Russian 2S1 122mm variants in Crimea on Febuary 28, 2014 | Photo: @passantino

Amid reports of more Russian troops in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed sending a stabilization force into the country until it is “normalized.” This is an invasion, just under a different name.

Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see see our latest podcast.

Below, we will be making regular updates throughout the day:

0944 GMT:

More information has come in about the background to the violence in Kharkhiv from veteran Russian human rights activist Alexey Korotaev who is on the scene:

“For several days, the Kharkhiv EuroMaidan supporters had staged a picket in front of the regional administration building on the city’s largest square. Young men and women (some very young) occupied the steps and the foyer of the building and vowed not to let Mikhail Dobkin, the Kharkhiv Region governor into the building, seeking his resignation. (Dobkin is one of the more prominent figures in the Party of Regions who had declared his separation from Kiev; in fact he resigned 26 February after announcing he would run for president, but the protesters kept up their picket.) In the center of the square is a large statue of Lenin, where an anti-Maidan group then set up a camp to prevent the monument from being torn down. There were only a few dozen of them for several days and nights, until suddenly on the morning of 1 March, their ranks were swelled by thousands of people, many armed with baseball bats and metal prongs. These men stormed the building while the police essentially stood aside. This crowd dragged the EuroMaidan supporters out of the building and beat them, then looted and vandalized the building, which up to that point had not been touched.”

Korotaev added that Ukrainian ultranationalists from Right Sector did not appear to be present, but eye-witnesses reported buses arriving from the Russian cities of Belgorod, Voronezh and Kursk with Russian nationalists. Espreso TV reported that some 2,000 nationalist activists were bussed in from Belgorod Region for the riot, then returned home. Some observers have speculated that the Mayor Hennadiy Kernes may have also instigated his supporters in a bid to show the new authorities in Kiev, who have been busy removing corrupt officials associated with the Yanukovych regime, that he could incite a mob to call for joining Russia if he were removed from power.

In the evening, Mayor Kernes told Interfax Ukraine, “I take upon myself personal responsibility to preserve order here, so that there will be no calls for separatism.”

Korotaev commented about Kharkhiv, a former Soviet science hub now suffering high unemployment, “For anti-Maidan residents of Kharkhiv, especially the middle-aged and elderly, this is not about their wish to join Russia, it’s about their dream to return to the USSR. It’s also important to emphasize that before the Russian Federal intervention in Crimea and various Ukrainian cities, there were no attacks on Russians or Russian-speakers reported.”

0734 GMT:

Popular Russian LiveJournal blogger Rustyom Adagamov has found disturbing footage of the attack on the Kharkhiv Administration building 1 March. The videos at least of these scenes indicate that rather than “clashes between pro- and anti-Maidan demonstrators” as the Kremlin propaganda outlet RT.com claims, as well as some Western media such as the Guardian, the violence appears to consist of mainly a large, organized group of Russian nationalists who attacked a home-made Maidan-style barrier with bats and boards, beating unarmed demonstrators.

RT.com quoted controversial Kharkhiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes accusing the ultra-nationalist Ukrainian group Right Sector of throwing grenades based on finding “120 cocktail bombs.” Yet in the videos of the storming, the Russian nationalists are throwing the flash grenades. Kernes also claimed there was shooting, based on finding a shell inside the building, but this was not corroborated. Earlier Kernes had expressed fears that the demoralized police in his city would not be able to protect demonstrators.

Два драматических видео вчерашнего штурма в Харькове http://t.co/dlPbOkTYiN http://t.co/6VW3Je6Yq3 — Рустем Адагамов (@adagamov) March 2, 2014



Translation: @adagamov Two dramatic videos of yesterday’s storm of Kharkiv

0616 GMT: Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement about the crisis in Ukraine in Washington 1 March:

The United States condemns the Russian Federation’s invasion and occupation of Ukrainian territory, and its violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity in full contravention of Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine, and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. This action is a threat to the peace and security of Ukraine, and the wider region. I spoke with President Turchynov this morning to assure him he had the strong support of the United States and commend the new government for showing the utmost restraint in the face of the clear and present danger to the integrity of their state, and the assaults on their sovereignty. We also urge that the Government of Ukraine continue to make clear, as it has from throughout this crisis, its commitment to protect the rights of all Ukrainians and uphold its international obligations. As President Obama has said, we call for Russia to withdraw its forces back to bases, refrain from interference elsewhere in Ukraine, and support international mediation to address any legitimate issues regarding the protection of minority rights or security. From day one, we’ve made clear that we recognize and respect Russia’s ties to Ukraine and its concerns about treatment of ethnic Russians. But these concerns can and must be addressed in a way that does not violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, by directly engaging the Government of Ukraine. Unless immediate and concrete steps are taken by Russia to deescalate tensions, the effect on U.S.-Russian relations and on Russia’s international standing will be profound.

