we have mike viqueira and jennifer glasse standing by live. and we are awaiting word from president obama who will be speaking live in brussels, belgium. we'll be bright back. >>> welcome back to al jazeera america. i'm del walters in new york. this is continuing coverage of the president's trip to brussels, belgium and the european union. a our jennifer glasse is live in sevastopol, and this has not been a smooth transition. >> it hasn't been an entirely rough transition, but it has been so terribly fast, del. a week and a half ago people hadn't chosen, it was only independent one day before we saw russian forces start to take over base by base, and while basically it seems very much a done deal here, and a lot of people have gone about their daily lives with not much difference, but still there are a lot of changes that have to be made. igor kiselyov is looking for a buyer in so -- sevastopol. how much will it be? sadly, i can't put a price on it, because with the change between russia and ukraine the rules just aren't clear yet. and that co

we begin with jennifer glasse in crimea. and jennifer, i understand they were celebrating today as that treaty was signed between crimea and russia? >> that's right, del. they came out sunday. they voted in big numbers to head to russia. they have been happy about it. they were flying the russian flag. and despite international condemnation here, people are happy to be back with russia. in we sit here so cheerfully. i'm very pleased. we dreamt about this for so long. we were born in the ussr and that is why we are happy to go back home. >> most people here don't care what the rest of the world thinks. think think this did right a historical wrong, something president putin echoed. that speech will play well. not everyone -- we talked to little minority here. they are worried about what will happen next and what their place will be in a future russian crimea. and a worrying note coming from the crimean capital earlier this afternoon. we had somebody fired gunshots at the ukranian military base. wounding one officer, ukranian o

glk a al jazeera. >> al jazeera's jennifer glasse is with us now. what was that like? was very, very unexpected morning. we've been driving by this building for the past couple of weeks, it's been blockaded. we have been trying talk to the leaders inside, they wouldn't let us inside and then of course this just happened this morning, the people went in, the gates were totally open. we could wander around for quite a while. the russians wouldn't talk to us, the self-defense forces would talk to us. it's really an extraordinary time. so many things are happening. on sunday it was ukraine, on monday it was independent crimea. it's russian territory and the ukrainian forces have to leave. it is a very, very changeable time, very interesting time, you felt for those ukrainian forces a very humiliating day for them to be driven from their headquarters, many of them upset, taking things only from their offices, when we left the base there were still some men in there and also this evening the head of the ukrainian navy is still being held and questioned. kiev has demand he hi

we go back to jennifer glasse who is in sevastopol. jennifer, earlier, i was asking you with the polls closing in just a few short hours how are people feeling there? do they think they know which way this vote will swing? >> morgan, they do. here in sevastopol, the mood is jubila jubilant. music is every day music on the promena promenade. they are singing and dancing in the streets, flying the russian flag. there is no doubt the people here believe that the vote will head toward moscow today and they say they don't care what the international community does or thinks. when they found out i was american, they were saying yankee, go home. we don't want you here you know, don't interfere in our affairs. the crimea should be part of russia. the mood is very clear. they are very pro-russian. >> wow. so, if crimea then votes to join russia, what comes next? >> william, we understand that they will then declare independence. >> that's what the russian -- the parliament decided about a week ago. they will first declare independence and then t

jennifer glasse is in sevastopol in crimea. it is 8:00 in the evening. any words that the president said albeit it's aimed at many of those who once stood on the square in kiev, any sense that that message was carried in crimea? >> it will be on television here but everything is filtered through russian television, and even though the president refuted claims that people have made here, that kosovo is proof of what happened here, that is likely to fall on deaf ears. many people have said they don't care what the outside world thinks, they had a democratic vote, they stood by it, and president obama is talking about ideals, and saying that the answers--that there are no easy answers but no military solutions here, and promising russia more sanctions, nor pressure especially if they try to move into eastern ukraine, saying they will stay steadfast. the democratic ideals of europe hard won after world war ii should be held fast here. >> reminding the audiences of the sacrifices made during world war i and world war ii, and then reminding those gathered that

jennifer glasse has more from sevastopol >> reporter: with little fanfare, they raised a flag over the ship that was until yesterday ukrainian these are the ukrainian colors. she's sitting alongside of russian ships and a new berth in sevastopol. she used to sit next to the ukrainian command ship that still flies the ukrainian flag and is blocked in bring russian ships. the ucukian naval academy has also changed hands. there was fanfare here. an awkward flag raising ceremony where russian officers took it over. citing the last years of ukrainian control as part of the unbreakable glory here. he was one of the dozens of ukrainian officers thrown out of command wednesday. he says there's no military honor in russia's actions >> reporter: we have clearly seen in the past two weeks, you can't belief russia. putin says his troops are not here, i'm a military man, and i see perfectly these are military men. >> reporter: every deal that they have made, russia has broken, including the promise not to take the bait. >> interpreter: in my opinion, the ships should be sunk or blown up. it's a war

