Russian forces sieze Ukraine Navy base

[101ABN]

SEVASTOPOL/SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) - Russian troops and unarmed men stormed Ukraine's naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Wednesday and raised the Russian flag in a tense but peaceful takeover that signals Moscow's intent to neutralize any armed opposition.

Russian soldiers, and so-called "self-defense" units of mainly unarmed volunteers who are supporting them across the Black Sea peninsula, moved in early in the morning and quickly took control.

news.yahoo.com/russian-forces-storm-ukraine-naval-hq-crimea-105314380.html

[Sailor]

Twenty Ukrainian ships were confiscated by the Russians.
Unian.net reported:
(Article was translated)

Those ships and vessels, which are now in the Crimea will formally first in the so-called “maritime self-defense force” of the Crimea, and then in the Battle of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia.

Up to 20 warships and support vessels of the Naval Forces of Ukraine (VMSU) may enter into operation in the Black Sea Fleet of Russia, told RIA Novosti Chairman of Russian State Duma Committee on Defense, former Black Sea Fleet commander Admiral Vladimir Komoyedov.

Russia supporters remove safe from #Ukraine Navy HQ after taking over base in Sevastopol. t.co/L2j7NH7tqy pic.twitter.com/XWIWa0W5xP

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) March 19, 2014



www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/03/russia-confiscates-half-of-ukrainian-naval-fleet-in-crimea/

The old Soviet Black Sea Fleet was split up among Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics bordering the Black Sea when the USSR imploded. While the majority of major ships went to Russia the crown jewel of the pickings was the naval base and harbor at Sevastopol. It surprises me not at all that Putin would move to claim or reclaim the bulk of Ukraine's Navy, mostly frigates and patrol craft though there was at least one diesel sub in the bunch and that mostly because even an old diesel boat that is still operational would pose a credible threat to Russia's surface fleet.

I wonder when it will be announced that the air forces based in the Crimea were seized. There used to be a couple of TU-16 Badger and TU-22M Backfire bomber units plus fighter squadrons based around the penninsula when I made my 2 Black Sea cruises back in the mid-80s. Russia probably pulled the bombers out and deactivated them rather than turn them over to Ukraine or Georgia, but some of the older model fighters probably remained.