This morning, before Sunday's referendum, the Crimean Parliament declared independence from Ukraine with 78 votes in favor out of 81. The situation remains tense.
The authorities of the Russian-speaking Crimea intend to nationalize the ships of the Ukrainian fleet stationed in Sevastopol. «The Ukrainian fleet in Sevastopol will be fully nationalized. We do not intend to let Ukrainian ships leave Sevastopol», announced the local premier Serghiei Aksionov, not recognized and wanted by Kiev. "We have barred the exit - he added - also to the Cernomor Neftegas civil fleet", which includes tankers and ships for the maritime exploration of gas and oil fields in the Black Sea. This was reported by Itar-Tass.
Meanwhile, after his escape from Kiev two weeks ago, the deposed president Viktor Yanukovych is speaking again. He reiterated that he is still "the legitimate president of Ukraine and the head of the Armed Forces" and said he was certain that the soldiers "will not obey criminal orders". Yanukovych also added that the Ukrainian presidential elections scheduled for May 25 are "absolutely illegitimate and illegal".