al jazeera's jennifer glasse joins us from simferopol. jen. >> taking ore ukrainian bases really walking on i spent most of the last two days, one base about a 20 minute drive from here on the road to yalta. the two commanders have spoken a couple of times but the ukrainian commander inside the base says he won't give up. we have seen russian forces just take over some other bases digging in at the base where i was they have a camp laid out, they have -- they've got tents already. they're in for the long haul here. we've seen troops working all over town and worries tonight that there may be a deadline from the forces for the ukrainians to surrender. the rumors have been flying around all day. tensions are high. certainly we haven't seen a shot fired but certainly it is a tense situation here with russian forces and ukrainian forces facing off just a few feet from each other on these bases. >> al jazeera's jennifer glasse, thanks so much. and the question of what to do next is being pondered here in washington. white house correspondent m

jennifer glasse, defense minister says there are operations what he calls radical forces in the works. what are you hearing? >> reporter: well, john, tonight in crimea, the air space is choafd closed. we see a lot of armed men around here in the last day. th started in the middle of the night last night taking over sevastopol airport which is a military airport, they look very well trained, no military insignia, no identifying marks on their vehicles either. military trucks moving on the roads of crimea, certainly from the capitol and sevastopol, that is the headquarters of russia's black sea neat. we can't identify -- fleet. whee can'we can't identify who , who they answer to or what they are doing here. the air space is now closed. we have had a movement of military vehicles on the roads and so a very worrying development here in crimea tonight. >> jennifer are they facing any push dk back on the grown? >> not at all. as a matter of fact when armed men came into the parliament, which is just on the street behind me a couple of nights ago the police put up no resistance whatsoever. t

jennifer glasse joining us now. 30 minutes outside of crimea.hank you for being was. >> the united nations security council held emergency sessions and diplomatic editor james bays was there. >> how concerned are you at the situation. >> very, deeply. we need deescalation. >> ambassadors arriving for the second crisis meeting of the security council in 24 hours. >> is your country invading crimea. the ruban ambassador -- russian ambassador not ang my question, but -- answering my question but aware he'd fas criticism. >> cameras were finally allowed to film the meeting, despite initial russian opposition. ukraine's ambassador appealed to the international community. >> we call upon the security council to do everything possible to stop aggression by ukraine. there's a chance. >> early this morning the russian duma acted to authorise the use of force in ukraine. this is dangerous and destabilising. this is deeply disturbed. >> of russian military intervention into crimea. this is without legal basis. >> russia's ambassador presented a different v

. >>> we turn now to jennifer glass we have seen forces built up over the last several days. i think things are more over vert. a lot of movement in the middle of the night. coming in and taking over the parliament building. that was overnight wednesday night and then two nights ago troops coming in to the airport here at a commercial airport. all of those troops were in military uniform but had no identifying insignia. whether they were an army or worked for moscow or from somebody here. nobody knew who they were, but they're very well trained with military-grade weapons. i think we see things more overt and more clearly. they're manned by militias, crimeaens who are worried about what is happening here. they try to keep forces or activists coming in from kiev, pro opposition for activists coming in from kiev. whether the russian also reinforce those or keep the airports closed, we're not sure. >> you mentioned how worried the crimeaens are, but how worried is the interim government in kiev right now? >> reporter: very concerned. as soon as this passed in moscow, in kiev the

we go from london to jennifer glasse in the crimean section of ukraine.ou were listening to the news conference as well. it now appears that the vote in crimea is going to take place and will take place with russian support. >> that's right, del, i don't think there was any real doubt of that here on the ground. i don't think anyone here in crimea, certainly the russian officials, cared what was going on in london. they have been very clear that this was going to go ahead. the pro-russian prime minister appointed just a couple of weeks ago held a press conference just before the lavrov press conference, talking about what will happen after the referendum is over. a lot of the concerns here are worries that ukraine might turn off some of the utilities that come in here from crimea proper, and he says they have a plan for that. interestingly he said on monday after this referendum, all of the military bases here that are under ukrainian control will become crimean, and all of the sailors there will have to obviously trade their allegiances or -- or leave cr

jennifer glasse is in the region that will decide on sunday to beak away from ukraine.ou heard the secretary of state. your reaction. >> del, no matter what secretary kerry says here, the officials have made it very clear, they plan to have this referendum on sunday. they have the new crimea prime minister appointed just a few weeks ago, talking about what is going to happen after the referendum. they believe it is already complete. crimea has a majority ethnic russian population. the russian flags are flying over many state buildings here. people in the streets are flying the russian flags. and there are posters around the city calling on people to come home. many people here believe this is going to correct a mistake made 60 years ago when crimea was given to ukraine. and all of secretary kerry's talk about annexation, the crimean officials think that that has all gone away. earlier this week they passed a referendum here that says -- they passed a resolution that says after the referendum, if the people vote to become independent, then crimea will declare independenc

