Crimea's airports invaded, parliament calls referendum on expanding the region's autonomy

FXStreet (Łódź) - Crimea's regional parliament dismissed the local government on Friday and announced that a referendum would be held on the peninsula's future on May 25, the same day for which early presidential elections are scheduled in Ukraine. Crimeans would be asked whether the region should remain a part of Ukraine or should it rather be granted greater independence.

Earlier on Friday morning the Simferopol International Airport in the capital of Crimea had been overtaken by unidentified armed men with Russian flags, while the Sevastopol Airport has been blockaded by Russian troops.

The gunmen were not hostile and explained to airport officials that they were looking for Ukrainian air forces. Currently the airport operates normally.