Ukraine

Crimea officially becomes part of Russian Federation

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill making Crimea and Sevastopol officially a part of the Russian Federation.

Earlier on Friday, Ukraine signed the political part of the association agreement with the EU.

Ukraine, EU sign political part of agreement

BRUSSELS -- Representatives of the Ukrainian provisional government on Friday in Brussels signed the association agreement with the European Union.

The agreement was signed by on behalf of Ukraine by acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, officials said.

Ukraine and the EU signed on Friday the political chapter of the Association Agreement.

The event took place at a ceremony attended by European Council and European Commission Presidents, as well as by heads of state and government of all EU members, Ukrainian newspaper KyivPost has reported.

Ukraine to lose offshore gas fields in Black Sea

KIEV -- With the loss of Crimea, Ukraine has lost not only its naval bases in the territory, but also offshore gas fields in the Black Sea, reports said on Thursday.

These fields will now likely be taken over by Russia's oil and has giant Gazprom, AFP is reporting.

Russia has unofficially closed its borders for Ukrainian goods, reports the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN. 

As of midnight on Wednesday all trucks carrying Ukrainian goods are turned away at the border checkpoints with Russia. 

Southeast Europe, Turkey criticise Russian moves in Ukraine

The annexation of Crimea has many worried about Russian ambition in Eastern Europe.

A woman walks past Russian soldiers patrolling outside the navy headquarters in Simferopol on Tuesday (March 18th). [AFP]

Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell said on Wednesday it has ended talks with Ukraine and US group ExxonMobil on extracting natural gas in the Black Sea off the coast of crisis-hit Crimea.

Pro-Russian activists detained Wednesday Ukraine's Navy Chief Serhiy Hayduk, short after taking control of the navy's HQ.

Russian website Lenta.ru, citing Kriminform news agency, explains that Hayduk had ordered "the use of weapons against civilians".

Ukraine's army has not confirmed that he issued such an instruction.

Tensions increased between Russia and Ukraine after reports of an incident at a naval base in Crimea's capital Simferopol.

Ukraine's military has announced that an officer has been killed in an attack on the base, Interfax news agency has informed. Other news sources suggest he was wounded in the neck.

Crimean forces occupy naval base in Sevastopol

SEVASTOPOL -- Crimean units for self-defense have occupied a Ukrainian naval base in Sevastopol on the Black Sea, reported the AP.