0616 GMT: Andriy Parubiy, Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council has announced national mobilization of the draft, TV Rain reported, citing Parubiy’s Facebook page.

Apparently to emphasize he meant business, Parubiy said his own assistant had already been summoned by the draft board and ordered to appear at 8:00 am EET this morning.

0409 GMT:



Ukrainian picketers at UN today. Photo by Hallie Shatravka

Amb. Sylvie Lucas of Luxembourg, who currently holds the monthly rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, spoke to reporters this evening after a a special session, saying members “stressed the need for an urgent de-escalation of the situation, and reiterated their call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from action and rhetoric which might exacerbate the situation.”

The Secretary General’s special envoy Robert Serry was dispatched to Ukraine earlier this week and was hoping to go to Crimea, but now after communication with the new authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, “concluded it was not possible,” and is now headed to Geneva.

Meanwhile, during the open part of the session, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Amb. Vitaly Churkin, called for a return to the 21 February agreement and the creation of a “government of national unity,” RIA Novosti reported. He had no comment for journalists after the session, said RIA Novosti.

In a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, President Vladimir Putin said Russia would take “the necessary measures in the event of the continuation of violence against the Russian-language population in eastern Ukraine and in the Crimea, and also stated that it was necessary to prevent the escalation of the crisis in the country,” RIA Novosti reported.

The Federation Council has given the president of Russia its agreement for the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, but the Russian Foreign Ministry clarified that the consent of the Federation Council does not mean that this right will be rapidly implemented. Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the Russian leader, announced that the question of the use of the Russian Armed Forces abroad is decided by the president, and no such decision has been made yet.

Several dozen people were injured in attacks by local Russian nationalists on EuroMaidan supporters in Kharkhiv today, including Serhiy Zadan, a famous Ukrainian writer.

0344 GMT:



Google Maps

There are unconfirmed reports of a large mass of Russian troops and military vehicles on the border of Russia and Ukraine, according to a Kiev-based Russian-language publication supportive of the EuroMaidan protests.

Gordonua.com, a web news site maintained by the editor of Gordon Boulevard, says they have a report from a local resident that at the border post of Senkova in Chernihiv Region, there are a lot of Russian APCs and buses with soldiers concentrated on the Russian side of the border.

Russian military are telling reporters today that they are “on a Western Front training exercise” at this location, about 190 kilometers from Kiev where the Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian borders come together. Earlier this week, 150,000 Russian troops were suddenly put on a combat readiness training. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the maneuvers were not related to events in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian border guards told Gordonua.com that they do not know what is going on, and they will act as they are ordered. “But they did let it be known that in the event of attack, they cannot withstand such a number of forces.”

0148 GMT:

Right Sector, the ultranationalist group supporting the EuroMaidan movement, is now disclaiming that its group leader Dmytro Jarosz ever made an appeal to Chechen insurgent Doku Umarov to help Ukraine’s freedom struggle, Radio Svoboda, the Ukrainian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported today.

In an interview with Radio Svoboda, Artem Skoropadskiy, spokesman for Right Sector, said:

Our page was blocked for half an hour. One of the administrators of the group had his account hacked. Now that post is not there on our page.

According to Skoropadskiy, Right Sector’s position is “not to succumb to provocations or start them first, but we are ready to meet Russian occupation troops if they start fighting.” The group’s page did not appear to be blocked as we have been refreshing it regularly, but some readers report that it was not accessible for a time today. The appeal to Umarov is now indeed deleted, but another appeal in Russian “to the peoples of Russia” can still be seen:



Russians and other enslaved peoples of Russia! Now your fate is being decided in Ukraine. We have fought not only for our freedom, but yours! Now you also have a chance to fight for your freedom against the Chekist [KGB] regime of Putin. Hold mass actions of protest! Create partisan divisions! Block the roads. Destroy the military infrastructure. Support us, and we will support you! There is NO other way! Don’t believe the Putin Goebbels! We are not Russophobes. We are not agents of the USA. We are soldiers of freedom!” Central Headquarters

Right Sector

10,372 people had “liked” it and 2,986 had re-posted it as of this hour. Meanwhile, Chechnya’s strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov has not removed his threatening reply of six hours ago to what he believed was an appeal from Jarosz, and the Kremlin’s propaganda arm RT.com is continuing to make hay with the story without reporting the disclaimer.

0105 GMT: Canadian Prime Minister Harper has announced that Canada will recall its ambassador from Moscow and will not participate in the upcoming G8 conference because of developments in Ukraine.

