Tuesday 18 March 2014,the conflict in Crimea resulted in its first victims.

Ukrainian Warrant Officer Kakurin S.V. was killed during the assault of the 13th Photogrammetric Center of the Central Directorate of Operations Support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Simferopol) by Russian troops in uniform without insignia and armed by automatic gun and sniper rifle,

During this assault, Capt. Fedun V.A was wounded; another Ukrainian serviceman was seriously injured.

Unit Commander Col. Andriy Andryushyn was taken hostage during the negotiations and is kept in a separate room.

Before this incident Ukrainian servicemen deployed in Crimea were not allowed to use arms.

Also, on 18 March 2014 the first civilian victim of the conflict was buried. Reshat Ametov was found dead with signs of torture.  The political activist, father, and member of the Muslim Crimean Tatar community was last seen being led away by pro-Russian “self-defense forces” during a protest against the Russian occupation. The Crimean Tatar community has opposed the cessation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The 300 thousand-strong ethnic minority (15% of the Crimea population) boycotted the cessation “referendum” on Sunday 17 March 2014.