Published in The Guardian (17th March, 2014) Almost before they had cleared up the vodka bottles in Lenin Square, scene of the party to celebrate Crimea’s reunification with […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
Exodus on eve of a referendum with only one answer
Published in The Mail on Sunday (16th March, 2014) Sweating in the spring sun, it took Sergei several trips to load all his bags and belongings on to […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
The shock troops sent to terrorise Putin’s opponents
Published in The Daily Mail (15th March, 2014) Stepping out of my hotel yesterday morning, I found a sinister new force patrolling the streets of Simferopol. These men wore […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
Crimean notebook: ‘They’ll have to break all my bones to make me a Russian citizen’
Published by The Spectator (13th March, 2014) Vladimir Putin still swears that there are no Russian troops in Crimea, so their mission is to say as little as […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
Clashes in Crimea as Ukrainian PM vows ‘this is our land’
Published in The Daily Mail (10th March, 2014)* Demonstrators loyal to Ukraine were attacked with whips, baseball bats and clubs in Sevastopol yesterday as the mood in Crimea […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
There is no moral equivalence between Moscow and Kiev
Published by The Independent (March 10th, 2014) Less than 100 yards from my hotel, the Russian flag flies over the Crimean parliament. Inside sit Russian soldiers, their faces […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
Inside the lair of ‘The Goblin’
Published by The Mail on Sunday (9th March, 2014) Shoved to the ground by a Russian stooge, I suffered nothing more than a cut knee. But as protesters […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
Tartars in fear of brutal Russians’ return
Published by The Daily Mail (4th March, 2014) At four o’clock in the morning Zodiye Saliyeva’s mother was ordered out of her home at gun point, along with […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
Standoff on frontline as ruthless Putin turns screw
Published in The Daily Mail (3rd March, 2014) In front of me, three young Ukrainian soldiers peered out nervously through the bars of the gate at their army […]
Europe / Russia / Ukraine
War of words over Putin’s aggression – but reality is Russia already controls Crimea
Published in The Mail on Sunday (2nd March, 2014) Ukraine put its armed forces on full alert and braced for an invasion on Saturday night after accusing Russia […]