He’s the Secretary General of NATO, and he’s not the only one who’s concerned.
Early Thursday reports from the Crimea region of Ukraine described an attack on the parliament from a group of about 30 armed men who took control of the building. The Guardian reports:
The men occupying the parliament building in the regional capital, Simferopol, early on Thursday did not come out to voice any demands. They wore black and orange ribbons, a Russian symbol of the victory in World War II. The men also put up a sign saying “Crimea is Russia.”
They threw a flash grenade in response to a journalist’s questions. Phone calls to region’s legislature rang unanswered, and its website was down.
Crimea is a strategically important, beautiful peninsula located in the Black Sea at the southern tip of Ukraine. In recent days since the ouster of Viktor Yanukovych, pro-Russian and opposition groups have clashed over whether to split away from the pro-Western country.
http://instagram.com/p/k6M0tfN-08/
Flag swap:Russian flag flying from roof of #Crimea parliament morning after clashes Simferopol pic.twitter.com/qKQ5aahv2P #putine c @syriano100
— chantalrebelle (@chantalrebelle) February 27, 2014
Parliament of Crimea today pic.twitter.com/YQIwW92VyU
— Julia Smirnova (@JO_Smirnova) February 27, 2014
Crimea could get really messy — especially with Putin’s troop movements, Tatars, nationalist sentiment, and god-knows-what-else.
— Ilya Mouzykantskii (@ilyamuz) February 27, 2014
mass rally of crimean tatars in Simferopol, Crimea now – for the unity of #Ukraine #euromaidan
— Olexander Severyn (@O_Severyn) February 26, 2014
In deafening chants Tatars are screaming "Crimea is not Russia", Russians answer w/ "Crimea is Russia".#Simferopol pic.twitter.com/gpsbRgqXJ2
— Maksym Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) February 26, 2014
Crimean Tatars & Russians facing off now outside #Simferopol parliament #Crimea pic.twitter.com/AGO7TyHfIN
— Courtney Weaver (@courtney_ft) February 26, 2014
MORE: Russian flag raised over Crimea parliament building http://t.co/61ClrQe5jp #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/nS2ULnn7JH
— RT (@RT_com) February 27, 2014
Center of #Simferopol closed to traffic as police widen security perimeter around parliament and govt buildings. pic.twitter.com/W4r5dmgyxW
— Douglas Herbert (@dougf24) February 27, 2014
Police guarding newly built barricades in front of #Crimea parliament in #Simferopol morning after clashes. pic.twitter.com/FQNwDKWACG
— Douglas Herbert (@dougf24) February 27, 2014
30 gunmen shot at Crimea parliament doors, broke in, neutralized security(Interfax). In front of building #antimaidan pic.twitter.com/s6e0VO9uXc
— Just Hovens Greve (@JustHovensGreve) February 27, 2014
#Simferopol The #russia'n flag is flying high and proud over #Crimea'n parliament http://t.co/vKTzOStVSd via @wmk2u Urraaa!!!!
— Steiner (@Steiner1776) February 27, 2014
#Ukraine: no official reaction from the #Kremlin yet about the seizure of #Crimea's parliament by armed men hoisting the Russian flag #putin
— East of Brussels (@EastOfBrussels) February 27, 2014
"The men put up a sign saying 'Crimea is Russia.' They threw a flash grenade in response to a journalist's questions" http://t.co/g1MmPkOhgi
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) February 27, 2014
DEVELOPING: Gunmen that seized govt bldgs tell Crimea PM they’re not authorized to make demands http://t.co/WCopaobW6B #Ukraine
— RT (@RT_com) February 27, 2014
holy crap.. that means SOMEONE is TELLING them they're not authorized….
— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) February 27, 2014
“@MoscowTimes: Chechen Leader Kadyrov Offers to Send Troops, Peacekeepers to Ukraine http://t.co/zQXpWmwB4D #news”
Chechen peacekeepers?
— Roger Boyes (@rogerboyes) February 27, 2014
#Crimea Prime Minister Holds Negotiations With Armed Men Who Seized Government Buildings http://t.co/0j1smmc1vU
— 2kdei ? (@2kdei) February 27, 2014
well thats not cool. MT @Reservofficer1: Naval War College chairman confirms Russian forces have entered sovereign Ukrainian territory
— ¡El Sooopèrr! ن c137 (@SooperMexican) February 27, 2014
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
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