Russians armed with guns and wearing military uniforms stormed into Crimea’s main airport and took up positions on Friday, at the same time reports surfaced that Russia’s naval forces took control of a second airport in Sevastopol.
The gunmen, some of whom wore masks, patrolled the parking lot at the port in Simferopol in Crimea in what Ukrainian authorities are calling a complete takeover, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“[This is] an armed invasion and occupation,” said Ukraine’s acting interior minister, Arsen Avakov, as reported by Russia’s news agency, RIA Novosti.
Mr. Avakov also vowed to keep the situation peaceful and deal with the occupation “on the diplomatic level before armed clashes broke out,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Russia’s forces — the Black Sea fleet — denied they were involved in the armed patrol at the Sevastopol military airport, Russia’s news agency reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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