Russian forces storm Ukraine's Crimea airbase
- 10 years ago
Gunshots have been fired and blasts heard at a Ukrainian airbase in Crimea after Russian forces smashed through the facility’s outer perimeter.
Footage from an overhead security camera, recorded the moment a Russian armoured vehicle shunted past a Ukrainian military truck and stormed the entrance at the Belbek base, near Sevastopol.
One Ukrainian serviceman was reportedly injured in the takeover.
Prior to the seizure, Russian forces had surrounded the area issuing an ultimatum for Ukraine’s military inside the airbase to leave.
Home to some 29 Mig fighter jets, personnel were filmed yesterday making such preparations, but it now appears the Russian deadline was not met in time. Reports claim the Ukrainian commander, who refused to give up the base until given orders to do so from Kyiv, was taken away for talks with the Russians.
Earlier, several hundred unarmed protesters also took control of a Ukraine’s naval base at Novofedorivka, in western Crimea, with pro-Russian militia reportedly seizing Ukrainian navy ships.
Footage from an overhead security camera, recorded the moment a Russian armoured vehicle shunted past a Ukrainian military truck and stormed the entrance at the Belbek base, near Sevastopol.
One Ukrainian serviceman was reportedly injured in the takeover.
Prior to the seizure, Russian forces had surrounded the area issuing an ultimatum for Ukraine’s military inside the airbase to leave.
Home to some 29 Mig fighter jets, personnel were filmed yesterday making such preparations, but it now appears the Russian deadline was not met in time. Reports claim the Ukrainian commander, who refused to give up the base until given orders to do so from Kyiv, was taken away for talks with the Russians.
Earlier, several hundred unarmed protesters also took control of a Ukraine’s naval base at Novofedorivka, in western Crimea, with pro-Russian militia reportedly seizing Ukrainian navy ships.