Armed men control airports in Crimea as Ukraine requests UN monitoring
- 10 years ago
Tensions in the Crimea territory in Ukraine continue to rise.
Armed men are on patrol, controlling access to two of the territory's airports.
Ukraine's new government described the actions as an invasion and occupation by Russian forces.
One resident in Sevastopol said the men blocked the main road to their airport.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANDREY SITNIKOV, LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING:
"I'm not sure who they are, just armed people. But they helped us to establish security, they took the territory under control. We moved further away and since the morning have been patrolling the area."
At the Simferopol international airport, a Russian flag now sits above the control tower.
On the ground, more men dressed in full battle gear standby.
Russia, whose Black Sea fleet is based there in Crimea, has denied involvement in the military airport action.
The recent unrest has prompted the Ukrainian parliament to request UN monitoring of the region.
Armed men are on patrol, controlling access to two of the territory's airports.
Ukraine's new government described the actions as an invasion and occupation by Russian forces.
One resident in Sevastopol said the men blocked the main road to their airport.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANDREY SITNIKOV, LOCAL RESIDENT, SAYING:
"I'm not sure who they are, just armed people. But they helped us to establish security, they took the territory under control. We moved further away and since the morning have been patrolling the area."
At the Simferopol international airport, a Russian flag now sits above the control tower.
On the ground, more men dressed in full battle gear standby.
Russia, whose Black Sea fleet is based there in Crimea, has denied involvement in the military airport action.
The recent unrest has prompted the Ukrainian parliament to request UN monitoring of the region.