Moscow's ambassador to the EU has welcomed what he called the "reunification" of Crimea with Russia but denied that the move was planned. Vladimir Chizhov told the BBC the move was the end of an "abnormality" which had lasted for 60 years. Russia formally annexed the Ukrainian region on Friday after a referendum. On Saturday Russian troops and pro-Russian protesters stormed two Ukrainian military airbases in Crimea, bringing them under Russian control.