backing to it. So he will be forced to start detaining them to make it look as if his newly acquired territory is itself being invaded by foreign elements.

Call Putin's bluff and see whether or not he backs down.

ie, mass numbers of Ukrainians going to their respective bases to be armed and readied?

Russians call commander to negotiate. Troops have RPGs and machine guns trained on the column of unarmed Ukrainian soldiers. Belbek, Crimea

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440742230853447680

Live video stream of the ongoing standoff in Ukraine's Crimea Belbek base in Sevastopol http://www.atr.ua/pages/live.aspx /via @moneyries

https://twitter.com/patrickdehahn/status/440743850060304384


video stream here: http://www.atr.ua/pages/live.aspx

Russians back down, allow 10 Ukraine soldiers to take up positions at occupied base, but still awaiting orders from Moscow

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440744432124837888

Thank you for your updates!

07:27: Pro-Russian troops who control the Belbek air base in Crimea fire warning shots into the air as around 300 Ukrainian soldiers, who previously manned the airfield, demanded their jobs back, AP reports. The Russian troops warned that they would shoot the Ukrainians if they continued to march toward them.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26428296

That is not good.

Talks with Russians failed. Ukrainian soldiers at Belbek prepare to march to their aircraft under threat of gunfire pic.twitter.com/KVpiGWAPB3

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/440755018342617088

Wives of Ukrainian officers prepare to join the men marching on Belbek airbase pic.twitter.com/Z7J0FLELer

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/440756355579015168

Personnel carrier just arrived, disgorging armed Russian troops at checkpoint. Ukraine commander just finished negotiating.

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440756698824056833

Ukraine commander demands to guard the base jointly with Russians, who pledge to give their commanders' response by 12:00, in 2 hours

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440757682707103744

soldiers? It's regular working soldiers. And their wives?

Imagine that...

If you want a good laugh take a look at this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017178786

The lies that are spread through DU are just awful.

Just ask Chile, Iran, Iraq, Panama, Argentina, Turkey, etc.....

You know what they say about assuming...

A
S
S
U
M
E

You seem to be pretty sure that that thread was full of "lies" without any facts to back that up. It's all up in the air at this point but you seem to have just as much of an agenda and as they do and just as much of an ideology to defend.

There is no proof that the US did do it. Please prove to me it happened. I'll be over here waiting for your response, but I don't expect much. Typical DU.....

I never made the claim, nor do I believe it was an American led coup (then again, I don't know, and neither do you).


Quit your childish "typical du" bullshit and learn to communicate like an adult.

You are the one who is acting uncivil. Maybe you need an attitude adjustment.

Quit with the passive aggressiveness and address the people in that thread if their theory bothers you so much.


I never implied anything other than the fact that an American lead coup is just as plausible as an organic revolution.

So, what is your real beef huh?

YOU accused people on this board of lying and you have yet to prove it. Instead of refuting them in that thread you go around making passive aggressive statements. If they're lying debate them and prove they are lying with facts. Simple as that.

And I know exactly what you are talking about, so don't mince words with me. If people lie it is on them. If you want to stay there and support them, go ahead.

And not just upsetting your jingoistic sensibilities.


I'll wait.

While I'm sure official US interests in this case coincided with protesters', the new leaders are genuinely more liked in Ukraine, after what many felt was a betrayal by Yanukovich and his cronies.
I can claim this based on information from my wife's family, who lives in Kyiv.

Nothing in that video is false.

Ukrainian soldiers in Belbek staying put but allowed to break ranks and smoke #Crimea #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/rSgDuj2Zk8

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/440763000036012032

Ukrainian soldiers & wives discussing meaning of #Russia statement - units return to base. Does it mean also #Crimea? pic.twitter.com/HrONVqp6HT

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/440764637177708544

Russian military truck just brought a handful of (probably Russian) news crews to the Belbek standoff. They're now filming from Russian side

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440767861506977792

Ukraine's 204th tactical aviation brigade when they just arrived to face down the Russians in Belbek: pic.twitter.com/Zz91TuJHXf

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440769352582041600

Group of Russian journalists at Belbek emerge from behind the Russian line, interview the soldiers and disappear #Ukraine #Crimea

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/440770113818882048

Groups of pro #Russia Crimeans are coming to base to try & evict the Ukrainian soldiers. A platoon has been dispatched to guard perimeter

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/440772797150035968

Anshel Pfeffer ?@AnshelPfeffer 1m

#Ukraine soldiers very anxious for camera crews to go and film Berkut attacking other side of base. Obvious we are being used here #Belbek
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Anshel Pfeffer ?@AnshelPfeffer 4m

Local Berkut seem to have attacked the administrative building at Belbek airbase #Crimea #Ukraine

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer

Marching along with the Ukraine brigade were the wives of four of the officers, all standing surrounded by Russian snipers at Belbek

https://twitter.com/shustry/status/440786269619384320

Russian answer to Ukrainian demand for access to aircraft at Belbek airbase due in 5 minutes

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/440787736728182784