Russia ignores US, ‘sends thousands’ of troops to Ukraine
Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of sending thousands of extra troops into Crimea as the Kremlin vowed to help restore calm on the flashpoint peninsula and Washington warned of "costs" to Moscow should it use force. ● Defence minister Igor Tenyukh told the Ukrainian government's first cabinet session that Russia's armed forces had sent in 30 armoured personnel carriers and 6,000 additional troops into Crimea in a bid to help local pro-Kremlin militia gain broader independence from the new pro-EU leaders in Kiev. Tenyukh accused Russia of starting to send in these reinforcements on Friday "without warning or Ukraine's permission". The defence chief spoke as dozens of pro-Russian armed men in full combat gear patrolled outside the seat of power in Crimea's capital Simferopol, a day after similar gunmen seized control over airports and government buildings in the territory. The rugged peninsula jutting into the Black Sea — host to a Kremlin fleet and with an ethnic Russian majority — has now effectively been cut off from mainland Ukraine, with airports shut down and a pro-Kremlin militia establishing a tightly-controlled checkpoint on the main road from the mainland.
Oriental Review: The costs you are about to pay in Ukraine, President Obama ■ So Moscow’s message to President Obama is simple. We are the real guarantors of the Ukrainian sovereignty. We are protecting the life of its incumbent president, elected by the people of Ukraine at the free and competitive poll in 2010, from the direct personal threat from illegitimate “new authorities”. For the last three months, unlike you, we were not interfering into internal political process in Ukraine while your Assistant Secretary of State was handing buns to the “peaceful protesters” in Kiev and talking smuts about your European dialogue partners. We followed the letter and spirit of the international law whether we liked it or not. And today we are giving hope to millions of the Russian Ukrainians who categorically reject banderist authorities in Kiev. We are defending their right to determine their future. Therefore you will be brought to account for the billions of dollars invested for years long into the chimera project of the Orange revolution in Ukraine, which in its second incarnation turned Brown. You will be charged for months of explicit incitements for riots and civilian disobedience to legitimate authorities in Ukraine, committed by your officials and congressmen. And you will be responsible for the recognition of the Kievan shady “cabinet”, not only lacking any public support in Ukraine, but also any real resources to secure minimal level of life and the rule of law in this 45-million strong nation, lost in a non-existent “transition”, invented by your insolvent foreign policy consultants. These are the costs you are about to pay in Ukraine, President Obama.
PressTV: Ukraine’s Crimea witnesses huge pro-Russia rally
ITV: Russia has 'brought in extra 6,000 troops' to Ukraine
RIA Novosti: Russian Parliament Approves Military Action in Ukraine
The Guardian: Russian parliament approves use of military against Ukraine - live updates
Associated Press: How Crimea differs from the rest of Ukraine