DONUZLAVA, Ukraine () -- The Ukrainian flag was hoisted for the first time Wednesday over ships of the long-disputed Black Sea fleet.


The navy said flags went up on 17 of the ships Ukraine is getting in the division of the fleet with Russia. The ships are anchored at a navy base in Donuzlava in Crimea. "The act of hoisting Ukrainian flags symbolizes completion of the first stage of the fleet division," said navy spokesman Oleg Chubuk.