Kyiv, March 5, 2014. Shortly after political crisis in Ukraine’s capital mitigated the spotlight moved to the Southern region of Ukraine – Crimea. According to the decision passed by the upper house of the parliament, the Federation Council, and enforced by President Vladimir Putin on March 2, 2014, the Russian military took over Crimean territory. Reportedly, Ukraine’s military units have been threatened by a siege; however at the moment no direct violence or bloodshed was observed. Nevertheless, Ukrainian troops are left without food and medicine, sieged at Sevastopol military base, reported Informatsiynyi Sprotyv on March 5, 2014.
Up until now, the situation remains tense, as Russian armed forces siege Ukraine’s military bases and headquarters calling for Ukrainian military officers and soldiers to surrender and flee. Reportedly, soldiers at military headquarters in Sevastopol were left starving as Russian troops blocked the base and cut off the food supply.
“We were hoping Russia would alleviate their military intervention in Ukraine, at least for the period when foreign officials are in the country,” reports Informatsiynyi Sprotyv.
In the meantime the information confrontation is reaching its peak in Crimea. There has been a new report, launched by one of Sevastopol’s local channels, claiming that if Ukraine’s troops fail to surrender, they would be arrested and jailed for 15 years. Earlier, a military briefing at Sevastopol military base was held; Ukraine’s soldiers and their officers adopted a common decision to stay true to Ukraine and its people until the end.
Currently, military bases of Ukraine’s air defense units are occupied by the Russian military; Ukraine holds only military administrative offices.
While holding positions, the Russian forces incapacitate equipment at Ukraine’s air defense units or use it for their own purposes. Interestingly, Russia and Ukraine army uses same aerial defense facilities – Buk-1. Informatsiynyi Sprotyv confirms that Russia seeks for aerial defense specialists to be working on the occupied Crimean territory.
In Yevpatoriya, Russian military was forcing Ukrainian soldiers to create a joint force to monitor and keep control of Crimean aerial territory. Ukrainian troops rejected the proposal.
Reportedly, 60 Russian army tanks have been delivered to Crimea from Russia. Crimean cities of Kerch and Sevastopol continue to be occupied by the Russian heavy military units.
