Crimea, officially annexed by Russia, is experiencing turbulent times as Vladimir Putin puts his mark on all facets of life on the peninsula, writes Alissa de Carbonnel

Vladimir Putin has called US president Barack Obama to discuss a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine could regain some arms and equipment belonging to military units in Crimea that did not switch their loyalty to Russia.

Ukraine’s parliament sacked its besieged defence minister yesterday after his forces began a humiliating withdrawal from Crimea without firing a shot against Russian forces who claimed the Black Sea peninsula.

BNP Paribas, France’s largest bank, is cutting 1,600 jobs at its Ukrainian unit, or more than 20% of the workforce, as the country faces mounting unrest and a standoff with Russia.

Ukraine’s acting president has said the country’s troops stationed in Crimea are to be pulled out of the region after it was annexed by Russia.

Shots have been fired at a Ukrainian air force base in Crimea that has been blocked off by Russian forces.

President Vladimir Putin has signed bills making Crimea part of Russia, completing the annexation from Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin has formally notified the government and the parliament of Crimea’s request to join Russia hours before he is to speak on the topic.

What happens now to Ukrainian forces in Crimea is one of many unanswered questions, write Aleksandar Vasovic and Mike Collett-White.

Polls have closed in Crimea’s contentious referendum on seceding from Ukraine and seeking annexation by Russia.

The Crimean parliament has voted that the Black Sea peninsula will declare itself an independent state if its residents agree to split off from Ukraine and join Russia in a referendum.

Russia vowed yesterday to unveil its own solution to the Ukrainian crisis that would run counter to US efforts and would appear to leave room for Crimea to switch over to Kremlin rule.

Russian forces tightened their grip on Crimea yesterday despite a US warning to Moscow that annexing the southern Ukrainian region would close the door to diplomacy in a tense East-West standoff.

President Vladimir Putin has pulled his forces back from the Ukrainian border yet said Moscow reserves the right to use all means to protect Russians in Ukraine.

A tense standoff was in place in the Crimea crisis tonight as Russian forces continued to surround a Ukrainian army base.

Russia has questioned the authority of Ukraine’s acting government, with prime minister Dmitry Medvedev saying the country’s acting authorities have come to power as a result of an ’armed mutiny’.

Ukraine was plunged into new uncertainty after a deadly political standoff — as a top opposition figure assumed presidential powers.

A THAI boy has become the 70th Asian to die of bird flu, authorities said yesterday as reports warned a flu pandemic could cost the US economy hundreds of billions of dollars as well as millions of lives.

Ukraine has confirmed more bird flu cases in two additional villages in the Crimean region, officials said today.