Photo Gallery Russia's Last Black Sea Bastion

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The Russian Black Sea fleet is based in the Crimean port at Sevastopol -- as is the Ukrainian fleet. Tension between Russia and Ukraine is growing in the region. Here, Russian women welcome home warships returning from operations off the coast of Georgia during the brief August war.

Foto: REUTERS
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Russian navy cadets at a World War II monument in Sevastopol. Russia's lease on the port runs out in 2017. While Russia wants to extend it, many in Ukraine would like to see the Russians leave.

Foto: REUTERS
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There are tens of thousands of ethnic Russians in the Crimea and many would like to see the peninsula become part of Russia. Here, pro-Russian protestors demonstrate against Ukrainian membership in NATO in Kiev last year.

Foto: AP
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Russian ships like this one are anchored side-by-side with their Ukrainian counterparts in Sevastopol.

Foto: REUTERS
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Here, a Ukrainian vessel carries Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko out to a warship in Sevastopol. Many fear that a spark in Sevastopol could set off a wider conflagration.

Foto: REUTERS