14:06
16.3.2014
Crimea's pro-Russian authorities say more than 50 percent of voters had cast ballots by early afternoon.
14:14
16.3.2014
Interfax reports:
More than 2,000 people are storming the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office to demand the release of the self-proclaimed governor, Pavel Gubarev.
The demonstrators are chanting: "Russia!" "Gubarev!" "Berkut!" "Police Are One With the People!"
The demonstrators are chanting: "Russia!" "Gubarev!" "Berkut!" "Police Are One With the People!"
14:19
16.3.2014
The "Kyiv Post" quoted the breakaway Crimean authorities' deputy prime minister, Rustam Temirgaliyev, earlier today as saying that the thousands of barricaded Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea would have to swear an oath to Crimean authorities immediately after the referendum or leave.
That comment came ahead of the reported truce agreed between Kyiv and Moscow.
Temirgaliyev also said Crimean authorities were already taking preparatory steps to adopt the Russian ruble and transition away from the Ukrainian hryvnya within a year.
"We can allow them safe passage to Ukraine," he said. "But about 85 percent of Ukrainian troops have already joined Crimean forces."
That comment came ahead of the reported truce agreed between Kyiv and Moscow.
Temirgaliyev also said Crimean authorities were already taking preparatory steps to adopt the Russian ruble and transition away from the Ukrainian hryvnya within a year.
"In April, Russian rubles will start functioning here," he told journalists, adding that the Hryvnia will stay in use for a year.
14:24
16.3.2014
Perhaps needless to say, in remarks televised by Russian media, Crimea's pro-Moscow parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantinov and its Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov appear confident.
"All is proceeding wonderfully," Konstantinov told Rossiya 24. "The turnout is good. It is high -- people are even lining up [to vote]. Everything is in order. We, Crimeans, are cool people, we are disciplined. We'll make it right. I was voting for our future."
Aksyonov said: "Today, the agenda of the development of the autonomy [Crimea] is already being discussed with our Russian colleagues [from the State Duma]. Tomorrow at 10 o'clock [Kyiv time] we will be holding a parliamentary session that will adopt the results of the referendum and a number of other organizational issues. I believe we will present a full program of actions within a day or two. All is clear for us. Now we need this thing to proceed quietly and nicely. We'll toast the whole thing tonight."
"All is proceeding wonderfully," Konstantinov told Rossiya 24. "The turnout is good. It is high -- people are even lining up [to vote]. Everything is in order. We, Crimeans, are cool people, we are disciplined. We'll make it right. I was voting for our future."
Aksyonov said: "Today, the agenda of the development of the autonomy [Crimea] is already being discussed with our Russian colleagues [from the State Duma]. Tomorrow at 10 o'clock [Kyiv time] we will be holding a parliamentary session that will adopt the results of the referendum and a number of other organizational issues. I believe we will present a full program of actions within a day or two. All is clear for us. Now we need this thing to proceed quietly and nicely. We'll toast the whole thing tonight."
14:49
16.3.2014
Found; rare vote against rejoining #Russia. Most people that are against rejoining stay at home. #Crimea #referendum pic.twitter.com/AFgcE1fOGS
— Just Hovens Greve (@JustHovensGreve) March 16, 2014
15:12
16.3.2014
Ukraine's Kanal 5 television reporting that several thousand pro-Russia activists held a march in Odessa and, "just like the rallies in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Luhansk," were issued ballot-like pamphlets asking such questions as: "Do you support the creation of Novorossiya out of the Odessa Mykolayiv and Kharkiv regions?"
Novorossiya, or New Russia, was the name of the area north of the Black Sea that was conquered by the Russian Empire in the late 1700s. The seaport town of Odessa was along the southwest tip of Novorossiya.
Novorossiya, or New Russia, was the name of the area north of the Black Sea that was conquered by the Russian Empire in the late 1700s. The seaport town of Odessa was along the southwest tip of Novorossiya.
15:25
16.3.2014
Hromadske TV tweets link to pro-Russia rally in Donetsk, where participants ask for their own referendum:
У Донецьку просійські активісти теж хочуть рефрендум http://t.co/Y3anxOiseg #Донецк
— Hromadske.TV (@HromadskeTV) March 16, 2014
15:41
16.3.2014
Just to recap: Pro-Russian protesters have attacked the regional prosecutor's office and security-service headquarters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. The roughly 2,000 protesters on hand demand the release of the self-declared governor, Pavel Gubarev, who was detained earlier this month on charges of calling for the overthrow of Ukraine's constitutional authorities. Some protesters broke into the building, while others tore down the Ukrainian flag. Donetsk is a former stronghold of ousted President Viktor Yanukovych.
15:45
16.3.2014
Interfax is quoting an unidentified source in the Russian Border Service as denying that the border with Ukraine has been closed.
"If there are problems, they are to be found on the Ukrainian side," the source said, reportedly in response to comments made by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov on March 16.
Avakov said, according to Reuters, that Ukrainian border guards and members of the National Guard had virtually sealed off parts of the eastern border with Russia to prevent people "with doubtful intentions" from coming in.
"Every day we are detaining hundreds of these people," he said, calling them "professional touring provocateurs from a neighbouring country."
Avakov also announced a call-up to man the newly-created National Guard, saying: "About 10,000 will be called up in the next 15 days." The guard is intended to be comprised of 20,000 personnel eventually.
"If there are problems, they are to be found on the Ukrainian side," the source said, reportedly in response to comments made by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov on March 16.
Avakov said, according to Reuters, that Ukrainian border guards and members of the National Guard had virtually sealed off parts of the eastern border with Russia to prevent people "with doubtful intentions" from coming in.
"Every day we are detaining hundreds of these people," he said, calling them "professional touring provocateurs from a neighbouring country."
Avakov also announced a call-up to man the newly-created National Guard, saying: "About 10,000 will be called up in the next 15 days." The guard is intended to be comprised of 20,000 personnel eventually.