"Uncle Vladimir is Rattling Sabers..." Topic

The Russian navy denies any involvement and says they have not left the base (although there are reports of a patrol boat blocking the entrance to the harbour). Last thing they really want is an out-of-control individual launching a personal attack on the fleet.

So far these armed men seem to have secured the entry/exit, but not taken over, i.e. they haven't gone directly to the MiG29s, but are preventing anyone else from doing so. Same goes for the main airport – they are on 'guard' there, but not stopping anyone coming or going. They have blocked the main road from mainland Ukraine to Crimea, effectively cutting the region off.

It may just be a defensive measure, preempting the thought that Ukrainian military forces will attempt to quash uny pro-Russian uprising there, but so far the Ukrainian military have shown no such intent.

A Russia Today reporter is saying the Crimeans are wearing "simple camo, not Russian"… local autonomous pro-Russian defence forces?

Geoff, if it's RT then it'll be a Russian government line. I think it's safe to say they're Russian troops with their insignia removed. They certainly look like regulars, the ones the Beeb have just shown blocking a road with military trucks. Allegedly some of them arrived by helicopter.

I'd take heart from the fact they're not preventing anyone filming them, so it seems it's a form of sabre rattling, albeit an extremely aggressive form. I hope that's the case anyway.

Some of Russian news agencies report that these guys can be Berkut, ukrainian special forces unit. They were ordered to disband, but Crimea and some regions in the East refused to carry on with the order. Makes sense, as they're offcially Ukrainians and hate Kiev government more than Black Sea fleet personnel…

Twitter reports from Sevastopol is that the citizens there don't know who they are either :-)

"They have declined to say who they are, and are wearing no identifying insignia"

There are unconfirmed Ukrainian reports of eight Russian military helicopters arriving in Sevastopol

Thanks Geoff for the photo

Looks quite well equipped "Russian" to me.

Maybe Russian "adviser" to Crimean forces!

Good BBC Summary 12:15

Good afternoon. If you're just joining us, welcome to the BBC's live coverage of the crisis in Ukraine where two airports in Crimea are being occupied by armed men in military uniform. Ukraine's interior minister has accused Russian naval forces of an "armed invasion", but Russia's Black Sea Fleet has denied that Russian servicemen are taking part. Meanwhile Ukraine's prosecutor-general says Ukraine will ask Russia to extradite the ousted President, Viktor Yanukovych. Mr Yanukovych is expected to hold a news conference in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don shortly.

BBC 12:24

Crimea's airports are back under the control of Ukrainian law enforcement officers, according to Andriy Parubiy, acting chairman of Ukraine's National Security Council. His words were quoted by Russian news agency Interfax. He added that people who had tried to seize the airports were now manning roadblocks near the airports.

An interesting report from someone whose family live in Crimea:

"The news they are getting is quite different from ours. They were completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation in Crimea. The armed forces, they think, are there only to 'monitor' the situation."

They do appear to be 'protecting' the area rather than taking it over. As I indicated earlier, they 'ceased' the airport where the Ukrainian Air Force keeps it MiG29s, but don't seem to have approached them, possibly to prevent them from being used, or against locals trying to cease weapons and escalate the situation.

"There is a sense of disappointment with the lack of action from the new Ukrainian government"…

This is difficult, as I understand technically the interim government has no powers to start changing things and is a 'status quo' government until the elections take place.

…and also fear that the salaries/pensions will be 'frozen' due to the lack of funds; the general chaos will remain for a long time and that the long awaited help from the UN will never come. Many people have already lost their life savings due to the 'crash' of the dollar."

The reality of life.

I think we will be very luck to avoid another 'Georgia' scenario.

I believe the end game will be that the Crimea declares independence from the Ukraine and acquires the same status as Kaliningrad Oblast.

RH Models do some nice modern Russian and locals in 20mm

Not sure about 15mm

I am not doing you figures wearing fig leaves KB

Don't the new ultra modern Eureka Russians cover that?

"BBC News in Sevastopol reports that they have had no interaction so far with forces that occupy the main approach to the Sevastopol airport. They seem to be military, in unmarked uniforms, but not open to questions."

Maybe The US' is moving T.S.A. agents in to make sure everything is save at the airport!

"Maybe The US' is moving T.S.A. agents in to make sure everything is save at the airport!".

If so, Ukrainians have a lot to fear.

I'd honestly rather have Russian military at my local airport than the TSA…

Here's hoping this stays below the level of "shots fired."

I'm so afraid of the TSA, I have not flown since August of 99.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

YouTube link

CNN said something about the USSR invading … so we'll see ?

Geez impressive reporting :-)