This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/world/europe/ukraine.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Russian Forces Take Over One of the Last Ukrainian Bases in Crimea | Russian Forces Take Over One of the Last Ukrainian Bases in Crimea |
| (6 months later) | |
| BELBEK, Crimea — Russian forces pushed Saturday to complete their expulsion of the Ukrainian military from the disputed Crimean Peninsula, smashing through the gates of a base here with armored vehicles, firing weapons into the air and demanding that the cornered Ukrainian soldiers surrender. | |
| The operation to seize the base — one of the Ukrainian military’s last strongholds on the peninsula — was larger and more dramatic than at other installations where Ukrainian forces have capitulated steadily in recent days as Russia declared its formal annexation of the region. | The operation to seize the base — one of the Ukrainian military’s last strongholds on the peninsula — was larger and more dramatic than at other installations where Ukrainian forces have capitulated steadily in recent days as Russia declared its formal annexation of the region. |
| By evening, Russian forces were fully in control of the base here, and most of the Ukrainian troops were dispatched to their barracks and homes to pack. | By evening, Russian forces were fully in control of the base here, and most of the Ukrainian troops were dispatched to their barracks and homes to pack. |
| The takeover came as Russia seemed to try to assure the West that its incursion into Ukraine would not expand beyond Crimea. The Kremlin agreed to allow a team of international monitors to work elsewhere in Ukraine. Fears of a further invasion had increased on Friday as Russian troops massed along Ukraine’s eastern border, and the United States issued a stern warning in response. | The takeover came as Russia seemed to try to assure the West that its incursion into Ukraine would not expand beyond Crimea. The Kremlin agreed to allow a team of international monitors to work elsewhere in Ukraine. Fears of a further invasion had increased on Friday as Russian troops massed along Ukraine’s eastern border, and the United States issued a stern warning in response. |
| The first civilian observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a group that includes Russia, were expected to arrive by Saturday night, according to a spokeswoman. The agreement established the monitoring mission for six months, saying it could grow to 500 members if needed. | The first civilian observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a group that includes Russia, were expected to arrive by Saturday night, according to a spokeswoman. The agreement established the monitoring mission for six months, saying it could grow to 500 members if needed. |
| While mostly welcomed by the West, the agreement to send monitors pointedly excluded Crimea, drawing condemnation from some countries. | While mostly welcomed by the West, the agreement to send monitors pointedly excluded Crimea, drawing condemnation from some countries. |
| A statement from Russia said that excluding Crimea “reflects the new political-legal realities” because it has “become part of Russia.” | A statement from Russia said that excluding Crimea “reflects the new political-legal realities” because it has “become part of Russia.” |
| Germany, however, moved swiftly to dispel the idea that the exclusion of Crimea constituted any recognition of the peninsula’s annexation. “The O.S.C.E. is expressly not casting into doubt the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” a government spokesman said, according to Reuters. | Germany, however, moved swiftly to dispel the idea that the exclusion of Crimea constituted any recognition of the peninsula’s annexation. “The O.S.C.E. is expressly not casting into doubt the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” a government spokesman said, according to Reuters. |
| The military operations on Saturday — including the reported takeover of another base at Novofyodorovka — seemed to add an exclamation mark to Russia’s stance that the facts were settled, as its forces and loosely organized local militias moved to finish the ousting of Ukrainian military personnel from Crimea. The Kremlin has invited Ukrainian service members, who once numbered in the thousands, to join the Russian military with no change in rank and potentially increased pay, but many have declined. | The military operations on Saturday — including the reported takeover of another base at Novofyodorovka — seemed to add an exclamation mark to Russia’s stance that the facts were settled, as its forces and loosely organized local militias moved to finish the ousting of Ukrainian military personnel from Crimea. The Kremlin has invited Ukrainian service members, who once numbered in the thousands, to join the Russian military with no change in rank and potentially increased pay, but many have declined. |
| The pace of surrender by Ukrainian forces had begun accelerating on Wednesday, after the Defense Ministry in Kiev said it had drawn up plans to evacuate its military personnel, effectively yielding to the reality of the Russian occupation that began late last month. | The pace of surrender by Ukrainian forces had begun accelerating on Wednesday, after the Defense Ministry in Kiev said it had drawn up plans to evacuate its military personnel, effectively yielding to the reality of the Russian occupation that began late last month. |
| Belbek, where Ukrainian troops had held their ground against threats earlier in the Russian occupation, was something of a holdout. | Belbek, where Ukrainian troops had held their ground against threats earlier in the Russian occupation, was something of a holdout. |
| In interviews before the takeover Saturday, soldiers expressed frustration with the lack of help from the their government in Kiev. Some troops said they were defending the base as a matter of honor, having sworn to serve the people and government of Ukraine. | In interviews before the takeover Saturday, soldiers expressed frustration with the lack of help from the their government in Kiev. Some troops said they were defending the base as a matter of honor, having sworn to serve the people and government of Ukraine. |
