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No Bloodshed in a Standoff at an Airfield in Ukraine No Bloodshed in a Standoff at an Airfield in Ukraine
(6 months later)
BELBEK, Ukraine — Unarmed and uncertain of what they would face from the Russian soldiers deployed ahead of them, the men of the 45/15 air force unit marched through the gloomy morning up the road to the military airfield here, determined to take back the guard posts they usually operate. BELBEK, Ukraine — Unarmed and uncertain of what they would face from the Russian soldiers deployed ahead of them, the men of the 45/15 air force unit marched through the gloomy morning up the road to the military airfield here, determined to take back the guard posts they usually operate.
Walking in a column, they carried a yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flag and a red regimental banner with a hammer and sickle, a legacy of Soviet times. Numbering roughly 200, the men sang as they approached the Russian positions, hoping that they would not be shot.Walking in a column, they carried a yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flag and a red regimental banner with a hammer and sickle, a legacy of Soviet times. Numbering roughly 200, the men sang as they approached the Russian positions, hoping that they would not be shot.
“I hope that it will all be peaceful,” said Andrei Pauk, a member of the unit. “But it all depends on what their orders are.”“I hope that it will all be peaceful,” said Andrei Pauk, a member of the unit. “But it all depends on what their orders are.”
What ensued was a seven-hour standoff, after which 12 of the Ukrainian airmen were allowed through the barricades to their posts, while their remaining comrades waited patiently on the grass outside with dozens of Russian guns still trained on them.What ensued was a seven-hour standoff, after which 12 of the Ukrainian airmen were allowed through the barricades to their posts, while their remaining comrades waited patiently on the grass outside with dozens of Russian guns still trained on them.
It was a strange compromise in the strange conflict that has been unfolding here on the Crimean Peninsula since Russian forces seized control late last week.It was a strange compromise in the strange conflict that has been unfolding here on the Crimean Peninsula since Russian forces seized control late last week.
No one was hurt during the confrontation, in which the Ukrainians, encircled by the heavily-armed Russians, patiently insisted that they be allowed to return to their routine duties, securing the base.No one was hurt during the confrontation, in which the Ukrainians, encircled by the heavily-armed Russians, patiently insisted that they be allowed to return to their routine duties, securing the base.
While the Crimean regional authorities boasted on Tuesday of widespread capitulation by Ukrainian military forces, the men of the 45/15 unit defied expectations of quick surrender.While the Crimean regional authorities boasted on Tuesday of widespread capitulation by Ukrainian military forces, the men of the 45/15 unit defied expectations of quick surrender.
The men had spent the previous night at their nearby garrison bracing for an assault by Russian forces who, according to some accounts, had demanded that they give up by 5 a.m. Their terrified wives had also spent the night outside the garrison, in the desperate hope that their presence would deter an attack that their husbands had promised to repel. When the assault never came, the men agreed to follow their commander, Col. Yuli V. Mamchur, in a march on the air base, occupied since Saturday by troops wearing uniforms with no insignia but clearly belonging to Russia. Colonel Mamchur ordered his men to meet the Russians unarmed, hoping to force a peaceful resolution.The men had spent the previous night at their nearby garrison bracing for an assault by Russian forces who, according to some accounts, had demanded that they give up by 5 a.m. Their terrified wives had also spent the night outside the garrison, in the desperate hope that their presence would deter an attack that their husbands had promised to repel. When the assault never came, the men agreed to follow their commander, Col. Yuli V. Mamchur, in a march on the air base, occupied since Saturday by troops wearing uniforms with no insignia but clearly belonging to Russia. Colonel Mamchur ordered his men to meet the Russians unarmed, hoping to force a peaceful resolution.
The standoff between the 45/15 unit and the soldiers holding the airfield was perhaps the closest that Ukrainian and Russian forces have come to open conflict in recent days, and the odd, uneasy scene on the hill overlooking Sevastopol reflected the curious nature of this conflict.The standoff between the 45/15 unit and the soldiers holding the airfield was perhaps the closest that Ukrainian and Russian forces have come to open conflict in recent days, and the odd, uneasy scene on the hill overlooking Sevastopol reflected the curious nature of this conflict.
