Russian forces prepare for liberation of Crimea, declare high threat level - intelligence

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate reported this. 

The occupation authorities and the FSB issued “decisions to establish a high (yellow) level of terrorist threat” in the settlements of Armiansk, Dzhankoi, Kerch, Krasnoperekopsk, as well as in the Dzhankoi, Krasnoperekopsk and Lenine districts of Crimea.

The yellow threat level was also declared at the subordinate facilities of the Ministries of Transport, Housing, Health, Fuel and Energy, Industrial Policy, and the Committee on Water Management and Land Reclamation, and the measures are unlimited.

In addition, the occupying forces have tightened control over movement on the peninsula and across the "border" of the temporarily occupied territory. Control over the movement of Russian citizens and foreigners is being tightened, and mandatory registration of temporary residence is being established.

In turn, the Russian Emergencies Ministry was ordered to audit specialized equipment for 'rescue operations'. Local administrations must provide places for 'temporary accommodation of people' in case of a 'counterterrorist operation'. The Ministry of Health is obliged to prepare facilities for emergency care and medical evacuation.

“Such 'security measures' by the occupiers are a sign of preparation for the start of the operation to liberate Crimea by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. It may also indicate the possibility of provocations by the Russian special services against the civilian population of the peninsula with further shifting the responsibility to Ukraine,” the Main Intelligence Directorate explained.