Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Crimea on Friday to take part in Victory Day celebrations in Sevastopol, in what is his first visit to the disputed territory since Russia annexed it from Ukraine. The President arrived in the port of Sevastopol by sea, in an event televised by Russian state TV, and watched while flanked by senior officers as Russian warships took part in a naval display in the Black Sea. The military parades, held each year to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, come amid soaring tensions in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are planning a weekend referendum on autonomy.
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Health officials say at least seven people killed and 39 more injured in clashes in Mariupol
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Ukraine's acting interior minister says about 20 militants killed, 4 detained in Mariupol
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"We will overcome all the difficulties," says Russian President Vladimir Putin
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Putin watches as warships and military aircraft take part in displays in Sevastopol, Crimea
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Putin paid tribute to Sevastopol's long military record as he addressed servicemen in the harbor, and he said he was sure that 2014 would become known in history as the year Crimea's people decided to return to @placeholder and the memory of their ancestors.
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Mariupol has become a flashpoint in the standoff between @placeholder forces and the separatists.
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A large majority in Sevastopol, as well as across the @placeholder, voted in favor of seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia in a controversial referendum in March.
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Less than two months after @placeholder was wrested from Ukraine's grasp, there are fears that other parts of the country could go the same way.
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Less than two months after Crimea was wrested from @placeholder's grasp, there are fears that other parts of the country could go the same way.