Posted on 03/02/2014 7:59:00 AM PST by kronos77
Ukrainian armed forces dispatched to Crimea have switched to the side of local authorities and are expected to take military oath soon, Russian news agencies report.
Facts you need to know about Crimea and why it is in turmoil
“Today the majority of the Ukrainian armed forces deployed in Crimea passed to the side of the authorities of the Crimean autonomous region. The transition was absolutely peaceful, without a single shot fired either by the military or by the forces of self-defense,” an unnamed source told RIA Novosti news agency.
The source added that some of the servicemen also ran away, while some submitted letters of resignation.
The local military have not been paid for many months, the source also told RIA Novosti.
Earlier, Ukrainian troops in Crimea were said to be resigning on a massive scale. Living quarters, weapons and ammunition have all been left under the protection of the so-called ‘self-defense forces.’
Letters of resignation have been coming in since early morning, as the self-defense forces continue to preserve order on the streets of Simferopol, RIA Novosti said citing own reporters on the ground.
Since Thursday, the city’s Supreme Council and a number of other buildings have been occupied and guarded by the self-defense forces run by the local population.
Crimea’s deputy prime minister, Rustam Temirgaliev, announced that the Ukrainian armed forces have all but surrendered their military capabilities and that no active units remain in the Crimea.
"The entire Ukrainian armed forces stationed on the Crimean territory have been blocked," Interfax reported him as saying. "The self-defense forces have taken control of the landing strips of all the Crimean airports and airfields."
The deputy PM said that that the region’s security services and emergency services now report to the local government.
Crimeans began protesting after the new self-imposed government in Kiev introduced a law abolishing the use of other languages for official documents in Ukraine. More than half the Crimean population are Russian and use only this language for their communication. The residents have announced they are going to hold a referendum on March 30 to determine the fate of the Ukrainian autonomous region.
Don’t watch RT. Is is pure Russian propaganda. Yeah, I know that the other side has propaganda too.
Question the source...
That’s not exactly a surprise. What would be a surprise is if the Tatars knuckle under. The Crimea was easy pickings for Putin. We’re no where near the end game though.
Russian propaganda in high gear. Which side are you on?
What ever side George Soros, John McCain, Bathhouse Barry, Susan Rice, and the sodomite EU is on I am on the opposite side by default.
The average Serb would, by default, side with Russia. No real surprise here. Whereas the average Croat or Slovene might side with the US.
If our economy collapsed, and China landed their entire force in California, with planes and helicopters patrolling over major cities in the western half of the country, what do you think would happen?
Obama will offer those who flee the Ukrainian Army unemployment benefits so they stay on the right side which is what ever Obama says....just ask Morsi how it works.
How awful. Ukrainians want their official documents written in Ukrainian? Unfreakinbelievable! what are they thinking?!!
Coming soon to an America near you when all laws and school textbooks will be in spanish.
Which replaces their earlier oath.
Haha it’s funny but troublesome that John McCain it listed here with a bunch of hardcore lefties. Sad but true.
False propaganda. Some Ukranian forces have been holding out in the Crimea as long as possible to avoid capitulating before it becomes necessary to do so.
John McCain is hardcore left
The Ukraine had a huge army. They saved some bucks and pretty much got rid of it. Now they want US to defend them?? After they provoke a coup?? Go to hell.
I think there would be a lot of shooting.
There were many Russian speakers living in Ukraine - where, furthermore, Russian had been the official language for some time - and attacking them immediately lost their loyalty. It was a stupid, typically nationalist gesture that then gave Russia the chance to say that they were protecting the rights of Russians.
Odungo sure is working hard to make sure that very thing happens.
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