On Monday, they had been forced out, at gunpoint, by unmarked Russian forces, which have taken over most of Crimea. As they approached Belbak airbase, pro Russian militiamen fired into the air, in attempt to scare them off, but the unarmed Ukrainians did not run.
They tried negotiating with a Russian officer, but he would not allow them back onto their base, saying he needed permissions from his commanders. Unable to regain access to the airbase, the men eventually marched back to town, with plans to try again on Wednesday.
In Sevastopol, three Ukrainian ships spent the night harassed by Russian boats. The Russians blocked them from leaving the docks, shine lights at them, and blasted their horns. Ukrainian sailors lashed mattresses to their boats and readied water cannons to repel boarders.
Russian troops had warned of a deadline, Tuesday morning, by which time Ukrainian forces in Crimea were to surrender or be overwhelmed. However, that deadline came and went, leaving only the confrontations in it's wake.
Further complicating matters, former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych continued to call himself the only rightful leader of Ukraine. He asked for Russian troops to help him reclaim the country which was "taken from him in a coup".
Europe, the US, and other nations continue to demand that Russia withdraw from Crimea and end his threats to invade Ukraine. They are threatening Russia with economic sanctions and worsened diplomatic ties.
President Vladimir Putin denies that his troops are currently in Crimea. He states that all sixteen thousand of them are simply militias, despite their driving Russian equipment and being too well armed and equipped to militias. Putin says he is not planning an invasion, but only seeking to protect Russians who live in Ukraine.
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