As Crimea Celebrates a Crucial Vote, Uncertainty Fills the Streets

SIMFEROPOL, Crimea — Women shouted to each other from the train station in Simferopol, Crimea, on Monday morning. "Happy holiday!" they cheered. Around town, cars with Russian flags flying out their windows solicited honks and enthusiastic waves from the crowd

In a referendum on Sunday, Crimea voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and "reunify" with Russia. The vote, which was organized less than a month after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from office, was condemned by the United States. In fact, Ukraine's interim government, along with the U.S. and the European Union, have declared the referendum illegitimate and refused to recognize Crimea's bid to become part of Russia. Read more...