Wedding bells and threat of shells in Crimea: Two soldiers marry in bizarre ceremony at the last Ukrainian-occupied army base just before the Russians steam in and shoot at least two troops

  • Galina Volosyanchik and Ivan Benera married today in occupied Crimea
  • The two Ukrainian lieutenants then headed to surrounded Belbek airbase
  • Senior officers danced and raised cups of champagne to the pair
  • But hours later Russian troops had rammed down the gates
  • Shots and explosions from grenades were heard as they took over base
  • Ukrainian defence ministry says two of its soldiers were shot and wounded
  • Meanwhile a naval base harbouring Ukraine's only submarine surrendered

By Kieran Corcoran and Wills Robinson

PUBLISHED: 08:07 EST, 22 March 2014 | UPDATED: 19:43 EST, 22 March 2014


Two Ukrainian soldiers celebrated their wedding today in a doomed airbase just hours before it was violently stormed by Russian troops in armoured vehicles.

Lieutenants Galina Volosyanchik and Ivan Benera were pictured today at the Belbek base near the Crimean city of Sevastopol, as their comrades danced and raised cups of champagne in their honour.

But soon after gunfire and explosions could be heard as an armoured vehicle smashed through the gates of the military compound, heralding a struggle in which two officers were shot and wounded.

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Wedding: Galina Volosyanchik, left, and Ivan Benera, right, are welcomed to the surrounded Belbek airbase by senior officers

Wedding: Galina Volosyanchik, left, and Ivan Benera, right, are welcomed to the surrounded Belbek airbase by senior officers

Lieutenants Galina Volosyanchik, right, and Ivan Benera, left, walk away from the base after their union

Lieutenants Galina Volosyanchik, right, and Ivan Benera, left, walk away from the base after their union

Earlier in the day: Two members of the Ukrainian air force dance as they celebrate a comrade's wedding

Earlier in the day: Two members of the Ukrainian air force dance as they celebrate a comrade's wedding

One of the soldiers appeared to be drinking champagne as they celebrated the nuptials of medic Galina Volosyanchik and communication officer Ivan Benera

One of the soldiers appeared to be drinking champagne as they celebrated the nuptials of medic Galina Volosyanchik and communication officer Ivan Benera

Meanwhile the Novofedorovka naval base was also taken over, which saw Ukraine hand over its only submarine to the Russian military.

 

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Colonel Yuliy Mamchur, the commander of the base, said a Ukrainian serviceman had been injured and that he himself he was being taken away by the Russians for talks at an unspecified location.

Ukrainian defence ministry officials later confirmed to Fox News that a second man had been shot.

Earlier in the day, forces in the annexed Crimea region were in defiant mood, and had backed a
lorry against the entrance to stop advancing forces.

 

The forces seemed unconcerned by the Russian troops surrounding the base earlier as they celebrated the nuptials of their young comrades.

New bride, medic Galina Volosyanchik, could be seen holding a bouquet of flowers, and walked hand-in-hand through the compound with her husband Ivan Benera, a communications officer.

Just hours later the gates would be forced open by an armoured vehicles, as soldiers flooded in and demanded surrender.

There were scenes of panic and chaos as people did not know whether soldiers were shooting at others or just firing warning shots.

An ambulance was seen driving to the base, but was not admitted inside, so two paramedics were pictured running.

A short time later, the vehicle was seen driving away with what appeared to be a wounded person inside.

 

The armoured vehicle storms through the gates while troops smash through the walls in other parts of the compound

The armoured vehicle storms through the gates while troops smash through the walls in other parts of the compound

Soldiers in unmarked uniforms sit atop an armoured patrol vehicle at the gate of the Belbek base as troops prepare to storm the compound

Soldiers in unmarked uniforms sit atop an armoured patrol vehicle at the gate of the Belbek base as troops prepare to storm the compound

Members of pro-Russian self-defence units take cover behind cars outside the military base while Russian forces take it over

Members of pro-Russian self-defence units take cover behind cars outside the military base while Russian forces take it over

Stand off: A Russian military officer (back) talks to Colonel Yuli Mamchur (left) demanding Ukrainian servicemen to leave a military base in the Crimean town of Belbek near Sevastopol

Stand off: A Russian military officer (back) talks to Colonel Yuli Mamchur (left) demanding Ukrainian servicemen to leave a military base in the Crimean town of Belbek near Sevastopol

Prepared: Ukrainian servicemen guard the military base in the Crimean town as tensions in the region heighten

Prepared: Ukrainian servicemen guard the military base in the Crimean town as tensions in the region heighten

After the base was taken over, the Ukrainian men gathered, sang the national anthem, then stood at ease.

It is the first time Russia has launched a full on assault on a base in the Crimea and now means only one or two Ukrainian strongholds are left in the region.

Earlier Russian troops surrounded the compound and issued an ultimatum for their opponents to surrender.

Colonel Yuli Mamchur was seen talking with Russian opponents as the deadline set for them to leave the base lapsed. He has now been taken away by Russian forces for questioning.

Earlier this week Ukraine started to withdraw its troops from Crimea to the mainland amid fears Russia plans further military incursions into their territory after militiamen seized three Ukrainian ships.

Shots were fired and stun grenades as the Ukrainian corvette Khmelnitsky was seized in Sevastopol while another ship, the Lutsk, was also surrounded by pro-Russian forces.

Armed men, believed to be Russian servicemen, gather on a hill near the military base

Armed men, believed to be Russian servicemen, gather on a hill near the military base

Ukrainian servicemen were also seen disembarking a third ship, the Ternopil corvette. There were not thought to be any casualties, however.

