“With nearly every other street named after a Russian general or a gruesome battle, its lovely seafront promenade dominated by a ‘monument to sunken ships’ and its central square named after the imperial admiral who commanded Russian forces against French, British and Turkish troops in the 19th century, Sevastopol constantly feeds thoughts of war and its agonies.” The NYT’s Andrew Higgins provides a little history about Crimea: Steeped in Bloody History, and Seeing a Chance to Rewrite It.

+ Crimea sets March 16 vote on seceding from Ukraine.

+ Ukraine’s other east-west divide: Life expectancy.