. >> jennifer glasse has been on the story since day 1. what does that mean for ukrainian military still in uniform still part of ukraine? >> reporter: del, that is really the big question here. tonight, we still have all of those ukrainian sailors on ships in sevastopol, and across crimea barricaded in with russian troops in many cases sitting right outside the gates of the base. we heard from the deputy speaker of the plairm today calling on those troops, he says ukrainian troops either have to sign on with crimeans or have to return to ukraine. who owns the ships becomes a tricky prospect, who owns the items in the bases, all of these men with all of these weapons that nobody starts shooting, that there isn't inc. aer, there -- anger, we don't know how and when it's going to be resolved, del. >> and jennifer, what if anything have we heard from lawmakers concerning sunday's referendum? >> reporter: well, we've heard nothing so far. here in crimea the legislature has made no mistake that they wanted to get something done quickly. both th

jennifer glasse, this order to withdraw is it essentially ukraine surrendering to russia? >> you know, we don't think it is ukraine surrendering to russia. ukraine has been steadfast that crimea remains part of ukraine. the troops here whose live were in danger and whose families are harassed. to get those sailors and their families out of crimea an into the peninsula. aa lot of those sailors were living on bases or boats that they have been thrown out of or in naval housing here. some of the families that i have spoken to are concerned. we have diplomatic movement for the first time, moscow talking to kiev, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov in the hague right now, we don't know what will come of that meeting but very clear he would demand that russian troops would leave crimea and hope to get crimea back, hopes to get international backing for that. very, very interesting meeting. the first diplomatic meeting between moscow and the current government in kiev. >> massing along eastern border what is ukraine saying about this? >> reporter: very concerned about that. ab

jennifer glasse joins us from sevastopol, at an army base. >> this happened a little over two hours ago. the base was surrounded and overrun. the ukrainian naval officers have been barricaded for two weeks. they are leaving one by one. the crowd is applauding, not in a supporting way, but a jeering way, some saying go home, go the train station. one officer, they searched his bag. there are negotiations going on in the last hour or so. one of the buildings was stormed by a civilian. there's a mixture, some armed, russian troops and men in uniforms. there are ukrainian military offices milling around the base, one told me they were asking for order. i saw one man walking out of a building with his belongings, including pictures of naval ships. >> that's jennifer glasse joining us from that naval base in sevastopol. let's go to our correspondent in the crimean capital. nick spicer is standing by. reports of an arrest for the killing of a ukrainian officer yesterday. what more can you tell us about that? >> well, there are lots of reports. there are a lot of rumours that has not been confi

jennifer glass, phil ittner is in kiev, and daniel lewis is in london, but we begin with jennifer, inderstand people celebrating as that treaty was being signed making it efficiently part of russia. >> that's right. people here are very happy that this is all moving so quickly. crimea declared independence. today they were in moscow sitting next to russian president and signing that deal. they couldn't be happier, they feel it right as historical wrong that was made 60 years ago by then soviet leader, then it didn't make any difference, this is all the soviet union, and even though there are western objections despite what the west thinks crimeas here are very happy to be coming back to russia. >> we sit here so cheerily, i am very pleased. we dreamted about this for so long, we were born in the u.s.s.r., and that's why we are happy to go back home. >> and many people here now are waiting to see when they can get their passports. a lot of administrative things moving forward, people we have spoken to, certain her here are very very pro russian city, very happy about this development

jennifer glasse from sevastopol. >> igor spent eight months renovating his apartment. how much will it be? sadly right now i can't really put a price on it, he says, because of the change between russia and ukraine, he says, the rules just aren't clear yet. and that could mean a difference of $25,000 or more on his asking price which is around $200,000. real estate agent said the changes mean all she can do right now is to look for properties to sell and then wait for things to become clear. >> we still don't know what the russian rules are yet, sadly, but i think we will know soon. she doesn't even know what interest rates will be. her firm is selling dozens of apartments all over the city. now it's just a waiting game. russia wasted no time in taking control of crimea. on the streets of sevastopol signs say we're one russia. >> reporter: it does not feel like much has changed since crimea has come under russian control. people have gone on with their daily lives but much work needs to be done for the change to become complete. people ask about pension, properties and

. >>> and jennifer glasse is live right now in the port. hoda mentioning the russian strong hold.ive us an update on what is happening here the port today. >> reporter: well, del, russian ships outside the harbors continue to blockade all of the ukrainian ships here. they control the harbor behind me, and the days that are home to the russian and ukrainian black sea fleet. this is a naval town but has been home to both the russian and black sea fleets. they were divided in 1998, 80% of the fleet went to russian and 20% went to ukraine. they live together here, the officers work together here, there is one base that is still a joint base here, so this divide is very, very deep for many of the people here. it is pitting neighbor against neighbor, one woman told her husband is go ing to have to leave because this is going to become part of russia and because he is ukrainian and won't switch sides and they will have to leave. >> jennifer any indication that the russian presence is going to decrease? >> reporter: no, del, the russians are dug in very deep. they are blockading every mil

as jennifer glasse reports, ukraine's interim government is telling forces to get out of the region. >> ukraine's acting president gave the order for the ukrainian military to leave the crimean peninsula along with their family. they said the order is because lives were in danger, and the families of ukrainian sailors and soldiers had been threatened and they estimate there's 25,000 military personal and families and ethnic ukrainians that want to be evacuated from the crimean peninsula, and it comes as many military personal have been pushed off ships or bases. a marine base was overrun by russian forces. they fired in the air, they used flash grenades and some ukrainian forces were injured. a naval ship in sevastopol, the last flying the ukrainian flag, that was taken by the weekend by russian forces, and the belbek air base. the russians - a few small bases left. they are flying the flag over 100 more bases. they make their control over the crimean peninsula complete. >> jennifer glasse reporting from sevastopol. >> nearly two years after upholding president obama's affordable car

