Russia's War Against UkraineAssociated Press: Putin notifies Russian officials of Crimean annexationBy Associated Press. Published March 18, 2014 at 9:16 am Pro-Russian demonstrators in Simferopol celebrate a referendum on March 16 held under Russian military occupation of Ukraine's Crimea. Photo by Anastasia Vlasova MOSCOW — Russia's President Vladimir Putin has approved a draft bill for Crimea's annexation. Read the story here