Luhansk Oblast Council doesn’t recognize new Ukraine government
March 2, 20:20 p.m. — The Luhansk Oblast Council doesn’t recognize the legitimacy of Ukraine’s new government, Kommersant.ua reports. The regional council “considers illegitimate all central executive branches of power because they were formed with violation of laws,” reads the statement of the council. Also, the members support the holding of a referendum on federalization that would allow regional governments to ahve more autonomy. The members called on the Verkhovna Rada “to declare Russian language a second state language in Ukraine, to take immediate measures to disarm all illegal armed groups and to cease politically motivated prosecutions of police and Berkut riot-control police units,” according to the statement. The council also declares support for Oblast Council chairman Valery Holenko. — Olena Goncharova
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Naval commander dismissed for surrendering to Russians
March 2, 20:10 p.m. — Ukraine’s naval chief commander Denys Berezovsky has been fired for ordering soldiers to lay down arms to Russians in Crimea, Viktoria Siumar, deputy secretary of Security and Defense Council told a news briefing, adding that Berezovsky is currently being investigated on suspicion of state treason. “Rear Admiral Sergiy Haiduk has been appointed on his place,” Siumar added. — Oksana Grytsenko
Russians storm border guard post in Simferopol
March 2, 7:27 p.m. Earlier today, a group of civilians and armed Russian soldiers arriving in trucks broke into a border guard detachment in Crimea’s Simferopol. “The attackers broke down all the doors, destroyed workstations and communication equipment,” Ukraine’s state border guard service said in the report. But Ukraine’s border guard didn’t allow the attackers to take guns. — Oksana Grytsenko
Saakashvili: ‘Putin is brave only when all others fear’
March 2, 4:52 p.m. — Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, speaking to today’s crowd on Kyiv’s Independence Square, said about Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Putin used all possible methods to undermine you from inside. But instead you strengthend your country. Putin’s dreams will carsh over the gate of your city’s hero, Kiev. Putin is brave only when all others fear. But there is no one who is afraid here.” People responded with cheers of “Thank you!” — Oksana Grytsenko
Right Sector ready to fight for Crimea
March 2, 4:15 p.m. — Leader of the Right Sector ultranationalist organization Dmytro Yarosh said that Right Sector is mobilizing its members to protect the country against Russian intervention. According to him, the Right Sector coordinates its actions with State Security Council and its head Andriy Parubiy.
“We guarantee safety to all civillians in Crimea,” Yarosh said at the press conference in Dnipro hotel in Kyiv.
He called for Ukrainians to join the squads of the Right Sector that are being formed all around Ukraine.
Yarosh also said that Right Sector established military headquarters that coordinates the actions of the Right Sector’s squads.
“The very first task of this headquarters is to work out the plan of protection those regions which can suffer from Kremlin intervention,” Yarosh said.
Akhmetov calls for unity
March 2, 3:30 p.m. — Ukraine’s richest businessman Rinat Akhmetov published a statement on the current situation in the country.
“Usage of force is uncacceptable. I am sure that this conflict can be solved peacefully,” Akhmetov said. “I call everyone to unite for the sake of integral and indivisible Ukraine. It is important to keep a cool head and not to succumb to provocations and to make smart, informed decisions.”
“The unity of society, business, and authorities is our strength,” he added. “Today the economy is a real political power. Our objective is to ensure the safety of people and their families and secure stable operations of companies in the country.”
Lviv mayor addresses people of Crimea
March 2, 3 p.m. — Lviv mayor Andriy Sadoviy made video address to citizens of Crimea. Usually Ukrainian-speaking, Sadoviy recorded the address in Russian.
“Lately you were often told that armed exremists from western Ukraine will come and attack your cities and therefore Russian army must be allowed in Ukraine to ensure your safety. If you believed it, I ask you to listen to me. All that Lviv wants now is peacefull development of Ukraine,” Sadoviy said.
“But guns of foreign armies will never bring us progress,” he added.
Klitschko speaks at Maidan
March 2, 2:40 p.m. — “It doesn’t matter which language we are speaking, we have to do everything to protect our national interests,” said UDAR party leader Vitali Klitschko addressing people at Independence Square in Kyiv. “We have to do everything to make Ukraine a European country and sign association agreement. For now I urge you to avoid provocations and any calls for separatism.” — Anastasia Forina
Russians get arrested for anti-war protests
March 2, 2:25 p.m. — Several hundred people protested against Russia’s military intervention to Crimea in Moscow and Saint Petersburg today. Protesters were holding banners saying “No to war.” Russian media reported that 265 protesters in Moscow and 20 protesters in Saint Petersburg were detained by police. — Olga Rudenko
French author supports Ukraine
March 2, 2:15 p.m. — Writer Bernar Anri-Levi addressed the crowd at Independence Square from the stage.
