Backed by armoured vehicles, gun fire and stun grenades Russian special forces smashed their way into Ukraine’s Crimea airbase on Saturday. <br /><br />One Ukrainian serviceman was reportedly injured in the take over at Belbek base near Sevastopol, while the base’s commander was also detained for talks. <br /><br />Footage showed Russian soldiers overwhelming the airport in what appeared to be a matter of minutes, herding their Ukrainian counterparts into one area of the base. <br /><br />Despite little resistance some onlookers, unable to accept the take over were wrestled to the ground and dragged away. <br /><br />The compound’s deputy commander said the Russians had surrounded the base giving them one hour to surrender. <br /><br />Home to some 29 Mig fighter jets, Belbek was one of the last military facilities in Crimea still under Ukrainian control following Russia’s annexation of the peninsula. <br /><br />Earlier on Saturday, several hundred unarmed protesters also took control of a Ukraine’s naval base in western Crimea as pro-Russian militia seized Ukrainian navy ships.
