Russian soldiers with armoured vehicles take the control of Belbek Ukrainian military air base 23031

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Defence & Security News - Ukraine

 
 
Sunday, March 23, 2014 01:00 PM
 
Russian soldiers with armoured vehicles take the control of Belbek Ukrainian military air base.
Russian troops forced their way into a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea with armored vehicles, automatic fire and stun grenades on Saturday, March 22, 2014, injuring a Ukrainian serviceman and detaining the base's commander for talks.
     
Russian troops forced their way into a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea with armored vehicles, automatic fire and stun grenades on Saturday, March 22, 2014, injuring a Ukrainian serviceman and detaining the base's commander for talks.
Russian troops with armoured vehicles BTR-80 take the control of the Ukrainian military air base in Belbek, Crimea.
     
Colonel Yuliy Mamchur, the commander of the base, said a Ukrainian serviceman had been injured and that he himself he was being taken away by the Russians for talks at an unspecified location.

The territory of Sevastopol Tactical Aviation Brigade in Belbek was stormed by four BTR-80. The scenario of storm was the same. During this assault one representative of mass media and one Ukrainian serviceman were injured. The Ukrainian servicemen had to leave the arms in special room and left the military unit while singing the Hymn of Ukraine.

Russia has officially declared Crimea part of its zone of military control, even as isolated military units loyal to Ukraine hang on grimly at a few sites in the contested peninsula.

Ukrainian officials say at least two Ukrainian bases are still resisting being taken over by the Russians.

Pro-Russian units forced their way into Belbek Airbase, close to Sevastopol, on Saturday afternoon.

The Defence Ministry in Moscow said the Russian flag was flying over 147 military facilities that were previously Ukrainian.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet had so far taken over 54 of the 67 Ukrainian military vessels in Crimean ports.

The ministry added that fewer than 2,000 of the more than 18,000 Ukrainian military personnel wanted to leave Crimea.