“You achieved historical victory over thyrany,” he said. “You are the best Europeans, it’s the first time in history that people died holding EU flags. But today another force is standing in front of you, the force that is trying to destroy Ukraine. Europe has to help you to gain victory over Putin. You have to sign the association agreement tomorrow, literally tomorrow, and it will be a protection for you.” — Anastasia Forina
Ukraine airspace closed for military planes
March 2, 2:08 p.m. — Ukraine closed its airspace for military aircrafts. The order was given by interim President Oleksandr Turchynov. All the airports were taken under heavy guard, according to Turchynov. — Olga Rudenko
Parubiy says Ukrainian reserves are being mobilized
March 2, 1:43 p.m. — Andriy Parubiy, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council said that mobilization stations across Ukraine are caling in Ukrainian military reservists. “We ask all those called to show up at the stations,” Parubiy said. — Olga Rudenko
Pro-Kremlin Chechen leader threatens Ukrainian militant leader
March 2, 1:36 p.m. — Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s restive Chechnya province and key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Caucasus region, threatned Dmytro Yarosh, the Ukrainian who leads Ukraine’s militant Right Sector in the EuroMaidan Revolution. “We will not leave Yarosh’s words about his participation in warfare in Chechnya without attention. (Leading Chechen separatist) Doku Umarov, with our help, has left for the place that nobody has ever returned from. We will get a ticket there for Yarosh too,” wrote Kadyrov on his Instagram page. — Ivan Verstyuk
Turchynov says Russian army blocks Ukraine’s military bases, wants ‘to stop Ukraine’s economy’
March 2, 1:30 p.m. Ukraine’s acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said today:
“The situation is very serious. The Russian army is blocking military bases of Ukraine in Crimea. They put an ultimatum demanding that our soldiers disarm themselves or the bases will be stormed. The deadline time was 5 a.m. today. They didn’t start storming the bases on 5 a.m., but the situation is still tense there. I couldn’t reach (Russian President Vladimr) Putin or (Russian Prime Minister Dmytry Medvedev), but I talked (on the phone) to Russian parliament speaker Sergey Naryshkin. I told him that the Ukrainian army is protecting its bases and acts under the laws of Ukraine. Their aim is to stop Ukraine’s economy and to start chaos. That is why they try to start panic.” — Olga Rudenko
Nemyria: Parliament asks for Western help to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity
March 2, 1:24 p.m. — Meeting in closed emergency session, Ukraine’s parliament approved with more than 300 out of 450 votes a resolution appealing to the United States and United Kingdom to send monitoring missions to Ukraine.
Hryhoriy Nemyria, ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s former deputy prime minister and a current member of parliament with the Batkivshchyna Party, gave this assessment today of the Crimean conflict: “In three locations, Russian soldiers didn’t just block, but came in. They suggested that the military personnel give up arms.” The same happened with Ukrainian police units, he said.
Nemyria said the Kremlin has “Russian citizens in Ukraine’s privinces orchestrating illegal sizure of adminstration buildings.” He said the Russian citizens were working in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Mykolayiv on March 1. — Oksana Grytsenko
Yatseniuk: ‘We are on the brink of disaster’
March 2, 1:17 p.m. — Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, at a press conference today, said in describing the situation in Crimea in which Russian troops are now in charge of the peninsula: “This is actually a declaration of war to my country. We urge (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to pull back his troops from this country and honor bilateral agreements. If he wants to be the president who started the war between two neighboring and friendly countries, he has reached his target within a few inches. We are on the brink of disaster. There was no reason for the Russian Federation to invade Ukraine and we believe that our Western partners and the entire global community will support the territorial integrity and unity of Ukraine and will do everything they can to stop the military conflict.”
