Shots Fired as Russian Forces Storm Ukrainian Military Bases in Crimea

Breaking reports from Crimea on Tuesday indicate that Russian forces are storming Ukrainian military bases following Moscow’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula.

Ukraine’s defense ministry reports that shots were fired by Russian soldiers at Ukrainian troops and at least one Ukrainian soldier was wounded.

The base, in the Crimean regional capital city of Simferopol, has been under siege by Russian troops since they took control of the peninsula in February.

UPDATE: Reporters on the scene have confirmed the defense ministry’s claim that shots are being fired at Ukrainian soldiers in Simferopol:

We're now easily a couple hundred meters away from base entrance "foreign journalists are liars"-Russian self defense pic.twitter.com/2xQsNyeqa5

— Ed Flanagan (@edmundflanagan) March 18, 2014

BREAKING- #Ukrainian officers confirm 200 armed pro-Russian militia have attacked a Ukrainian base. 1 man shot.

— Tom Barton (@TomBartonJourno) March 18, 2014

Multiple news agencies report that one Ukrainian solider has been killed as a result of this incursion. Ukraine’s interim prime minister told reporters conflict with Russia has entered the “military stage” as a result of this escalation

[h/t CNN
[Photo via REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko]

— —

> >Follow Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) on Twitter

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!