Ukrainians now fear the worst for their country after the removal of President Yanukovych.

The people of Ukraine today face an uncertain future – with war looming and partition of the country looking increasingly feasible. Parliament’s recent vote to remove the Head of State has thrown the country into further chaos, leaving it more divided than ever.

The crisis in Ukraine, a vast country of 603,700 square kilometers and with a population of over 45 million, is between two main camps – those who insist on closer economic integration with the EU and others who want historical ties with Russia to be maintained.

Genesis Of Crisis

Protesters took to the streets in the capital, Kiev beginning in November 2013 when President Viktor Yanukovych rejected moves for closer integration with the European Union, EU, preferring a 15 Billion Dollar (about FCFA 7,129)  lending deal with neighbouring Russia. Though concessions were later made to the demonstrators, continuous street protests and the occupation of government buildings degenerated into violent clashes.

The skirmishes between riot police and demonstrators left at least 80 people dead. After months of mounting tensions, Parliament on February 22, 2014 deposed President Viktor Yanukovych.

Unfolding Conflict

Russia's Parliament over the weekend approved a request from President Vladimir Putin to deploy troops in Ukraine. Russia confirmed its deployment of thousands of troops in the Crimean autonomous region. This followed reports that armed, Russian-speaking forces wearing military uniforms without insignia, were patrolling infrastructure sites in the region. Meanwhile, leaders of the new Ukrainian government were yesterday, March 2, 2014, mobilising troops to counter the Russian deployment.

The new Prime Minister of Ukraine's Crimea region, Sergey Aksyonov, also asked President Putin for assistance to maintain peace. Already, pro-Russian protests were reported in the Ukrainian towns of Kharkiv, Donetsk and Odessa, with some leading to violent clashes. Russian soldiers are already based in Crimea as part of the country's Black Sea Fleet. These soldiers were spotted outside a Ukrainian border post in the Crimean town of Balaclava.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia have been strained since Viktor Yanukovych was ousted. Russia has said it will protect the rights of its "compatriots" in Crimea and act "strongly and uncompromisingly" if they are violated. Ukrainian Defence Minister, Igor Tenyukh, said his nation's military was at its highest state of readiness. On the other hand, ex-President President Viktor Yanukovych, who has taken refuge in Russia, insists that he is still the legitimate President of Ukraine.

Protagonists, Consequences Of Crisis 

Relations between Russia and the West have been strained by the conflict in Ukraine. The White House is said to be looking at possible economic and diplomatic measures to take against Russia. Already, the US has announced it will suspend participation in preparatory meetings for the G-8 Summit that will bring world leaders together in June 2014 in Sochi, Russia. While the EU and UK have also been mounting pressure on Russia, Moscow retains a wide margin of manoevre to bring the new leadership in Kiev to order, being Ukraine’s gas supplier.

Place Of Crimea, Threat Of Partition

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the wake of President Yanukovych's departure have been particularly evident in Crimea, Ukraine's only Russian-majority region. The region - a peninsula on Ukraine's Black Sea coast - has 2.3 million inhabitants, most of who identify themselves as ethnic Russians and speak Russian. The region voted heavily for Viktor Yanukovych in the 2010 presidential election, and many people there believe he is the victim of a coup.

Consequently, separatists have installed Sergey Aksyonov as new Prime Minister of Crimea. Aksyonov announced that a referendum on greater Crimean autonomy, originally set for May 25, 2014, would be moved to March 30, 2014.

Russia has been the dominant power in Crimea for most of the past 200 years, having annexed the region in 1783. However, it was transferred in 1954 by Moscow to Ukraine - then part of the Soviet Union. According to the 2001 census, ethnic Ukrainians made up 24 per cent of the population in Crimea, compared to 58 per cent Russians and 12 per cent Tatars.