jennifer glasse joins us now from kiev. for weeks iraq has been putting boots on the ground, but--for weeks russia has been putting boots on the grounds on the russian border. have they offered an explanation for the troops? >> reporter: no, they have not offered an explanation for the troops. the american fears say that the troops could not appear to be on a spring exercise. lavrov also said they had no intention of invading ukraine, they will also continue to protect the interests of russian speak necessary ukraine. nobody notes what that means, and president obama an in discussion with president putin said he warned of rampage in the east of ukraine as in kiev. russia is saying they will protect interests. we don't know what that means. they have got thousands of troops amassed along the eastern border and what is an effective black saiblockade on ukraine's t borders and there are russian troops placed there and russian speakers there as well. president putin expressing his concerns to president obama. president obama sa

phil ittner is in kiev, jennifer glass is in crimea, and we begin with mike viqueira at the white house. the tough new sanctions announced just moments ago. bring us up-to-date. >> reporter: the other shoe dropped, the president announced he was authorizing sanctions against certain russian individuals who were instrumental with vladimir putin and cohorts have done. in crimea's vote to join russia. u.s. announcinthey didn't name . they said these sanctions were going to be impose first degree russia stayed on the course that it was on. they're obviously on that course and today the hammer comes down on four russians and three ukrainians, including those individuals who purport to be leaders, russian leaders. in very short notice after signing the executive order, here's more of what he had to say. >> there is still a path to resolve this situation diplomatically in a way that addresses interests of both russia and ukraine. that clues russia pulling its forces in crimea back to its bases. engaging in dialogue with the ukrainian government. >> reporter: so the president stressing internat

. >>> jennifer glasse is live right now, and hoda mentioning the russian strong hold there, so give usn update of what is happening there near the port. >> reporter: well, those standoffs continue. i was just looking at the black sea fleet in one of the bases. there are still russian ships sitting next to ukrainian ships, but there are russian ships across the bay just like they are -- one of the main ships is behind me, preventing anything from moving in or out of the bay. and also on land. we were at the base for all of the senior officers of the ukrainian navy. no one allowed in or out of there as well. they are wanted to hold a press conference, the russians wouldn't let them in or out. ukrainian forces are stuck in their bases, refusing to give up. russians right outside, in some cases with guns positioned, overlooking the bases themselves. but the ukrainians say they keep their allegiance to ukraine. they are hoping they are not forced to defending themselves, but one ukrainian officer i spoke to said look if the russians try to come in, of course we'll be forced to fight. >> is

jennifer glasse, al jazeera, sevastopol, crimea. >>> in washington state it is now day five of the crewearching that mountain of debris left behind from the oso mud slide. no new survivors have been found, but one of those pulled from the mud, 4-year-old jacob spillers. this video was released just today. meanwhile as you can see, the official death toll starting to climb. it stands at 16 now, but that number is expected to rise. at it other bodies have been found. abby what are crews up against today? >> reporter: up against a lot, del, and frankly the biggest one is time. they are running out of time in order to find anyone that is still live, but also the elements which first caused this slide in the first place. we're seeing heavy rain and wind against. there is just a small rural road that leads into this search area, that is now again completely covered in mud and ice as well, which of course is making is it very difficult for the 200-plus crew members that are on the ground as we speak searching, also the search area itself already full of mud. >> abby now day five how are the re

as jennifer glasse reports, the move could further divide that region. >> the campaigning is sponsored by russian supported organizations. the poster is saying no to n.a.t.o., explaining why it's clear russia is the only choice in the referendum as to whether crimea should breakaway. >> translation: all know how we will answer the question, where they'll go and why. we don't want to stay in ukraine, or with the government. we wouldn't survive. what they offer us is not life or existence, it's worse. >> this woman hands out newspapers to convince voters to choose the session. she says there's disinformation on ukrainian television. . >> the tv says russians are occupiers, but they really are protectors. because of the russians, if they weren't here, the enemies would be here suppressing it. >> the majority of residents are ethnic russians, expecting to vote to rejoin russia. >> officials say although they have not had time to prepare, they'll be ready for the election. if crimeans choose to become part of russia, the first thing that will happen is crimea will declare independence. then

jennifer glasse reports now. >> the abandoned building across from the navy base are abandoned again.esterday the russians were here. they are overlooking the bay. >> where are they? >> maybe they are just tired, i don't know. >> lieutenant commander yessen says he has no idea what the russians are up to, maybe they'll be back. he doesn't blame the men on the ground. >> they just follow orders. i understand them. i don't feel that this is enemy for me. >> as they have done in some places across crimea the russians left in the middle of the night leaving garbage in their wake. the ukrainian flag is flying on the base across the streets and the russians left their positions here. they left behind medicine and ration packs made in moscow. some russian troops were down the road, as elusive as ever. >> where are you from? where is your commander? >> no answer. >> even as some of the russian ground forces disappeared, on the sea a more aggressive stance. helicopters circled the bay. ukraine's top naval commanders were trapped in their headquarters for a fifth day. the majority were ethnic r

