On Wednesday Ukraine announced plans to withdraw its military forces from Crimea "quickly and efficiently". Apparently that isn't proceeding quickly or efficiently enough for the pro-Russian forces there.
In Crimea, Russian Forces Storm Ukraine Bases
Pro-Russian forces have stormed a Ukrainian air force base in Crimea, firing shots and smashing through gates and walls with armored vehicles.
The troops broke into the Belbek air base facing no apparent resistance from Ukrainian troops, some of whom sang the Ukrainian national anthem during the incident.
Ukrainian defense officials says at least one person was wounded.
Earlier Saturday, Russian forces issued an ultimatum for Ukrainian troops at the base to surrender. The Belbek base outside the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol has been one of the largest holdouts of Ukrainian military forces in Crimea.
Also Saturday, Ukrainian troops abandoned a military base in Novofedorovka, north of Sevastopol, after Russian soldiers forced their way into the facility. Witnesses say the Ukrainians tried to repel the Russians with smoke bombs before leaving the base.
Russian forces have been seizing Ukrainian military bases and warships in Crimea as Russia finalizes its annexation of the strategic peninsula. Ukrainian troops have offered minimal resistance thus far.
It is of course difficult to get a really clear picture of what is going on. Are these pro-Russian forces operating under the control of the Russian military. If they aren't there's not much sign of the military doing anything to stop them. Have the Ukrainian troops been given orders to withdraw?
Meanwhile there have been organized demonstrations in Eastern Ukrainian cities demanding annexation to Russia. There is no doubt that there are ethnic Russians in that part of the country whose political orientation is towards Russia. Are these demonstrations planned to dovetail with Putin's promise to defend ethnic Russians and the troops he has massed on the border?
A lot of questions and not much in the way of clear answers.