| “I took an oath,” said one commander, adding that he felt no personal antipathy toward Russia or Russians. | “I took an oath,” said one commander, adding that he felt no personal antipathy toward Russia or Russians. |
| The sense of abandonment was echoed at other bases where soldiers and marines began to pack up their belongings last week, accepting that their cause was lost. | The sense of abandonment was echoed at other bases where soldiers and marines began to pack up their belongings last week, accepting that their cause was lost. |
| “It’s not just a gap between us, it’s a gulf,” said Lyudmila, an officer at a base in Yevpatoriya, who declined to give her surname. “They don’t value our patriotism. They have done nothing to protect us, they only talk.” | “It’s not just a gap between us, it’s a gulf,” said Lyudmila, an officer at a base in Yevpatoriya, who declined to give her surname. “They don’t value our patriotism. They have done nothing to protect us, they only talk.” |
| Even amid the withdrawals last week, communication between the military here in Crimea and superiors in Kiev seemed strained. The head spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in Crimea, Vladislav Seleznev, was left reporting developments to Kiev through his personal Facebook page. | Even amid the withdrawals last week, communication between the military here in Crimea and superiors in Kiev seemed strained. The head spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in Crimea, Vladislav Seleznev, was left reporting developments to Kiev through his personal Facebook page. |
| At Belbek on Saturday, tensions rose throughout the day after Russian forces issued an ultimatum, warning of an attack if the Ukrainians did not relinquish control. In the streets outside the base, scores of armed local militiamen, many wearing masks, gathered to support the siege. | At Belbek on Saturday, tensions rose throughout the day after Russian forces issued an ultimatum, warning of an attack if the Ukrainians did not relinquish control. In the streets outside the base, scores of armed local militiamen, many wearing masks, gathered to support the siege. |
| After scattered verbal exchanges between the Ukrainians and the Russian soldiers gathered outside the base’s black iron fence, the Russian mobilization began at about 5 p.m. One armored vehicle smashed through the main gate, while a second broke through a cement wall a short distance away. | After scattered verbal exchanges between the Ukrainians and the Russian soldiers gathered outside the base’s black iron fence, the Russian mobilization began at about 5 p.m. One armored vehicle smashed through the main gate, while a second broke through a cement wall a short distance away. |
| There were sporadic bursts of gunfire, and several loud bangs from smoke grenades. At least one Russian soldier fired a handgun into the air repeatedly, and at least one person was wounded, beaten by Russian special forces. It was unclear if the man, who was photographed in civilian clothes, was a soldier or a journalist. | There were sporadic bursts of gunfire, and several loud bangs from smoke grenades. At least one Russian soldier fired a handgun into the air repeatedly, and at least one person was wounded, beaten by Russian special forces. It was unclear if the man, who was photographed in civilian clothes, was a soldier or a journalist. |
| For a time, the Ukrainians were surrounded, but by early evening most, if not all, had been disarmed and sent to collect their belongings, and by nightfall the base was quiet, with its perimeter sealed and guarded by Russian soldiers. It was unclear if Ukrainian personnel remained on the base. | For a time, the Ukrainians were surrounded, but by early evening most, if not all, had been disarmed and sent to collect their belongings, and by nightfall the base was quiet, with its perimeter sealed and guarded by Russian soldiers. It was unclear if Ukrainian personnel remained on the base. |
| The emotional whiplash of Crimea’s sudden secession from Ukraine and annexation by Russia was evident among soldiers and their families throughout Crimea last week trying to decide whether to stay on the peninsula or cross what the Russians have now effectively declared to be a new international border. | The emotional whiplash of Crimea’s sudden secession from Ukraine and annexation by Russia was evident among soldiers and their families throughout Crimea last week trying to decide whether to stay on the peninsula or cross what the Russians have now effectively declared to be a new international border. |
| Col. Igor Mamchur, deputy commander of the marine garrison in Simferopol, where the Russian flag was flying last week alongside the Ukrainian one, said troops were making the decisions about whether to stay or go themselves. “We’ve got apartments, we’ve got housing here, children that go to school,” he said. | Col. Igor Mamchur, deputy commander of the marine garrison in Simferopol, where the Russian flag was flying last week alongside the Ukrainian one, said troops were making the decisions about whether to stay or go themselves. “We’ve got apartments, we’ve got housing here, children that go to school,” he said. |
| Colonel Mamchur said he had decided to remain in Crimea. “I had a choice between duty and family,” he said, “and I’ve chosen family.” | Colonel Mamchur said he had decided to remain in Crimea. “I had a choice between duty and family,” he said, “and I’ve chosen family.” |
| For some, that choice was not yet apparent. | For some, that choice was not yet apparent. |
| At the Nakhimov Naval Academy in Sevastopol, cadets were simply told last week that they now attend a Russian school. | At the Nakhimov Naval Academy in Sevastopol, cadets were simply told last week that they now attend a Russian school. |
| But the transfer ceremony did not go as the Russians hoped. Some cadets defiantly sang the Ukrainian national anthem, prompting the bandmaster to order his musicians to play the Russian anthem to drown them out. | But the transfer ceremony did not go as the Russians hoped. Some cadets defiantly sang the Ukrainian national anthem, prompting the bandmaster to order his musicians to play the Russian anthem to drown them out. |