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For Ukraine Military in Crimea, Glum Capitulation and an Uncertain Future For Ukraine Military in Crimea, Glum Capitulation and an Uncertain Future
(6 months later)
SIMFEROPOL, Crimea — The Ukrainian marines emerged Friday from their barracks juggling awkward armfuls of personal effects: wet-weather overcoats, suitcases, potted plants, even a model ship. SIMFEROPOL, Crimea — The Ukrainian marines emerged Friday from their barracks juggling awkward armfuls of personal effects: wet-weather overcoats, suitcases, potted plants, even a model ship.
They were giving up their headquarters here, surrendering to the reality of Russia’s occupation and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, accepting that the struggle was already lost. The local pro-Russia militiamen who surrounded the building searched each marine’s possessions, poking through cardboard boxes and shopping bags to make sure no weapons were being taken. A few feet away, masked Russian soldiers watched impassively, leaning on their rifles.They were giving up their headquarters here, surrendering to the reality of Russia’s occupation and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, accepting that the struggle was already lost. The local pro-Russia militiamen who surrounded the building searched each marine’s possessions, poking through cardboard boxes and shopping bags to make sure no weapons were being taken. A few feet away, masked Russian soldiers watched impassively, leaning on their rifles.
Virtually identical scenes have played out at bases and other installations across Crimea in recent days, as the Ukrainian military began packing up. In some places, the militiamen and Russian soldiers evicted the Ukrainians by force. On Saturday, Russian troops smashed through the gates at the Belbek base and took control, although some Ukrainian troops remained inside, and negotiations over the terms of withdrawal continued.Virtually identical scenes have played out at bases and other installations across Crimea in recent days, as the Ukrainian military began packing up. In some places, the militiamen and Russian soldiers evicted the Ukrainians by force. On Saturday, Russian troops smashed through the gates at the Belbek base and took control, although some Ukrainian troops remained inside, and negotiations over the terms of withdrawal continued.
But in most of the takeovers, like at the marine headquarters, troops who had hunkered down through more than two weeks of tense standoff finally yielded to the fait accompli and let the Russians in.But in most of the takeovers, like at the marine headquarters, troops who had hunkered down through more than two weeks of tense standoff finally yielded to the fait accompli and let the Russians in.
Whether by force or not, though, the result was ultimately the same: a glum capitulation after weeks of peaceful resistance.Whether by force or not, though, the result was ultimately the same: a glum capitulation after weeks of peaceful resistance.
“Ukraine won’t take back Crimea,” Larisa Mamchur, the wife of a commander at the Belbek base, said before the assault on Saturday. “Everyone understands that here is already Russia. We are already on foreign territory here.”“Ukraine won’t take back Crimea,” Larisa Mamchur, the wife of a commander at the Belbek base, said before the assault on Saturday. “Everyone understands that here is already Russia. We are already on foreign territory here.”
The Kremlin invited Ukrainian service members to stay on the peninsula by switching allegiances and joining the Russian military, but many said they would go to Ukraine instead.The Kremlin invited Ukrainian service members to stay on the peninsula by switching allegiances and joining the Russian military, but many said they would go to Ukraine instead.
The rolling back began in earnest on Wednesday evening, after the government in Kiev said it had developed plans to evacuate all of its military personnel and their families. There was no formal order to surrender, but the troops got the message and immediately began packing.The rolling back began in earnest on Wednesday evening, after the government in Kiev said it had developed plans to evacuate all of its military personnel and their families. There was no formal order to surrender, but the troops got the message and immediately began packing.
The question of what to do next was largely left to the thousands of individual soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. These men and women, who have lived under the constant threat of storm and seizure since Russian forces began occupying the Black Sea peninsula late last month, must now choose between personal ties to Crimea and their oaths to Ukraine.The question of what to do next was largely left to the thousands of individual soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. These men and women, who have lived under the constant threat of storm and seizure since Russian forces began occupying the Black Sea peninsula late last month, must now choose between personal ties to Crimea and their oaths to Ukraine.
“We’re making the decision ourselves,” said Col. Igor Mamchur, deputy commander of the marine garrison in Simferopol, where the Russian flag now flies alongside the Ukrainian one. “We’ve got apartments, we’ve got housing here, children that go to school, so each is taking this decision for himself.”“We’re making the decision ourselves,” said Col. Igor Mamchur, deputy commander of the marine garrison in Simferopol, where the Russian flag now flies alongside the Ukrainian one. “We’ve got apartments, we’ve got housing here, children that go to school, so each is taking this decision for himself.”
Colonel Mamchur said he had decided to remain in Crimea. “I had a choice between duty and family, and I’ve chosen family,” he said.Colonel Mamchur said he had decided to remain in Crimea. “I had a choice between duty and family, and I’ve chosen family,” he said.
The response to the Kremlin invitation varied widely from unit to unit. At the base at Belbek, almost all the troops interviewed before the assault said they planned to leave Crimea. At other bases, commanders said most of their men would stay.The response to the Kremlin invitation varied widely from unit to unit. At the base at Belbek, almost all the troops interviewed before the assault said they planned to leave Crimea. At other bases, commanders said most of their men would stay.
“I don’t know,” said Olga, the wife of a captain who served at the Ukrainian naval headquarters in Sevastopol, which was seized by Russian troops on Wednesday.“I don’t know,” said Olga, the wife of a captain who served at the Ukrainian naval headquarters in Sevastopol, which was seized by Russian troops on Wednesday.
