Convoy of 60 unmarked military trucks carrying hundreds of soldiers heads for Crimea

A convoy of 60 unmarked military trucks carrying hundreds of soldiers was today spotted snaking its way from eastern Ukraine into Crimea, as the country appeared more divided than ever.

While Moscow has denied the vehicles are Russian, many of them bore Russian markings. Another convoy was seen travelling to a military base flying the Russian flag just north of the regional capital Simferopol, and reports have emerged that 30,000 Russian troops are now in Ukraine.

A spokesman for the Ukrainian military said there were reports that ships had crossed the Straits of Kerch last night, which separate Russia and Crimea, and landed up to 200 armoured vehicles.

Pictures have also emerged on Twitter suggesting that the border between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine has been lined with landmines as Russia apparently tightens its grip on the peninsula.

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A convoy of military vehicles bearing no license plates travels on the road from Feodosia to Simferopol in the Crimea, Ukraine, today

Heavily armed men at in the back of the trucks and spat at reporters who were tailing the convoy

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According to reports the vehicles and troops had no visible insignia but bore licence plates which were Russian and suggested the vehicles came from near Moscow

Armed men, believed to be Russian soldiers, walk near the Ukrainian naval base at the Crimean port of Yevpatorya

A convoy of hundreds of suspected Russian soldiers in about 50 troop trucks drove into a base near Crimea’s capital Simferopol on Saturday

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov today said the Ukrainian crisis had been created ‘artificially’ and accused the interim government of being in the control of right-wing extremists

In other parts of the country the threat of conflict has been more severe, as a Ukrainian patrol plane came under fire while flying at 3000 feet near the border with Russian-occupied Crimea.

Reports say that no one was hurt when gunmen opened fire on the unarmed plane, a Diamond light aircraft being flown by a crew of three.

At the same time, Ukraine faces the loss of its naval forces as Russian warships have blockaded the only exit point to the Black Sea, where the Ukrainian navy is docked.

The Russian forces have made a chokepoint by sinking two ageing vessels to prevent any ships moving through, and have also positioned their well-armed Moskva missile cruiser just off the coast.

Eight Russian warships originally formed the blockade, but since the sinking of the older ships, only the missile cruiser remains.

The Ukrainian navy currently consists of 25 warships, one submarine, 15 support vessels and around 15,000 men under arms.

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Members of the Ukrainian navy watch as a Russian ship (Centre) enters the port at Sevastopol

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The Ukrianian navy has been confined to the Sevastopol region of the Black Sea following the Russian blockade, which has forced the men-at-arms to come ashore, and has rendered their Navy somewhat neutralised

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A child holds Russian flags as a Russian Navy ship, the minesweeper ‘Turbinist’, patrols the harbor of Sevastopol

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Crimean Tartars, who were once persecuted by the Russians, joined the peaceful march through the city

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Meanwhile in the eastern city of Donetsk, a former stronghold of ousted president Viktor Yanukovych, more activists waved banners supporting Putin

Earlier this morning Russian foreign secretary Sergei Lavrov said that the crisis had been ‘artificially created’ for ‘geopolitical reasons’, though stopped short of accusing the West of creating tensions.

He shot down hopes that Russia was open to further talks with the West as long as they remained ‘honest and partner-like’, and said he was in contact with the Ukrainian interim government, though he accused them of being right-wing extremists.

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Armed defence forces in Crimea have been taking pledges to Russia as Ukraine continues to divide

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Pro Russian demonstrators were watched by police wearing riot gear and carrying heavy metal shields

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Police stood guard outside government buildings today while pro-Russia demonstrations took place

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A young pro-Russian woman holds a placard with heart shapes and smiley faces reading “Russia” and “Berkut!” (in reference to the Ukrainian anti-riot police that violently clashed with protesters in Kiev on February) as she stands in front of policemen standing guard outside the regional state administration building during a pro -Russian rally in Ukraine

In a telephone call he also warned US secretary of state John Kerry that any sanctions would have a ‘boomerang effect’ on America.

Meanwhile pro and anti-Putin protesters have taken to the streets of Ukraine today as the country appears more divided than ever.

In the Crimean city of Simferopol hundreds of demonstrators waving Ukrainian flags marched to a military base surrounded by Russian troops while chanting ‘Russian Soldiers Out Of Crimea’.

Many of the activists waved Crimean Tartar flags. The Tartars were persecuted by Russian during the world wars and driven to Crimea, and so are strongly opposed to closer ties with the Kremlin.

Credit to Mail Online

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2576275/Shots-fired-international-monitors-refused-entry-Crimea-Russias-foreign-minister-says-crisis-created-artificially-geopolitical-reasons.html#ixzz2vQfkZlLg 

Source: http://nunezreport.blogspot.com/2014/03/convoy-of-60-unmarked-military-trucks.html