jennifer glass is live. give us the situation there right now. >> reporter: del, russian forces do have a firm grip on bases, on the navy, across the crimeaen peninsula. we saw on sunday russian forces taking over another border guard post. they have the navy blockaded here in the harbor as well as they have forces positioned outside of bases all over the peninsula. so in many cases the ukrain ukrs have not given up the bases. they refuse to take down their flag, give up arms and surrender. but outside are russian forces. effectively they can't do anything with the bases. they can't come out. they can't defend. the ships are strand in the harbor here. the russian government saying that they're here to protect the people of the russian ethnic people of crimea, and right now the russian military occupation is pretty complete across crimea. >> that is the russian position but there were more turn warnings from western leaders to russian president vladimir putin, including from german chancchancellor merkel. >>

. >>> we go now to jennifer glass who is live. jennifer who is happening now with the navy?the towns people there think the navel leader is, in fact, a traitor? >> reporter: no, i think the people here don't think he's a traitor. kiev thinks he's a traitor. but he made a very, very public statement the head of the navy here declaring hayes allegiances here is what he had to say. okay so he says basically that he is declared his allegiance to the prime minister of crimea. the prime minister just recently appointed in the last couple of days is a pro russian and he took over command of the armed forces and the police here just about a day and a half ago and he said anybody who wasn't going to support him should resign. we have not heard that the head of the navy now pledge is his allegiance to crimea. that's a big blow to the government in kiev that want to kuipe the country united part that have is keeping its armed forces together. >> what about the standoff outside the bates you have been there since this gannon folding early this morning is there any indication that russia

jennifer glasse is in sevastopol. which start in simferepol, with nick schifrin.hat is the mood there today? >> we are seeing the russian stranglehold getting tighter militarily across the penninesual la. you can't go to a ukrainian military base without it being occupied or surrounded by russian troops. you can't go to a government building across the peninsula without it, also, being surrounded or occupied by government troops - sorry, russian troops. on the political side a lot of people believe the vote is preor daned. there's a lot of intimidation who is pro-ukrainian, leading to a lot of boycotts of the referendum by anyone who opposes joining russia. there are pro-russians out in force, getting the out to vote efforts. they are the only ones pushing for a referendum. it seems the vote will overwhelmingly go russia. >> you talk about intimidation. what have you seen in the cities and the hotels that the journalists use? >> in a word, the hotel, moscow, which is fall of journalists was occupied by pro-russian militia and activists, it's hard to describe who t

our correspondent jennifer glasse is in sevastopol. jennifer glasse, how are ukrainian forces happening all this? >> that's right, richelle, everything has moved at such a fast pace this week, in the last 36 hours or so we have seen russian forces really consolidate their forces here, moving out of their bases and out of their boats and over the last 24 hours no one has been under more pressure than the ukrainian navy. >> a ship that wasn't until yesterday ukrainian. this is the chernobyl, she is now sitting among other ships in sevastopol. the ukrainian navy has also changed hands. a flag raising ceremony where russian soldiers took it over by decree of the russian president. thereto not much glory for departing ukrainian navy. the united states has described what's happening to crimea right now as a land grab. what's happening to the ukrainian navy could be the credit credit sea grab. the slivutich still flying the ukrainian flag. a passing citizen says it's not good that's the last ukrainian ship in the bay. the takeover is complete

jennifer glasse is in the crimean capital where the russian forces are. >> reporter: the crimean presidentor help and he's getting it. here it crimea, at least, it's welcome news to many. jubilation in the crimean capital the russians are coming. as moscow endorsed the use of force, ethnic russians too being to streets like her sport being the russian flag. >> translator: they are our protectors, there will be no military crashes just here to guarantee our safety. >> reporter: we kneeing the statue of vladimir lennon, russian and soviet military flags, the bonds are close here. crimea was part of russia until 1954. the only ukrainian autonomous republic has a new pro russian mime pinster who moved quickly to take control. >> i have decided to temporarily take command of all national forces, the interior ministry, the armed forces, the navy, tax and border control, all commanders should take orders from me only. those who disagree, please resign. >> reporter: that scares crimea's minority population many of their san antonio cesc tourses were deported by stalin. >> it's the in i wa first ti

jennifer glasse has been following the developments. putin says they won't go to war, but 16,000 pro-russian troops are occupying the region. are russians continuing to gain ground? >> reporter: morgan, good afternoon from sevastopol. you'll hear music behind me in a couple of minutes. you wouldn't know this is an occupied peninsula, but it is. the 16,000 troops that came here are in addition to the 15,000 usually here of the black sea fleet. they took another coast guard base today. though are very lightly guarded bases with troops that are not combat-trained. we went to another base that fell last week that the russians simply took from the ukrainians, and the ukrainians knowing they couldn't fight them left the base and boats behind and took what boats and ships they could to odessa, another port. the standoff continues across the crimean peninsula. russian troops have virtually every ukrainian naval base and ground military base surrounded or blockaded. the military ships here in artillery bay, there's a russian ship behind me keepi

