Ukraine Officer Shot And Killed By Russian Forces In Crimea

Crimean Security Forces Fend off Attack on Military Facility. © RIA Novosti. Vasiliy Batanov

Russian Soldier Kills Ukraine Navy Officer In Crimea, Ukrainian Defence Ministry Says -- Globe and Mail/Reuters

A Russian soldier shot dead a Ukrainian naval officer in eastern Crimea, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said on Monday, the second Ukrainian death reported since Russia took control of the Black Sea peninsula.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the military’s largely bloodless takeover of Crimea after it voted in a referendum last month to join Russia but the death may boost the already high tension between Russia and Ukraine.

“The Russian marine killed the unarmed officer. He killed the major with two shots,” said Ukrainian navy spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov.

Kiev has blamed Russia for stoking tensions in mostly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian protesters have seized state security offices in Donetsk and Luhansk, including facilities where weapons are stored.

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Update #1: Russian Soldier Kills Ukraine Navy Officer In Crimea -- Euronews/Reuters
Update #2: Ukraine: Naval officer shot dead by Russian solider in Crimea -- The Independent

My Comment: Russia's media has a different spin on the death of this Ukrainian naval officer .... Crimean Security Forces Fend off Attack on Military Facility -- RIA Novosti