Kiev orders troop pullout from Crimea
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's acting president says the country's troops stationed in Crimea will be pulled from the region after it was annexed by Russia.
Oleksandr Turchnynov said Monday that the Defense Ministry has been instructed to redeploy Ukrainian servicemen from the Black Sea peninsula to Ukraine's mainland, in remarks confirmed by his office.
Russian troops stormed and seized one of the remaining Ukrainian military bases in the region, capturing two servicemen.
The new pro-Western government in Kiev has been criticized for its indecision with regard to Ukrainian troops in Crimea, who have been besieged by Russian forces for weeks.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry says Russian forces have stormed yet another Ukrainian military base on the Crimean Peninsula and taken two servicemen captive.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said when Russian troops seized the marine base in the port of Feodosia on Monday they detained up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen on-site and took two injured Ukrainians away by helicopter.
Russia completed its annexation of Crimea last week, after its troops took control over the Ukrainian region following the ouster of a Russian-leaning government in Kiev. Russian forces have seized Ukrainian ships and most military bases in Crimea. The West has leveled painful sanctions against Russia for its moves in Crimea.
Over the weekend, Russian forces stormed the Belbek air force base near Sevastopol and detained the commander.
