The situation in Crimea has sparked protests and rallies on the ground and across Eastern Europe. Like the sentiments within Ukraine, support is split and the situation is not quite as black and white as it first appears.
Here are photos from around Ukraine, Eastern Europe and Russia that show just how divided opinions are in the region. First we see pro-Russian support in Crimea, ranging from "self-defence units" to pro-Russian DJ spinning to a crowd outside a Crimean regional government headquarter. Pro-Russian support is high in Crimea, where a majority of residents are Russian speakers and identify as Russian. Many welcome Russian troops.
We also see the aftermath of clashes between pro-Russian and pro-West supporters in Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine.
Pro-European supporters again rally in Kiev's Independence Square to show support for the rest of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. We also see a anti-violence protester being taken away by Russian police in Moscow, where a smaller contingent of protesters are urging Putin and Moscow to avoid the use of force.
Lastly we see Polish protesters outside the Russian embassy in Warsaw, clearly criticizing Russia's recent aggression.
All photos courtesy of Reuters.
Members of Crimean self-defence units stand guard in front of the local government headquarters in Simferopol March 2, 2014. Ukraine mobilised for war on Sunday and Washington threatened to isolate Russia economically, after President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour, creating Moscow's biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War.REUTERS/Thomas PeterPeople react as cars with Russian and Crimean flags pass by in Simferopol March 2, 2014. Ukraine mobilised for war on Sunday and Washington threatened to isolate Russia economically, after President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour, creating Moscow's biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War. Russian forces have already bloodlessly seized Crimea - an isolated Black Sea peninsula where Moscow has a naval base. On Sunday they surrounded several small Ukrainian military outposts there and demanded the Ukrainian troops disarm. Some refused, leading to standoffs, although no shots were fired. REUTERS/Vasily FedosenkoPeople march during a procession in central Moscow, March 2, 2014. People gathered on Sunday to support the people of Crimea and Ukraine, including Russian speakers, and to protest against the policies conducted by Ukraine's new authorities recently elected in Kiev, according to organisers. REUTERS/Sergei KarpukhinOrthodox monks pray next to armed servicemen near Russian army vehicles outside a Ukrainian border guard post in the Crimean town of Balaclava March 1, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putinsecured his parliament's authority on Saturday to invade Ukraine after troops seized control of the Crimea peninsula and pro-Moscow demonstrators hoisted flags above government buildings in two eastern cities. REUTERS/Baz RatnerPro-Russian protesters with Russian flags take part in a rally in central Donetsk March 1, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the upper house of parliament to approve sending armed forces to Ukraine's Crimea region, the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday. The Crimea region has a majority ethnic Russian population. The banner reads, "In Russia, we have brothers, In Europe, we are slaves". REUTERS/StringerA pro-Russian man (not seen) holds a Russian flag behind an armed servicemen on top of a Russian army vehicle outside a Ukrainian border guard post in the Crimean town of Balaclava March 1, 2014. Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of sending thousands of extra troops to Crimea and placed its military in the area on high alert as the Black Sea peninsula appeared to slip beyond Kiev's control.REUTERS/Baz RatnerA pro-Russian DJ in traditional clothing looks at her computer during a rally outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol February 27, 2014. Armed men seized the regional government headquarters and parliament on Ukraine's Crimea peninsula on Thursday and raised the Russian flag in a challenge to the country's new rulers. REUTERS/Baz RatnerPro-Russian protesters drag a wounded man during clashes with supporters of Ukraine's new government in central Kharkiv March 1, 2014. Pro-Russia activists clashed with supporters of the new Ukrainian government in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday and tried to seize the regional governor's headquarters, Interfax news agency said. REUTERS/StringerWounded supporters of Ukraine's new government sit on the ground, in an area protected by the police, after clashes with pro-Russian protesters in central Kharkiv March 1, 2014. Pro-Russia activists clashed with supporters of the new Ukrainian government in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Saturday and tried to seize the regional governor's headquarters, Interfax news agency said. REUTERS/StringerPeople attend a rally at Independence Square in Kiev March 2, 2014. Ukraine mobilised for war on Sunday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade, creating the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.REUTERS/Konstantin GrishinInterior Ministry members detain a protester during a rally near the Russian Defence Ministry headquarters in Moscow, March 2, 2014. People gathered on Sunday to protest against the possible military incursions of the Russian army onto the territory of Ukraine, according to the organizers. REUTERS/Sergei KarpukhinREUTERS/Sergei KarpukhinDemonstrators take part in a rally for Ukraine in front of the Russian embassy in Warsaw March 2, 2014. Ukraine mobilised for war on Sunday and Washington threatened to isolate Russia economically, after President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour, creating Moscow's biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War. REUTERS/Przemyk Wierzchowski/Agencja Gazeta