At 8 a.m. the ranks formed on the garrison’s parade ground and listened to Colonel Mamchur announce that they would try to retake their positions at Belbek.At 8 a.m. the ranks formed on the garrison’s parade ground and listened to Colonel Mamchur announce that they would try to retake their positions at Belbek.
As the Ukrainian national anthem played, the men stood in shabby uniforms and a stray dog snuffed round them.As the Ukrainian national anthem played, the men stood in shabby uniforms and a stray dog snuffed round them.
According to the troops, the Ukrainian naval command had ordered them to hand over their weapons to other Ukrainian units, which had since defected to the Russian-backed regional government of Crimea.According to the troops, the Ukrainian naval command had ordered them to hand over their weapons to other Ukrainian units, which had since defected to the Russian-backed regional government of Crimea.
Vitaly Malyonkin, 21, a conscript whose job had been to secure the lightly latched main door to the garrison on Monday night, described how he and his colleagues late last week looked up from repairing a vehicle to find themselves staring at a Russian wielding a bazooka.Vitaly Malyonkin, 21, a conscript whose job had been to secure the lightly latched main door to the garrison on Monday night, described how he and his colleagues late last week looked up from repairing a vehicle to find themselves staring at a Russian wielding a bazooka.
That time, the Russians had talked to the airmen for a time before moving off.That time, the Russians had talked to the airmen for a time before moving off.
Now, as Private Malyonkin and the rest of his unit approached the base’s entrance, they found the road blocked by armored vehicles mounted with machine guns and at least two dozen Russian troops on either side.Now, as Private Malyonkin and the rest of his unit approached the base’s entrance, they found the road blocked by armored vehicles mounted with machine guns and at least two dozen Russian troops on either side.
The Russians fired warning shots into the air, prompting the Ukrainians to sing louder. They did not stop until they were before one of the men who had opened fire.The Russians fired warning shots into the air, prompting the Ukrainians to sing louder. They did not stop until they were before one of the men who had opened fire.
While the moments immediately after the shooting were fraught, the atmosphere quickly eased. After the 12 airmen were allowed back to their posts, the rest eventually returned to their quarters. Toward the conclusion of the standoff, grounds men at the base lobbed a soccer ball over the heads of the Russian line to the Ukrainians, who then played an energetic game, joking about losing the ball to the armed men.While the moments immediately after the shooting were fraught, the atmosphere quickly eased. After the 12 airmen were allowed back to their posts, the rest eventually returned to their quarters. Toward the conclusion of the standoff, grounds men at the base lobbed a soccer ball over the heads of the Russian line to the Ukrainians, who then played an energetic game, joking about losing the ball to the armed men.
The confrontation between the Ukrainian unit and the Russians highlighted one aspect of the crisis — that it has so far largely pitted Russians against Russians. The conversations at the base’s entrance were in Russian. Nearly all the airmen interviewed from unit 45/15 said they were ethnically Russian and had relatives in Russia. Most sympathized with widespread suspicions about the revolutionary government in Kiev. Those facing the guns on Tuesday said they did so out of professional duty.The confrontation between the Ukrainian unit and the Russians highlighted one aspect of the crisis — that it has so far largely pitted Russians against Russians. The conversations at the base’s entrance were in Russian. Nearly all the airmen interviewed from unit 45/15 said they were ethnically Russian and had relatives in Russia. Most sympathized with widespread suspicions about the revolutionary government in Kiev. Those facing the guns on Tuesday said they did so out of professional duty.
Most said they thought the Russians did not want to fight them either.Most said they thought the Russians did not want to fight them either.
“It’s craziness,” said Sergei, a junior officer in the unit. “Russian and Ukrainian people were one nation in the past.”“It’s craziness,” said Sergei, a junior officer in the unit. “Russian and Ukrainian people were one nation in the past.”