Our local paper carriers an article explaining the fate of two Irish people living in Crimea who are separated and, due to the divisions there, are on opposing sides
It is entitled 'The Two Sides to the Crimean Situation', which is misleading - there are numerous sides to the present dispute.
You have the supporters of the overthrown government and of the rebels.
Russia, however heavy-handed it is being, has a large number of Russian people living there.
Should the situation lead to war the United Nations will be put into a situation of having to consider intervention.
Due to the prominent presence of ultra-nationalists, everyone not of Ukrainian (whatever that means) origin is under threat.
The area has an extremely confusing turbulent history; it only became 'The Ukrainian People's Republic' following the Russian Revolution and later, following further hostilities, became the 'Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic' in 1922.   
If nationalism gets any sort of a toe-hold it could lead to a bloodbath comparable with the Serbo-Croat one.
It is totally irresponsible politicking for any country to support one side at this stage,
Jim Carroll