LA Times: Head of Ukrainian Navy defects to Russian Side - New 'Leaders' in Kiev Livid!

[reformist2]

Head of Ukraine's navy defects to pro-Russian Crimea

SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine -- Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, fired his new navy commander on Sunday for “high treason” after the admiral pledged allegiance to pro-Russian forces in Crimea, a Ukrainian news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, Adm. Denis Berezovsky appeared in public in Sevastopol in the company of Crimea's newly elected pro-Moscow premier, Sergei Aksenov, and pledged allegiance to his administration.

“I, Denis Berezovsky, swear an oath of allegiance to the residents of the republic of Crimea,” Berezovsky said in televised remarks. “I swear to fulfill my military duty with dignity, to bravely protect lives and freedom of the residents of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.”

Crimea is a semi-autonomous region of Ukraine that now appears to be effectively under Russian control.

Aksenov said at a briefing that he was planning to create a Crimean navy, to be headed by Berezovsky.

As heavily armed Russian commandos continue to blockade Ukrainian army and navy units in Crimea, the new development appeared to be an embarrassing setback for the nation's interim government, especially because Berezovsky was appointed head of the navy Saturday, the day before he defected.


http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-head-ukrainian-navy-defects-crimea-20140302,0,3068476.story#ixzz2usdbbBse

[freshwest]

1. Denis had better steer clear of Kiev, then. He'll be hung, or whatever they do there. n/t

[LisaL]

2. I don't think he is going there any time soon.

[freshwest]

3. I hope his family is out of there, too. Things are still in flux there. n/t