jennifer glasse in sevastopol has more. jennifer, has anything changed on the ground where you are? >> reporter: well, tony, the lights are still on. the water is still running. so far it doesn't look like any big changes have happened. utilities are one of the things that ukraines still control over crimea, 90% of the gas, a lot of water, and electricity here. that doesn't seem to have changed. as far as we can tell crimean authorities have the commander of ukrainian naval forces in custody. russia flexing it's muscles again this morning at a place that wasn't until today the headquarters of the ukrainian navy here. >> reporter: ukrainian sailors leaving their base. go home, say the people, this is russia. headquarters that was ukrainian this morning now belongs to moscow. civilians started the change tearing down the gate and the flag and inside anything associated with ukraine. >> we had to go in, i'm told, we were afraid they were going to give out guns and god for bid someone was going to start shooting. but they haven't done anything, i say to him. thank god they didn't, he sa

jennifer glasse joins us right now. putin says russia and ukraine won't go to war, but 16,000 pro-russian troops occupy the region. is russia gaining ground? >> reporter: yeah, russia actually already has most of the ground, morgan. we saw it surround another base today. that's a border base. very lightly armed men in there. they retreated inside the base. this is the 11th base that russia has taken across the crimean peninsula. they have the navy blockaded in artillery bay behind me as well as all of the bays around this very, very strategic naval peninsula home to the russian and ukrainian black sea fleets. hundreds of ukrainian sailors are trapped. the russians call on them to surrender or change sides, and the ukrainians refusing to back down. the standoff continues athe this intense time. putin is telling the german chancellor that the referendum, that what's happening here is according to international law, of course. kiev is not recognizing that. the united states is not recognizing that. very little diplomatic t

jennifer glasse is live in the capital of crimea now.lier this morning you witnessed a pretty tense stands off have things calmed down at all since then? >> reporter: well, as darkness falls here, morgan in crimea, at that base about a 20-minute drive from here things were getting a little bit settled the two commanders had spoken to each other. the ukrainian commandser and russian commander had agreed to stand down their alert stat to us calm things down, they agreed the ukrainian had an armored vehicle with a gun pointed straight at -- straightforward. they asked to make the turan it's go a little bit hire so it wasn't pointed directly at them to calm things down, but the base is still surrounded by those russian forces. the russians were beding in for the night. they came in 100 trucks, they were building tents, things were quiet but the ukrainians standing guard say they won't give up their arms or the armored vehicles the russian said they wanted to come in and secure that base. but the ukrainian officers saying they won't do that.

jennifer glasse is following the developments in ukraine. vladimir putin says russian ukraine won't go to war at all, but 16,000 pro-russian troops occupy the region in the west. is russia gaining ground? >> reporter: morgan, they are gaining ground. they surrounded another base today. that's a border point, a border base there. basically the coast guard. these are lightly armed very lightly trained folks. the ukrainians retreated inside the base. this is the 11th base they have taken control over since they arrived seven days ago. they've surrounded and blockaded ukrainian forces on the bases and ships at sea. basically the ukrainian military can do virtually nothing here in crimea. russian forces very much in control of anything that's going on. we've seen russian forces moving around the bases, and they're supported by these local self-defense forces. it's those that really, i think, people believe are the most dangerous that are really the flash point. so far the forces have been quite disciplined. a shot has been fired. a lot of ukraini

jennifer glasse, al jazeera. ukraine. >> everybody is watch to go see what will happen on sunday and what will happen here in crimea after the vote. >> jennifer, there are reports of clashes in a town outside of crimea. maybe it's outside of sevastopol. what do you know about that? and is there a concern that the russian army presence could actually spread beyond crimea? >> reporter: it is a real concern. we heard that there is a clash between protesters and donets, appear city on the eastern part of ukraine. russian forces are massed on the border of ukraine ne. near there, there is a more than 1,000 mile border there. a lot of concern this is the next place this conflict could spread and already warning signs from the international community to russia that they shouldn't head into eastern ukraine. crimea is as far as they should go. >> jennifer glasse for us in sevastopol. thank you. >>> russia has seized on the uncertainty in crimea stoking people's fears of a takeover by right-wing extremists. phil itner joins

jennifer glasse glass, crimea. >>> middle of crimea has been turned into an absolute ghost town. there is literally no one on the streets here. there are no sounds at all. the only thing you hear is a few stray dogs walking down the street. it is a real sense that this capitol is absolutely occupied by the russian military. not only here around parliament, the only people you see are russian soldiers. clusters of soldiers. as we walked off our plane this evening they are not really tense, they don't really approach anyone, they are just off in the distance but very much in charge. senior russian officials are saying there are some 6,000 heavily armed russian soldiers on the crimean peninsula, they are very much in control in the u.s.'s words of the entire peninsula. and you get a real sense that power has shifted already here. the head of the navy, admiral, very embarrassing of the new government in kiev, has essentially defected pledging his allegiance to not kiev but to russia. >> i swear allegiance to the residents of the autonomous residents of crimea, the capitol of sevastop

