Crimea. The independence day.

[Iurii]

Though the “official” results of voting about the Crimean independence from Ukraine will be available in a couple of days the first outcomes of this event are already in effect.

1. There are no cash in ATMs in Crimea.
2. It is not allowed to withdraw deposits from banks.
3. Banks are hastily preparing to begin transactions in Russian roubles.
4. The food prices go up. The food supply from Ukraine practically stopped.
5. The railroad cargo transport stopped.
6. The fuel is scarce. The so-called “self-defenders” plunder Ukrainian military supplies in Crimea. There is no fuel for farming.
7. The experts of the grain markets say that the planting season in Crimea broke down.
8. On March, 19, there is scheduled the opening of the North-Crimean channel which feeds water to irrigation systems for 250,000 ha (550,000 acres). Now nobody knows will it operate at all.
9. The Ukrainian and Russian troops in Crimea agreed to keep the truce at least till March, 21.

The preliminary results are going to be announced at 10:30 pm local time (2:30 pm CST).

I will be keeping you updated about key developments.

[marketeye]

Iurii,

Thanks for keeping all of us abreast of what is developing in your homeland. The world is certainly watching. It sounds like an historic day in Ukraine, today. Your point about no fuel for farming and the worries of planting season are very very interesting. It will be interesting to see how tonight and this week's markets react to what you are reporting.

Thanks again,

Mike

[Iurii]

The preliminary results of the voting shows that 95 percent of voters said "Yes" to join Russia.

[Iurii]

The Crimean government cancelled on its territory the Ukrainian legislation.

[sw363535]

Another vote in the world influenced by the threat of violence?????

[tree fmr]

What exactly was the options on the ballot? Haven't listened to much news lately.

[Iurii]

There were only two questions: 1) Do you want Crimea to join Russia? 2) Do you want Crimea remains in Ukraine?

[hardnox]

Always sorry for the innocent people who get caught in upheaval.

But as I understand it, the majority of the people in Crimea and eastern Ukraine are drunken former communists who expect the state to take care of them and thus probably rightly belong in Russia.

Maybe best for the western part to move on without the huge fiscal drag they east had been.

[hardnox]

This is like fighting with Canada over Detroit.

[Hobbyfarmer]

Much of their water comes from the rest of the Ukraine. Irrigation water especially. Anybody think that is going to continue as was?

I have looked at sat images, quite a few center pivots. How are they going to work if the irrigation canals are dry? Oh yea just a little bigger sack of bribe money and all will be good.  Might be a short year for crop production out of that area this year. Wheat mostly. Niether one of the countries money has much outside value.

98% of those that voted wanted the change... here in this country 51% is a mandate (or so it seems)