FINANCIAL TIMES: At about 4:45pm local time gunshots rang out and five armoured vehicles broke through the walls of the base, where about 200 Ukrainian air force officers had defied a Russian order to surrender. Pro-Moscow onlookers, Crimean self defence forces and Cossacks outside cheered as the Russian troops over-ran the base…
Alexei Khramov, a press liaison for the Ukrainian ministry of defence said later: “Russian forces attacked and seize the base; we not give it up.” He said that both sides had fired their shots in the air, and that one person had been lightly injured…
Shortly after, volleys of gunfire and stun grenades rang out as Russian troops moved in. One Russian armoured vehicle broke through a concrete wall guarding the base; another rammed through the front gate, crumpling the sign bearing Ukraine’s national seal.
Mr Manchur lined up his troops, who – facing better-equipped, masked Russian gunmen – sang an off-key but spirited rendition of Ukraine’s national anthem… (more)
EDITOR: All shots went into the air. No one was hurt. National pride was salvaged.