. >> we turn to jennifer glasse >> reporter: despite that claim from the crimean prime min sister, a pro-russian prime minister appointed last week, ukrainian forces are surrendering. at the basis where i have seen ukrainian officers made clear that they remain loyal to ukraine >> reporter: a russian show of force in ukrainian waters, this is the bay where the blockade of ukraine's fleet is meant to pressure sailors to switch sides to pledge allegiance to crimea. the crew of the donbass has refused. on board are about 120 ukrainian soldiers. one is bedim. his wife prays for husband safety at the gates of his naval base. she is worried the stand-off will turn into a war. at least she can talk to him on the phone. but others are calling the sailors, too, with threats. >> translator: they said you had better sign the agreement, she says. we know where your family lives. we know your children's school. i asked her who is calling. she says she doesn't know. they don't identify themselves. another sailor's wife, olga shows me photos of her husband. she is surprised by the hostility here >>

we begin with jennifer glasse, where the show of force from russia is underway. >> jennifer is there evidence of an increased russian presence? >> there is. we have reports overnight 80 miles east of here, not far from the russian border, 300 troops - their vehicles had russian licence plates on them, taking over a small marine base there. that is, again, 80 miles east of here. this is the crimen capital. this is the first evidence, photos that there are russian troops. behind me is the ukrainian parliament. armed men have taken over it. they are outside at the two airports here and in sevastapol. there are armed men, wearing military uniforms with no insignia. when we asked who they were working for, they wouldn't answer and there are no marks on them or vehicles they were in. concern that russian forces have taken over a small base and another base in the east and are getting near another ukrainian base in the west. really, developments here, escalating. on the saturday afternoon, it's quiet. we had a demonstration an hour ago that people wondering the streets, it is peaceful. >> y

planning military ca exercises with, jennifer glasse is there. ennifer. >> john, a difficult day for ukraine's military. they have been blockaded with their ships. they thought their commanders had a truce negotiated at least unless friday but the that changes here in simferopol. today the headquarters of the ukrainian navy here. ukrainian sailors leaving their base. go home, say the people, this is now russia. this base now belongs to moscow. prorussian soldiers tearing down everything associated with ukraine. we had to go in, we were afraid they were going to give out guns and god fosht someon forbid ande would start shooting. they were given an order to shoot. ukrainian forces were given permission to fire in self-defense after a a ukrainian officer, be told him they just ran out of patience. >> they came and said it's over, putin has declared this russian territory and that's it. go away. i say we shouldn't do it like this, like civilized people, the way the military were be withdrawn from afghanistan, for example. >> reporter: russian soldier

jennifer glasse is in sevastopol for us. we're past that 3:00 p.m. deadline. is there any movement to end the so-called provocations? >> well, tony, good evening here from sevastopol that, deadline pasted an hour ago, and we haven't heard anything. we haven't seen any actions by ukrainian government at this point as far as we know everybody still remains in detention at this hour. things have moved so quickly here tony. yesterday president vladimir putin made clear that crimea would be part of russia. ukrainian forces thought there was a truce in place until friday, but early this morning clearly that was not the case. what was until today headquarters of ukrainian navy here. >> reporter: ukrainian sailors leaving their base. go home, say the people. this is now russia. this naval headquarters that was ukrainian this morning belongs to moscow. pro russian arms started the charge tearing down the gate and taking down the ukrainian flag and taking down anything associated with the ukraine. >> we had to go in. we were afraid they were going to give out guns and g

jennifer glasse joining us now live from sevastopol. jennifer it dawned on me there is somewhat of a difference in the way the world views events, partially because the world doesn't see a lot of what is happening right now. in sevastopol right now, how many news outlets are there that they can monitor what is happening, and are they free? >> russia moved very quickly to shut down most of the ukrainian outlets and most international outlets you can only get those on satellite. so everything that will be seen here -- most everything that will be sheeeen here, unless yo have the money to have a satellite channel, will come through that russian filter. and what we have heard about sanctions, they say we don't care, we welcome them. we're under russia's wing now, and we'll stand alone. people feel very strongly about what they did. they think the united states is acting in a double standard. they point towards kosovo as an example. president obama saying no one in the world would take the referendum seriously. they took a vote here, and tues

jennifer glasse is in sevastopol which has just declared itself part of russia. jennifer, major news here, a city switching nationalities. here. >> not just any city, this city is home to russia's black sea fleet and ukraine's black sea fleet. those two navies are at a standoff. russian war ships are blockading the bay, the sevastopol city council made this surprise declaration this evening. it cited a number of haws and covenants that -- laws and covenants that try to make it legal. the ukrainian law and constitution on local governance, i think trying to ward off any questions about the legality of this. we heard president obama say today, the legality of the referendum isn't legal, against the constitution and isn't recognizable. things moving very fast here, the same day the crimean parliament voted to move up the referendum on secession to march 16th and also declaring itself part of russia. so crimea trying to make facts happen by default if you will and once that referendum happens on march 16th if the crimeans volt to be part of russia it is going to be ve

