Ukrainian Crisis.!π
Russia tries to take over Crimea
Ukrain crisis.!π
How it all started.!
What is happening in Crimea.?
Crimea Annexation
Despite objections from the Ukrainian government, United Nations, European nations and the United States; Russia engineered a Crimean independence referendum {join or die} that easily passed.
As Washington and European Union imposed sanctions, Moscow and Crimea took legislative steps the complete the annexation.
Russia Sends Troops.
Timeline.
Feb 27: Pro-Kremlin armed men seize government buildings in Crimea. Ukraine government vows to prevent a country break-up as Crimean parliament set May 25 as the date for referendum on regionβs status. Yanukovich is granted refuge in Russia.
Feb 28: Armed men in unmarked combat fatigues seize Simferopol international airport and a military airfield in Sevestopol. The Ukrainian government accuses Russia of aggression. UN Security Council holds an emergency closed-door session to discuss the situation in Crimea. The US warns Russia of militarily intervening in Ukraine.
Moscow says military movements in Crimea are in line with previous agreements to protect its fleet position in the Black Sea. Yanukovich makes his first public appearance, in southern Russia.
March 1: As situation worsens in Crimea, local leaders ask for Russian President Vladimir Putin's help. Russian upper house of the parliament approves a request by Putin to use military power in Ukraine.
March 2: A convoy of hundreds of Russian troops heads towards the regional capital of Ukraine's Crimea region, a day after Russia's forces takes over the strategic Black Sea peninsula without firing a shot. Arseny Yatsenyuk, Ukraine's new prime minister, says his country is on the "brink of disaster" and accuses Russia of declaring war on his country.
March 3: NATO says Moscow is threatening peace and security in Europe - claims Russia says will not help stabilise the situation. Russia's Black Sea Fleet tells Ukrainian navy in Sevastopol in Crimea to surrender or face a military assault.
March 4: In his first public reaction to the crisis in Ukraine, Putin says his country reserves the right to use all means to protect its citizens in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces fire warning shots on unarmed Ukrainian soldiers marching towards an airbase in Sevastopol.
March 5: US Secretary of State John Kerry seeks to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers. However, Sergey Lavrov refuses to talk to his Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Deshchytsia. Meanwhile, NATO announces a full review of its cooperation with Russia. OSCE sends 35 unarmed military personnel to Ukraine for "providing an objective assessment of facts on the ground."
March 6: US announces visa restrictions on Russians and Ukraine's Crimeans who it says are "threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine". Meanwhile, Crimea's parliament votes unanimously in favour of joining Russia. Hours later, the city council of Sevastopol in Crimea announces joining Russia immediately.
March 7: Ukraine offers talks with Russia over Crimea, but on the condition that the Kremlin withdraw troops from the autonomous republic. Meanwhile, top Russian politicians meet Crimea's delegation with standing ovation and express their support for the region's aspirations of joining Russia.
March 8: Warning shots are fired to prevent an unarmed international military observer mission from entering Crimea. Russian forces become increasingly aggressive towards Ukrainian troops trapped in bases.
March 9: Yatsenyuk vows Ukraine would not give "an inch" of its territory to Russia during a rally celebrating 200 years since the birth of national hero and poet Taras Shevchenko as rival rallies in Sevastopol lead to violence.
March 10: NATO announces it will start reconnaissance flights over Poland and Romania to monitor the situation in neighbouring Ukraine where Russian forces have taken control of Crimea.
March 11: The EU proposes a package of trade liberalisation measures to support Ukraine's economy. Crimean regional parliament adopts a "declaration of independence".
March 12: Obama meets with Yatsenyuk at the White House in a show of support for the new Ukrainian government and declares the US would "completely reject" the Crimea referendum.
March 13: German Chancellor Angela Merkel warns Moscow of potentially "massive" long-term economic and political damage. Ukraine mobilises a volunteer "Home Guard". Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Czhemilev calls for a referendum boycott and NATO intervention to avert a "massacre".
March 14: Diplomatic efforts before the referendum fails in London, where Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US counterpart John Kerry amid threats of sanctions against Russia if it annexes Crimea.
March 15: UN Security Council members vote overwhelmingly in support of a draft resolution condemning an upcoming referendum on the future of Crimea as illegal. Russia vetoed the action and China abstained. It comes as a report claims Russian troops had landed on a strip of land in the southeast between Crimea and the mainland.
March 16: Partial results from Crimea's referendum show 95 percent of voters support union with Russia, according to Russian state news agency RIA.
March 17: The US and Europe put asset freezes and visa bans on individuals involved in the Crimean breakaway. Putin approves a decree recognising Crimea as an independent state. Local assembly chief says Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea must switch sides or leave.
March 18: Putin signs treaty absorbing Crimea into Russia, the first time the Kremlin expands the country's borders since World War II. Kiev says the conflict has reached a "military stage" after a Ukrainian soldier was shot and killed by gunmen who stormed a military base in Simferopol. Crimea's pro-Kremlin police department says a member of the local self-defence forces was also killed in the same incident.
March 19: Pro-Russian activists, apparently Crimean self-defence forces, overtake Sevastopol base without using violence.
March 20: EU leaders condemn Russia's annexation of Crimea. EU and US extend the list of individuals targeted for sanctions.
March 21: Russia backs off from tit-for-tat sanctions after US targets Putin's inner circle and EU adds 12 names to sanctions list. Ukraine says it will never accept loss of Crimea while Moscow signs a bill to formally annex the peninsula.
March 22: Soldiers take control of Ukrainian air base in Belbek, as Novofedorovka naval base is seized by pro-Russian activists. Crimea celebrates joining Russia.
March 23: About 189 military sites in Crimea are now under the control of Russian troops. Obama calls an emergency G7 meeting, excluding Russia, to be held as an off-shoot to Monday's G8 nuclear security summit.
March 24: Leaders of the Group of Seven nations, meeting without Russia, agreed to hold their own summit this year instead of attending a planned G8 meeting, due to have taken place June 4-5, in Sochi, along the Black Sea coast from Crimea, and to suspend their participation in the G8 until Russia changes course. They warn Moscow it faces damaging economic sanctions if President Putin takes further action to destabilise Ukraine following the seizure of Crimea.
March 25: Oleksandr Turchynov, Ukraine's acting president, orders troops to withdraw from Crimea after Russia seized and annexed the peninsula. Turchynov told legislators that both servicemen and their families would now be relocated to the mainland.
March 26: Russia's military chief of staff says that the Russian flag was flying at all 193 military installations in Crimea following takeover of Ukrainian bases and ships by Russian troops.
March 27: International Monetary Fund announces $14-$18bn rescue for Ukraine as part of a broader package released by other governments and agencies amounting to $27bn over the next two years. Meanwhile, UN General Assembly approves resolution declaring Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimea illegal.
March 28: Ukraine's deposed president, Viktor Yanukovich, calls for each of the country's regions to hold a referendum on its status "within Ukraine". Meanwhile, US sources say Russia's buildup near Ukraine may reach 40,000 troops.
March 29: Ukraine's presidential race begins with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and billionaire confectionary tycoon Petro Poroshenko registaring as hopefuls. Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko pulls out of the race, giving his backing to Poroshenko and urging Tymoshenko to do the same.
March 30: Ukraine holds a memorial service on the 40th day of killings of 103 Ukrainian activists at Kiev's Independence Square. Later on the day, US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov for Ukraine talks.
March 31: Russian troops party withdraw from Ukrainian border in the south region of Rostov in Russia, following talks between Russia's foreign minister and his US counterpart. Meanwhile, Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visits Crimea promising funds and payrises