“I am the legitimate president of Ukraine,” deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday at a news conference in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

The Guardian summarizes the latest developments in the embattled country:

Yanukovych said Western powers had “connived with the EuroMaidan forces” in Kiev and that the protesters had failed to honor an agreement forged by European envoys last week. He said he left the country because he had been shot at and he feared for his and his family’s safety.

Military troops in unmarked uniforms resembling Russian uniforms took over two airports in Crimea, Simferopol airport and a military facility at Sevastopol, overnight. Simferopol airport appeared to be operating as normal.

The new leaders of the Ukrainian government accused Russia of carrying out an “armed invasion.” Russia’s Black Sea fleet, based at Sevastopol, issued a statement both denying military action and saying “anti-terror units” had been deployed to protect the fleet and living quarters.

Read more here.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

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#conflict#protest#russia#ukraine#viktor yanukovych