The chances of war breaking out between Russia and Ukraine are increasing due to the unpredictability of Vladimir Putin, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia.
"We do not know what is on the mind of Russian President Vladimir Putin and what his decisions will be. The situation is more explosive than it was a week ago," said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Ukrinform reported.
Deščicja said that this is the current situation, despite the fact that the international community is trying to stop Russia through diplomatic measures and sanctions.
He pointed out that Ukrainians are ready to defend their country in the event of a Russian invasion of the continental part of Ukraine.
"At this moment, if Russian troops invaded the eastern region, it would be difficult for us to ask the people living there not to respond to such a military invasion," Deščića said.
In the eastern region of Ukraine, the population is predominantly Russian.
Last week, Russia annexed Crimea to its territory after a referendum in which the inhabitants of that peninsula declared in favor of secession and joining Russia, despite the opposition of the EU and the USA.
Ukraine withdraws troops
Today, Ukraine decided to withdraw its troops from Crimea, announced the Acting President of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov. "The National Defense and Security Council ordered the Ministry of Defense to withdraw its military units located in Crimea," Turinov said at a meeting with heads of parliamentary groups.
Today's decision represents a change in the attitude of the Ukrainian authorities, who previously gave their armed forces permission to fire in order to defend the bases in Crimea.
Shoigu in Crimea
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is in Crimea today, which is the first visit by a Russian official since the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula to Russia, according to Russian media. Russian forces have taken control of virtually all Ukrainian bases in Crimea in recent days without a fight, the French press agency reminds.
As reported by the RIA Novosti agency, Shoigu spoke with former members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who expressed their desire to continue military service in the Russian army, and promised them that they would enjoy all the social rights as Russian soldiers and that they would be able to serve in all military districts.
Shoigu also asked Russian military officials to make an inventory of their available weapons in Ukrainian units. The minister, who has already spoken with representatives of the authorities in Crimea, will visit the Russian fleet in Sevastopol during the day.
The Russians have taken over another base
Russian troops today took control of another Ukrainian military base in Crimea, using stun bombs and tying the hands of Ukrainian soldiers, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
Russian soldiers attacked the naval base in Feodosia, in the west of Crimea, in the early hours of the morning using armored personnel carriers and shock bombs, wrote the spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for Crimea, Vladislav Seleznyov, AFP reported.
Electricity supply in Crimea has been completely restored today in all settlements, the office of the Crimean Ministry of Emergency Situations announced.
"As of five in the morning, electricity supply in Crimean settlements has been completely restored, critical infrastructure facilities are working normally," the ministry said, Ukrainian agency Ukrinform reported.
Several areas of Crimea were previously without electricity, after which the First Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea Rustam Temirgaliev stated that Ukraine had reduced the electricity supply to the peninsula by 50 percent.
The electricity also went out in the capital Simferopol, the central Karl Marx Street was in complete darkness, and people used batteries and mobile phone screens to light the way, AFP reported.
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