Yatseniuk also said: “Every half hour Russian forces make provocations against our troops. Our soldiers don’t fall for any provocations and protect Ukrainian military bases and warehouses. Parliament has demanded that Russia stick to the Black Sea Fleet agreement (under which Russia leases a naval base in Sevastopol) and return the troops to their regular locations. I remind that any relocation of Black Sea Fleet troops must be approved by Ukraine, and Ukraine didn’t approve.” — Olga Rudenko and Brian Bonner
Canada recalls its ambassador from Russia
March 2, 13:16 p.m. — Canada has recalled its ambassador to Russia, John Sloan, for advice about the unstable political situation in Ukraine, according to the Associated Press. “Canada has suspended its participation in the preparations for the summit G8, currently planned in Sochi, and the Canadian Ambassador to Moscow for consultations responds,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. — Isaac D. Webb
Obama, Putin have long phone call
March 2, 1:04 p.m. Here is the White House readout on the long and evidently tense conversationt that U.S. President Barack Obama had with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 1:
“President Obama spoke for 90 minutes this afternoon with President Putin of Russia about the situation in Ukraine. President Obama expressed his deep concern over Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is a breach of international law, including Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter, and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine, and which is inconsistent with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the Helsinki Final Act. The United States condemns Russia’s military intervention into Ukrainian territory.
“The United States calls on Russia to de-escalate tensions by withdrawing its forces back to bases in Crimea and to refrain from any interference elsewhere in Ukraine. We have consistently said that we recognize Russia’s deep historic and cultural ties to Ukraine and the need to protect the rights of ethnic Russian and minority populations within Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has made clear its commitment to protect the rights of all Ukrainians and to abide by Ukraine’s international commitments, and we will continue to urge them to do so.
“President Obama told President Putin that, if Russia has concerns about the treatment of ethnic Russian and minority populations in Ukraine, the appropriate way to address them is peacefully through direct engagement with the government of Ukraine and through the dispatch of international observers under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). As a member of both organizations, Russia would be able to participate. President Obama urged an immediate effort to initiate a dialogue between Russia and the Ukrainian government, with international facilitation, as appropriate. The United States is prepared to participate.
“President Obama made clear that Russia’s continued violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would negatively impact Russia’s standing in the international community. In the coming hours and days, the United States will urgently consult with allies and partners in the UN Security Council, the North Atlantic Council, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and with the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum. The United States will suspend upcoming participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8. Going forward, Russia’s continued violation of international law will lead to greater political and economic isolation.
“The people of Ukraine have the right to determine their own future. President Obama has directed his Administration to continue working urgently with international partners to provide support for the Ukrainian government, including urgent technical and financial assistance. Going forward, we will continue consulting closely with allies and partners, the Ukrainian government and the International Monetary Fund, to provide the new government with significant assistance to secure financial stability, to support needed reforms, to allow Ukraine to conduct successful elections, and to support Ukraine as it pursues a democratic future.” — Christopher J. Miller
Student: ‘I’m ready to protect my country’
March 2, 1:02 p.m. Oleksandr Dushenok, 20, a student from Kyiv, said: “Russian intervention shouldn’t have happened. If needed, I’m ready to protect my country. It feels rather safe here in Kyiv, I don’t think Russia will go far enough to do something in Kyiv. But I also don’t think they will stop at Crimea. They took opportunity to intervene because we are in this revolution now and they just thought was good time.” –– Olga Rudenko
Expatriates show their support for Ukraine
March 2, 12:59 p.m. — A column of expatriates from more than 10 countries including Turkey, Brazil, Hungardy, France, Germany, Switzerland are waving their national flags and have come to Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) to join the rally. — Anastasia Forina
Ukraine hopes for help from the West
March 2, 12:56 p.m. — Anatoliy Tishchenko, a Ukrainian participant in today’s rally, said he hopes the West will help Ukraine in solving the Crimean crisis. “I doin’t believe in negotiations as it’s clear who Vladimir Putin is, while any military operation can result in many victims, so I hope only for the West, for the United States and NATO.” — Anastasia Forina
Tens of thousands gather on Kyiv’s Independence Square
March 2, 12:53 p.m. — Several thousand people have gathered on Kyiv’s Independence Square today to rally against the Russian invasion of Cimea. More people were still arriving in the first hour, swelling the crowd to tens of thousands of people. Priests addred the crowd. Lyubov Nikitina, born in Russia near Vladivostok, lives in Ukraine now and is against the Russian military incursion. “I’m not supporting the residents of my native country and I’m against military intervention in Crimea or any other intervention in Ukraine’s plicy on behalf of Russia. I think Ukraine should solve this situation itself.” — Anastasia Forina
Editor’s Note: This article has been produced with support from the project www.mymedia.org.ua, financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and implemented by a joint venture between NIRAS and BBC Media Action.The content in this article may not necessarily reflect the views of the Danish government, NIRAS and BBC Action Media.
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