jennifer glasse reporting from sevastopol. thank you for being with us. >> russia's military occupation of crimea has politicians in washington paying close attention. president obama has spent some of his r&r on the phones discussing a diplomatic solution. let's bring in randall pinkston in washington for us. secretary of state john kerry had tough talk for russia saying the door to diplomacy could close. how serious is that threat? >> it's a serious matter. the department spokesman revealed the talk on instructions from secretary of state john kerry. here is what is happening. the u.s. is concerned about moscow's military build up in crimea, taking over the peninsula. and are concerned about russia's support and backing for the referendum, on whether crimea should breakaway and return to russia, the state department says john kerry had several talks with russia's foreign minister sergei lavrov, and yesterday's telephone conversation in which john kerry told sergei lavrov that unless russia pulls back the military forces. of

that's where we find jennifer glasse.he pro-russian sentiment has been vocal and at times violent. does that make ukrainian supporters afraid to speak out? >> you know, it has made pro-ukrainians scared to make preferences known. you wouldn't unfurl the ukrainian flag on the streets of sevastopol, without getting into trouble. there was a demonstration last weekend breaking into violence. it's a pro-russian city. it's been a majority, not least of all because you have the sailors and families of the russian black sea flilt. the ukrainian black sea fleet is based here. it's 20% the size of the black sea fleet. their families are here. wives of sailors were getting threatening foal counsel, 10, 12 address ago when the russian forces came in blockading the fleet and bases. there's a feeling that the minorities across crimea, the minority muslim tat tar population picking up 30". be will boycott the vote. >> fill over in kiev mentioned anxiety that people were feeling. i understand the vote has people in crimea worried about

jennifer glasse reports from crimea. >> while we we're filming, local volunteer demanded to know who we were and what we were doing. go home, one of his neighbors told me. protecting the people here, and it took a while for him to talk to us. he is looking forward to the referendum. >> we are making our own choice on the 16th of this month and we want to be heard. we live here, we are not the enemy and we are not trying to dictate anything to anyone. >> reporter: they are glad the troops are here because they hate the new government in kiev. >> remember when the fascists calmer to power? -- came to power? the same thing is happening in ukraine, they don't like it. >> this village is an old soviet collective. the russian flag flies here and he's sure russia will treat them better than ukraine did. >> they were always cheating us and had different corrupt ways to steal and tear up our land. >> he said corruption has been worse in recent years. he describes a crooked court system that rules for whoever is in power. they are hoping that moscow will soon be the ruling power because they a

we turn now to jennifer glass. it's just a matter of days before that vote, before crimea votes an whether it will split from ukraine, lawmakers want to create an out to know mouse independent state. >> alongside with that announcement to the crimean parliament made, a resolution it passed saying that if people vote on sunday, the crimean people choose to become part of russia, that the first thing the crimean parliament is going to do is declare independence. the second thing it's going to do is request from russia to become part of the russian republic. this is just a two step move to try to remove any legal challenges to the move to also try to soften claims by the united states and european union and the ukrainian authorities in kiev that russia is trying to annex crimea. they're trying to say this is the choice of the crimea people, so independence first and they chokos voluntary as an example. it is a legality. along with that, just as they passed that, if they pass a second resolution trying to appeal to the

new sanctions against russia, we have a team of reporters cooing the crisis but we begin with jennifer glass, she joining us live now, and jennifer, western leaders taking a very hard line against russia. >> that's right. president obama says as clear plan he would like to see international on servers here on the ground that won't be easy here right after president obama spoke, we heard from john kerry he had very harsh words for russia. >> we cannot allow russia or any country to defy international law with impunity. there's no place in the community of nations for the kind of aggression, and steps that we have seen taken in crimea and ukraine in these last days. 40 russian ships are blocking other bays that are home to ukraine and the fleet. ukrainian ships basically blockaded in their own port, and in britain prime minister warned russia it shouldn't go any further. >> if russia doesn't rapidly engage in direct force with the ukrainian government to find a solution, we have been clear in the statement today, that we will go further. including travel bands and asset freezes. >> and so the

jennifer glasse talks to people for and against the election in sevastopol. but first the south of the nation where nick schifrin joins us live. what is the next step for crimea now? >> everyone here is not looking west, but east. you get a lot of criticism for international and domestic monitors critical of the referendum. they have a long list of irreg u latteries, and they say it was conducted do hastily. they have a voter role that was not accurate. they have militia allies, guns on the street and it boils down two questions - join russia now or later. for the majority, none of that mattered. tonight was the first chance they had to decide their own destiny. >> for the majority of crime jans, march 16th will be known as independence day. the day they voted to separate from a ukraine they never wanted to be a part of. the day they voted to join a russia they still call the mother land. >> i'm happy to be in russia. it's my choice, my voice today. i'm lucky to be in russia. >> they celebrated a lop-sided vote europe has hosted. for 12 hours, one after anoth