Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Ukrainian Soldiers In Crimea Are In Limbo

Image from the BBC

Ukraine's Surrounded Soldiers In Crimea Await Their Orders -- L.A. Times

A Ukrainian colonel says Russia told the troops to join it or leave the peninsula. 'Our fate is in limbo,' he says.

NOVOFEDOROVKA, Ukraine — As Crimea was declaring its independence from Ukraine on Monday and looking forward to once again becoming part of mother Russia, thousands of Ukrainian servicemen stationed on the peninsula were pondering hard options and awaiting instructions from Kiev.

If some Crimeans were jubilant over the results of a Sunday referendum backing independence, the members of the Ukraine brigade with a navy air unit stationed in this small town were full of concerns. They faced options that could forever change their families' lives, leaving some to choose whether to betray their homeland, their oath of allegiance and their officers' honor, said Col. Igor Bedzay, the unit commander.

Read more ....

My Comment: This period of "detente" between Russian and Ukrainian military forces in the Crimea will end on Friday .... after that any base in Crimea under the control of Ukrainian military forces will be regarded by Russia as illegal armed gangs in control of Crimean territory. I trust (and hope) that Russian forces will not storm these bases after Friday .... that given time these Ukrainian forces will dissipate and leave. But with tensions being as high as they are right now .... anything is possible.

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