Russian Troops Surround Two Military Bases in Crimea; Kerry Warns Russia Could be Expelled from G8

The New York Times reports Ukraine Forces Are Ill Equipped to Take Crimea Back From Russia Crimea has always been a vital base for the Soviet and then Russian Navy, serving as the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, which has controlled the waters off southern Russia since 1783. After a period of tension following Ukraine’s independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russia got to keep its base in Crimea on a lease, extended until at least 2042 by the now-ousted president, Viktor F. Yanukovych

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Russian Troops Surround Two Military Bases in Crimea; Kerry Warns Russia Could be Expelled from G8