The action came hours before European Union leaders agreed to widen the list of Russian officials subject to personal sanctions over the seizure of Crimea - while asking the European Commission to prepare for broader economic sanctions if the crisis escalates.

Troops at the base are not said to be heavily armed, but instead readied themselves with sticks and metal pipes.

The Russian takeover of the Black Sea peninsula has been largely bloodless, though one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and two others wounded in a shooting in Simferopol earlier this week.

Ukraine's Defence Ministry said on Friday Crimea's bases were still formally under Ukrainian control, but most are now occupied by Russian troops and fly Russia's tricolour flag.

Two weeks ago, it was reported that snipers were positioned in the area surrounding the Belbek base.

Troops are seen gathering in the top left of the picture outside the base with as an armoured vehicle blocks the road

Troops are seen gathering in the top left of the picture outside the base with as an armoured vehicle blocks the road

Final unit: The troops in Ukraine's last military base in the Crimea keep updated by watching a small television set

Final unit: The troops in Ukraine's last military base in the Crimea keep updated by watching a small television set

The troops in the base have been waiting for orders as thousands of other troops are withdrawn from the region as tensions with Russia heighten

The troops in the base have been waiting for orders as thousands of other troops are withdrawn from the region as tensions with Russia heighten

Yesterday ethnic Russians flooded the streets of Crimea as they celebrated the area's referendum to join with neighbouring Russia with fireworks and street parties.

Thousands revelled in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, where the population is around 58 per cent ethnic Russia.

Soldiers at the Belbek base looked distraught as they received the news of the Moscow bill - regarded as illegal by the international community.

Elsewhere more than 5,000 pro-Russia residents demonstrated in the eastern city of Donetsk demonstrated on Saturday in favor of holding a referendum on whether to seek to split off and become part of Russia. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there is no intention to move into eastern Ukraine, but the prospect of violence between pro- and anti-secession groups in the east could be used as a pretext for sending in troops.

Eastern Ukraine is the heartland of Ukraine's economically vital heavy industry and mining.

It's also the support base for Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian president who fled to Russia last month after three months of protests in the capital, Kiev, triggered by his decision not to sign an agreement with the European Union.

A Ukrainian soldier holds the picture of Sergey Kokurin, 35, during his funeral. He was shot in the Crimea last week

A Ukrainian soldier holds the picture of Sergey Kokurin, 35, during his funeral. He was shot in the Crimea last week

A soldier looks up standing between the coffins of Ukrainian soldier Sergey Kokurin, right, and Russian Cossack militiaman Ruslan Kazakov, 34, left, during the service in Simferopoll

A soldier looks up standing between the coffins of Ukrainian soldier Sergey Kokurin, right, and Russian Cossack militiaman Ruslan Kazakov, 34, left, during the service in Simferopoll

Devastated relatives of the dead Ukrainian soldier mourn next to his coffin

Devastated relatives of the dead Ukrainian soldier mourn next to his coffin

Russian Navy sailors prepare the surrendered Ukrainian submarine 'Zaporozhye' so it can be towed it from the former Ukrainian Navy base to the Russian Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol, Crimea

Russian Navy sailors prepare the surrendered Ukrainian submarine 'Zaporozhye' so it can be towed it from the former Ukrainian Navy base to the Russian Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol, Crimea

A sailor holds the Russian St Andrew flag on top of the submarine which was taken over

A sailor holds the Russian St Andrew flag on top of the submarine which was taken over

Military personnel board the vessel as a number of ships were taken over by Russian forces and handed over to the Black Sea Fleet

Military personnel board the vessel as a number of ships were taken over by Russian forces and handed over to the Black Sea Fleet

The Ukrainian state emblem is taken down from the side of the submarine

The Ukrainian state emblem is taken down from the side of the submarine

A military cap thrown by a Ukrainian submariner as a last farewell flies in the air

A military cap thrown by a Ukrainian submariner as a last farewell flies in the air



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Appears the Ukraine military is a bunch of whining lay-downs. Watch the "enemy" arriving on TV, give them your base, and throw your hats in the water as a "farewell" as the Russians sail away on your subs? Ukrainian military sounds like a real band of warriors. No wonder they being "overthrown." More like "pushed over." Pathetic. Just the sort of people Obama would support. A bunch of incompetent, unmotivated, do-nothings. Great.

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So sad.. wish we had a REAL president here so we could support the UKRAINE..but alas we have OBAMA.. enough said.. ANYONE have a campaign he can campaign for?????? or a vacation plan his WIFE can take?? that is ALL they are good for..

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Um, a small point, but this is Crimea, which is now part of Russia, due to a 97% popular vote. So how exactly does Russia invade Russia? Seems like a lot of people feel the need to talk without looking at the facts. The only reason all of this happened was due the west funding unrest in Ukraine, the rioters getting into power without a vote, and then them making anti-Russian laws, like banning Russian as an official language. Without these ham fisted cat's paws paid for by the US and EU, trying to do a Syria mk II, Putin would have done zero,

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The Ukraine is Christian aren't they? And Russia is ???/

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Putins actions remind me of someone suffering from the affects of an untreated , well known social disease ! This is beyond dangerous ground now .

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These are patriots and very brave men. It is a shame so many commenting here on DM would choose to roll over to an invading nation. What cowards we have become...

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Going back to the ouster of the Ukrainian President, if the USA is going to recognize the new government put in place by violent protests, are they indicating that it is ok for me and the millions who cannot stand Obama to march on Washington DC, throw Molotov cocktails and battle with police to demand his ouster? I'm sorry, but how can you recognize the new leader who is appointed by the mobs and not elected, and not come to this conclusion?

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TURKEY will handle this.

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TURKEY will handle this, they are our great Allie.

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Why are they even fighting in the first place ?

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