I never have understood the process.
You have to love Putin he is a great chess player! this was his first move. Every good invasion need agitators to get the people in line.
Russia Ups the Ante in Crimea by Sending in the ‘Night Wolves’
The leader of Russia’s favored nationalist biker gang lands in Crimea amid rumors of a Russian takeover of this autonomous Ukrainian republic
Read more: Ukraine: Russia Ups the Ante in Crimea | TIME.com http://world.time.com/2014/02/28/crimea-russia-putin-night-wolves/#ixzz2ujsNtSt0
Unconfirmed:
UCRANIA - Reports that Russian troops have crossed Chonchar peninsula into Zaporizhya ie mainland #Ukraine http://tyzhden.ua/News/103674