Ukraine’s Crimea Seeks To Become Independent State

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The Crimean parliament has voted that the Black Sea peninsula will declare itself an independent state if its residents vote to split off from Ukraine and join Russia in a referendum on Sunday.

Today, Crimea's regional legislature adopted a "declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea."

The document specified that Crimea will become an independent state if its residents vote in favor of joining Russia in the referendum.

Western nations have said they will not recognize the vote as legitimate.

Ukraine's acting president is calling for the formation of a national guard and for the mobilization of reserves and volunteers into the country's armed forces to counter Russian military moves.

Oleksandr Turchynov is asking the national parliament to approve the decision.

Russian forces have strengthened their control over Ukraine's Crimea region in the run-up to a referendum set for Sunday on whether Crimean citizens want to split off and become part of Russia.