Ukraine’s government has authorized its troops to fire in self-defense after an officer was killed in an attack on a base in Crimea.  It’s the first such death since Russian forces took control of the peninsula in February.

“The conflict is shifting from a political to a military stage,” said Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, “Russian soldiers have started shooting at Ukrainian military servicemen and that is a war crime.”

Several others were injured and the Ukrainian commander was reportedly captured as Russians stormed the military facility in the Crimean capital.  With Russian forces in control of the peninsula, it’s difficult to get accurate details.  Crimean police claimed that Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces had been fired on, with one death on each side.  Pro-Russian Crimean officials claimed “fascist snipers” fired the first shots.

The shooting began three and-a-half hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin had claimed Crimea for his country, which was instantly rejected by Kiev, the US, and the EU.  Ukraine is now training thousands of people to join its National Guard, which is currently in no shape to take on Russia.