The US will also not participate in the G8.

0040 GMT: The scrappy independent Crimean Tatar TV station ATR is still on the air, after a night of rolling “The Patriot” with Mel Gibson (on the American revolution) mixed with webcam footage of the armed men strolling up and down their parking lot outside. While the State TV station was taken over in Simferopol, and ATR has been gathering its personnel together and expecting the worse, they are still broadcasting. Perhaps the authorities need to keep at least some alternative sources of news open.

At 20:30 this evening, ATR carried a special broadcast on the issue of just what kind of troops have occupied their city. First, they ran footage from the State Department’s noon briefing quoting Jen Psaki reply to a reporter that the State Department had “no independent confirmation” of reports of Russian intervention in the Crimea. Then ATR aired scenes of the armed, uniformed men who seized the airport in Simferopol and are also guarding the parliament building (see some of the screenshots below). They asked independent war correspondent Andrei Babichenko in Moscow his opinion on what kind of forces they were seeing.

“In the photographs, you can see the VSS sniper’s rifles, the Vintorez, that’s the Russian Federal snipers’ rifles, with silencers. They are used by the special divisions. The uniforms are the standard uniforms for the motorized regiments, they can be motorized troops or airborne troops in such a uniform.”

Babichenko also referred to the report from Pskov reporter Lev Shlosberg, whom he further identified as a Yabloko [opposition party] deputy, who noted that the 76th Guards Air Assault Division of the Russian Airborne Troops in Pskov, were reported missing from their barracks and believed to have been dispatched to Ukraine. Shlosberg had further reported that “the officers and contact group have been sent on a trip somewhere.”

“We know where,” added Babichenko, indicating the Crimea.

We don’t know what footage Babichenko was looking at, but Censor.net.ua has posted many pictures of the forces headed towards Belbek. Note the rifle on the left in this first picture. A trusted expert we’ve consulted in Moscow suggests that this is a VSS Vintorez sniper riffle with a silencer:

Furthermore, our expert says that this weapon is not listed among the weapons of the Interior Ministry or Airforce of Ukraine, but they have been issued to spetsnaz (special assignment troops), special forces of the GRU. As these weapons are not part of the compliment given to the soldiers who are, under treaty with Ukraine, allowed to be in Crimea, their presence is a clear violation of this agreement.

These screen captures don’t show the rifles in question (we don’t think) but show more firepower packed by these soldiers:

Heavy firepower packed by soldiers in this picture:

Russian Dragunov makes an appearance in #Crimea. While technically not a sniper rifle, its 7.62x54R round is powerful pic.twitter.com/yIhcUSTPfY — Thomas Gibbons-Neff (@Tmgneff) March 1, 2014

Another weapon seen in Crimea. This was taken in Simferopol last night:

Identifying weapons and the units they belong to may be a key part in figuring out which Russian units have been deployed to Crimea, knowledge that could perhaps open a clue into what the Russian government is planning to do next.

0031 GMT: A source who has requested anonymity writes from the small Crimean town of Sudak, about 57 km outside the city of Feodosiya, that the situation is tense but quiet:

“Everything seems to be quiet for now, but very tense. Near us the military base has been seized, Ukrainian soldiers are not resisting, because the advantage of forces is on Russia’s side by about 5 times. Crimeans realize that they have wound up as hostages of the situation. The civilian population is not being touched, the Russian [Federation] soldiers are concentrating on the airfields or the army bases.”

0024 GMT: US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for about 90 minutes tonight. The Guardian has posted a statement issued by the White House on that call, as well as a response from Putin’s office.

White House Statement:

President Obama spoke for 90 minutes this afternoon with President Putin of Russia about the situation in Ukraine. President Obama expressed his deep concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is a breach of international law, including Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter, and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine, and which is inconsistent with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the Helsinki Final Act. The United States condemns Russia’s military intervention into Ukrainian territory. The United States calls on Russia to de-escalate tensions by withdrawing its forces back to bases in Crimea and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine. We have consistently said that we recognize Russia’s deep historic and cultural ties to Ukraine and the need to protect the rights of ethnic Russian and minority populations within Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has made clear its commitment to protect the rights of all Ukrainians and to abide by Ukraine’s international commitments, and we will continue to urge them to do so. President Obama told President Putin that, if Russia has concerns about the treatment of ethnic Russian and minority populations in Ukraine, the appropriate way to address them is peacefully through direct engagement with the government of Ukraine and through the dispatch of international observers under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As a member of both organizations, Russia would be able to participate. President Obama urged an immediate effort to initiate a dialogue between Russia and the Ukrainian government, with international facilitation, as appropriate. The United States is prepared to participate. President Obama made clear that Russia’s continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community. In the coming hours and days, the United States will urgently consult with allies and partners in the UN Security Council, the North Atlantic Council, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and with the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum. The United States will suspend upcoming participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8. Going forward, Russia’s continued violation of international law will lead to greater political and economic isolation. The people of Ukraine have the right to determine their own future. President Obama has directed his Administration to continue working urgently with international partners to provide support for the Ukrainian government, including urgent technical and financial assistance. Going forward, we will continue consulting closely with allies and partners, the Ukrainian government and the International Monetary Fund, to provide the new government with significant assistance to secure financial stability, to support needed reforms, to allow Ukraine to conduct successful elections, and to support Ukraine as it pursues a democratic future.

Putin’s office:

In response to the concern shown by Obama about the plans for the possible use of Russia’s armed forces on the territory of Ukraine, Putin drew attention to the provocative, criminal actions by ultra-nationalists, in essence encouraged by the current authorities in Kiev,” the statement said. The Russian President underlined that there are real threats to the life and health of Russian citizens and compatriots on Ukrainian territory. Vladimir Putin stressed that if violence spread further in the eastern regions of Ukraine and in Crimea, Russia reserves the right to protect its interests and those of Russian speakers living there.

These statements echo statements by the respective countries on the floor of the UN. So nothing has changed.

0018 GMT: Below is the complete statement from the US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power:

Thank you, Madam President. The United States renews our call for the international community to support the newly formed government of Ukraine and to prevent unnecessary violence. I would like to take a moment to respond to the comments made here by the representative of the Russian Federation. Actions speak louder than words. Early this morning, the Russian Duma acted to authorize the use of military force in Ukraine. This is as dangerous as it is destabilizing. We are deeply disturbed by reports this morning of Russian military intervention into Crimea. This intervention is without legal basis-indeed it violates Russia’s commitment to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine. It is time for the Russian intervention in Ukraine to end. The Russian military must stand down; the aspirations of the Ukrainian people must be respected; and political dialogue must be allowed to continue. We applaud the remarkable restraint and commitment to that dialogue that the new Ukrainian government in Kyiv has demonstrated in the face of hostility. We have said from the outset that we recognize and respect Russia’s historical ties to Ukraine. But instead of engaging the government of Ukraine and international institutions about its concerns for ethnic Russians, Russia ignored both and has instead acted unilaterally and militarily. It is ironic that the Russian Federation regularly goes out of its way in this Chamber to emphasize the sanctity of national borders and of sovereignty, but Russian actions in Ukraine are violating the sovereignty of Ukraine and pose a threat to peace and security.

Russia alleges various actions against and threats to minority groups in Ukraine. We see no evidence of these actions yet, but Russia’s provocative actions could easily push a tense situation beyond the breaking point. Russia’s incitement of groups to come out to protest is not responsible behavior in the present situation. There is a clear way forward that would preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and address Russia’s concerns. First, Russia should directly engage the government of Ukraine. Second, international monitors and observers – including from UN and OSCE should be sent to Ukraine. That’s the best way to get the facts, monitor conduct, and prevent any abuses. Russia is a leading member of both institutions and can participate actively to ensure that its interests are upheld. The immediate deployment of international observers from either the OSCE or United Nations to Crimea would also provide transparency about the movement and activities of military and para-military forces in the region and defuse the tensions between different groups. We are also working to stand up an international mediation mission to the Crimea to begin to deescalate the situation, and facilitate productive and peaceful political dialogue among all Ukrainian parties. Our paramount concerns are to end the confrontation and to find a solution that allows the Ukrainian people to determine their own destiny, their own government, their own future. That must be the goal of this Council and the international community. The United States will work with Ukraine, our allies and partners in Europe and around the world, and here at the United Nations to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and democratic future of Ukraine. Thank you.

0012 GMT: Alexey Korotaev, a Russian human rights monitor and past board member of Memorial Society, reports from Kharkiv, Ukraine where he observed clashes between pro-Moscow Russians and EuroMaidan supporters:

“Several dozen people approximately were injured in Kharkiv today (figures from 68 to 106 have been provided). Many have head and facial wounds (they were beaten by baseball bats). Serhiy Zhadan was also beaten over the head and had an open head wound (it was stitched in the hospital). Then he was dragged out on a stage that was set up right there on the square and they demanded that he kneel down and ask for forgiveness. He told them to screw off. After that, he was led away by policemen. Now he is ok and is talking on the Internet.”

2200 GMT: The UNSC meeting is now closed – A quick analysis — Russia has finally spelled out exactly what its given justification for invading Crimea is. According to their logic: