LA Times World
Pro-Russian Cossacks rally
outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol, Ukraine, on Feb.
28, 2014.
(Sean Gallup / AFP/Getty Images / February 28, 2014)
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KIEV, Ukraine – Authorities closed airspace over Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and at least five Russian transport planes landed at a military air strip near the regional capital late Friday, as the country’s acting president accused Moscow of trying to seize territory.
A duty officer at the Simferopol airport said that all commercial takeoffs and landings had been canceled from the Crimean regional capital’s airport for at least 24 hours. In Kiev, Oxana Ozhigova, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian capital’s Borispol airport, confirmed that flights to and from Simferopol had been suspended.
Ukrainian news media reported disruptions “by unknown persons” of telephone and Internet communications, and said that the Krym regional television station had been surrounded by gunmen.
The ominous military and security moves appeared intended to demonstrate the Kremlin’s determination to secure its leased port at Sevastopol, from which Russian naval might is projected to the world. Crimea hosts the Russian Black Sea fleet and has the largest population of Russian speakers in Ukraine.
Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov said Russia was trying to seize territory in Crimea and “provoke us to a military conflict.”
Turchynov's representative in Crimea, Sergei Kunitsin, later said in televised remarks that 13 Russian jumbo jets landed at Gvardeyskoye, near Simferopol, carrying an estimated 2,000 Russian paratroopers.
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Obama Warns Russia Against Crimea Invasion
Ukraine claims 2,000 troops are already on the ground in the region, after armed forces seize two airports.
Video: Obama's Warning To Russia Over Ukraine
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Russia is accused of staging an "armed invasion" in the east of the country of Ukraine. Alex Rossi reports from Crimea.
Video: Russia Accused Of 'Armed Invasion'
US President Barack Obama
has warned Moscow that any military intervention in Ukraine would be
"deeply destabilising", as Kiev claims Russian troops have invaded.
He said: "The United States will stand with the international community
in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in
Ukraine."We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine."
US officials say Mr Obama may cancel plans to attend the G8 summit in June if it is proved that Russia has sent troops into the Crimea.
The administration official said the US was in discussions about the summit with European partners, adding that it was difficult to see how leaders would attend if Russia had forces in Crimea.
The US has also warned that discussions on deepening trade ties with Moscow may be halted in response to any Russian aggression.
Oleksandr Turchynov said: "I personally appeal to President Putin to immediately stop military provocation and to withdraw from the Autonomous Republic of Crimea ... It's a naked aggression against Ukraine."
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