A Russian soldier has shot dead a Ukrainian naval officer in eastern Crimea, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said 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 could 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 Lugansk, including facilities where weapons are stored.
The defense ministry spokesman said the soldier had been preparing his belongings to leave for the Ukrainian region of Mykolaiv on Wednesday when an argument broke out with Russian servicemen.
The officer, Stanislav Karachevsky, who was married and had two children, was killed with an AK-74 on the fifth floor of the dormitory where he lived, he said.
A defense ministry statement said another Ukrainian soldier had been beaten by Russian servicemen and detained, but gave few details.
The first reported death occurred in Simferopol when an unknown gunman shot and killed a Ukrainian serviceman while he was manning a tower overlooking a vehicle pool at the base.
A defense ministry statement said the attackers had been wearing Russian military uniforms and were holding the base commander in a nearby building.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
