Russian forces storm houses of ethnic Tatars in Crimea

By Talha Yavuz

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - Russian security forces stormed houses of Tatar residents in Crimea, nabbing at least five people early on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian officials.

"Russian occupiers continue with their suppression and prosecution policies in Crimea," said Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova, confirming the raids.

Russian forces entered the Crimean Peninsula on February 2014, with President Vladimir Putin formally dividing the region into two separate federal subjects of the Russian Federation the following month.

Turkey and the US, as well as the UN General Assembly, view the annexation as illegal.

Separately, a Ukrainian soldier was killed in the eastern Donbas region, according to an announcement by the country's military.

Pro-Russia separatists in the region have violated the cease-fire with the government at least five times, the statement noted.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists in Donbas has seen more than 13,000 people killed since 2014, according to the UN.

* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara