(CNN) -- Yuriy Krocha's three children have a lot of questions about the situation in Ukraine. His youngest daughter, 8, pointed to a world map a couple of days ago and asked, "Papa, Russia is so big. Why does it need our small peninsula?" Krocha, 42, and his family live in Simferopol, the regional capital of Crimea, Ukraine. Soldiers without national insignias -- but whom everyone presumes to be Russian -- started showing up on Thursday, he said. That day, Krocha said he got a call from his children's school to take them, because teachers were afraid to let them go on their own, and they had to stay at home Friday. The downtown was blocked by police from Thursday until Sunday, Krocha said.
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A Crimean resident has observed gas, food price increases
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He said downtown Simferopol streets were closed Thursday to Sunday
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In Yalta, resident reports no sightings of troops
Ukraine
Ukraine
Russian forces have surrounded 10 Ukrainian military bases -- 16,000 troops in the past week, according to @placeholder officials.
Crimea
Crimean
Many ethnic Russians live in @placeholder, where support for Russia is strong.
Yuriy Krocha
Krocha
Krocha
Krocha
Meanwhile, @placeholder has noticed gas prices rise some 25% over the last 10 days, and many foods have become more expensive too.
Crimea
Crimean
"Here in @placeholder it's hard to identify your nationality," he said.
Simferopol
Simferopol
Krocha doesn't want to leave @placeholder, where he is a minister in a church.