“I really don’t know whether we will go or we will stay,” she said, declining to give her surname for fear of reprisal. “All our lives are here with this city.”“I really don’t know whether we will go or we will stay,” she said, declining to give her surname for fear of reprisal. “All our lives are here with this city.”
For the Ukrainian military, the potential evacuation of thousands of troops and family members from a region it no longer controls poses an immense logistical challenge. Many of the Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea also felt that the new government in Kiev had paid too little attention to their embattled position during the Russian occupation.For the Ukrainian military, the potential evacuation of thousands of troops and family members from a region it no longer controls poses an immense logistical challenge. Many of the Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea also felt that the new government in Kiev had paid too little attention to their embattled position during the Russian occupation.
“It’s not just the feeling, but the certainty that they’ve abandoned us,” said Col. Oleg A. Podovalov, letting out a long, audible sigh.“It’s not just the feeling, but the certainty that they’ve abandoned us,” said Col. Oleg A. Podovalov, letting out a long, audible sigh.
As Russian forces surrounded and stormed bases in Crimea, the authorities in Kiev appealed for international assistance, mobilized troops in the rest of Ukraine and issued threats, but ultimately proved unable to do anything to help their forces trapped on the peninsula hold their ground, or even provide them with supplies.As Russian forces surrounded and stormed bases in Crimea, the authorities in Kiev appealed for international assistance, mobilized troops in the rest of Ukraine and issued threats, but ultimately proved unable to do anything to help their forces trapped on the peninsula hold their ground, or even provide them with supplies.
As food ran short on the encircled bases, many troops had to rely on meals prepared and brought to them by their civilian wives, who were generally allowed access under informal agreements between local Ukrainian commanders and the Russians and militias surrounding them.As food ran short on the encircled bases, many troops had to rely on meals prepared and brought to them by their civilian wives, who were generally allowed access under informal agreements between local Ukrainian commanders and the Russians and militias surrounding them.
Many Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea said the lack of support from Kiev had bred mistrust.Many Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea said the lack of support from Kiev had bred mistrust.
“It’s not just a gap between us, it’s a gulf,” said Lyudmila, an officer at a Crimean 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 Crimean 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.”
As the crisis played out, communication between the military here in Crimea and superiors in Kiev has appeared strained. The head spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in Crimea, Vladislav Seleznev, often had to inform his counterparts in the capital of developments on the ground through his personal Facebook page, where he posted regular updates on the status of bases.As the crisis played out, communication between the military here in Crimea and superiors in Kiev has appeared strained. The head spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in Crimea, Vladislav Seleznev, often had to inform his counterparts in the capital of developments on the ground through his personal Facebook page, where he posted regular updates on the status of bases.
“The situation here is understood differently from Kiev’s position,” Mr. Seleznev said. “I have the sense that Kiev perceived the situation, to a degree, like how we Ukrainians perceived the events in Georgia” in 2008. “That is, at a distance — it’s not happening to us.”“The situation here is understood differently from Kiev’s position,” Mr. Seleznev said. “I have the sense that Kiev perceived the situation, to a degree, like how we Ukrainians perceived the events in Georgia” in 2008. “That is, at a distance — it’s not happening to us.”
The Kremlin has sought to capitalize on that disconnect by offering incentives for Ukrainian troops to switch allegiances. Many have been promised equivalent ranks and double pay to join the Russian military. To smooth the way, President Vladimir V. Putin signed a decree on Thursday recognizing Ukrainian military ranks and qualifications.The Kremlin has sought to capitalize on that disconnect by offering incentives for Ukrainian troops to switch allegiances. Many have been promised equivalent ranks and double pay to join the Russian military. To smooth the way, President Vladimir V. Putin signed a decree on Thursday recognizing Ukrainian military ranks and qualifications.
But Russia has not been waiting for soldiers to make up their minds. It has moved assertively to seize control of one base after another. At the Nakhimov Naval Academy in Sevastopol, cadets were simply told that they now attend a Russian school.But Russia has not been waiting for soldiers to make up their minds. It has moved assertively to seize control of one base after another. At the Nakhimov Naval Academy in Sevastopol, cadets were simply told that they now attend a Russian school.
At times, the Russians appeared to have underestimated the strength of feeling among Ukrainian forces. During a transfer ceremony at the academy, some cadets defiantly sang the Ukrainian national anthem, prompting the bandmaster to order his musicians to play the Russian anthem over them.At times, the Russians appeared to have underestimated the strength of feeling among Ukrainian forces. During a transfer ceremony at the academy, some cadets defiantly sang the Ukrainian national anthem, prompting the bandmaster to order his musicians to play the Russian anthem over them.
Some who work on the bases, however, voted in favor of reintegration with Russia and look forward to the new Crimean order — and to keeping their jobs.Some who work on the bases, however, voted in favor of reintegration with Russia and look forward to the new Crimean order — and to keeping their jobs.
“We plan to return to work, but it won’t be to a Ukrainian base,” said Valentina, a chef at an air base south of Sevastopol who declined to give her surname. “We just hope the Russian troops will take us back.”“We plan to return to work, but it won’t be to a Ukrainian base,” said Valentina, a chef at an air base south of Sevastopol who declined to give her surname. “We just hope the Russian troops will take us back.”