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Ukrainian Navy chief charged with treason after defecting

Ukraine will try the head of the navy for treason, after he surrendered his headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

Denis Berezovsky was shown on Russian television swearing allegiance to the pro-Russian regional leaders of Crimea.

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  1. James Mates

Head of the Ukraine's Navy in Crimea switches sides

Given the speed with which the Russians moved into and took over Crimea on Friday morning, the whole country is on invasion watch. If there are not any further incursions outside Crimea, within this peninsula they are most definitely consolidating their control.

Several bases have been effectively besieged. Credit: Google Maps

What we saw at Perevalne was just one example of what's happened at several Ukrainian military bases, where they are being surrounded - besieged effectively - asked to surrender, sometimes surrendering, and having to give up their arms.

Tonight, the worst blow of all for the Ukrainians, was the head of the Navy here in Balaklava, which is close to the Russian Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol, has switched sides.

He has abandoned Kiev, and he has sworn allegiance to the local regime.

They could probably never have fought the Russian's in the Black Sea fleet anyway. But this represents a significant loss of men and material to a country which may be on the brink of war.

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