In Crimea, Russia’s Military Presence Raises Tensions in Ukraine’s Military
PEREVALNYE, Ukraine— In the eastern reaches of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, witnesses report advanced Russian surface-to-air missiles being offloaded and readied for movement. At a base near the naval port of Sevastopol, an air force commander takes to YouTube to appeal for clear orders of engagement with the Russian forces who have occupied much of his base. In a naval base near regional capital Simferopol, a commander reports feeling like a hostage, and fearing what will come in the next few days.
On the eve of Sunday’s referendum on whether the Black Sea peninsula should break away from Ukraine and join Russia, Crimeans of all ethnicities waited with deepening anguish and fear about the vote that at best, will yield months or years of uncertainty, and at worst, will spark war.
Among those facing the greatest and most fraught uncertainty was that of Ukraine’s military forces on the peninsula, who have been hemmed in by heavily armed Russian troops and warned by the region’s pro-Russian leader that they would be considered “illegal” if they didn’t surrender.
With the new government in Kiev struggling to respond to threatened Russian invasion in the east, build international support and stave off economic disaster, soldiers and sailors have lamented openly that they don’t know they’re supposed to be doing. And, more importantly, what they’re going to do if shooting breaks out.
Russia effectively took control of Crimea, where it has a large naval base, late last month after Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in the wake of months of protests. The Kremlin says he was the victim of a coup and refuses to recognize the authorities who took over.
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http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/563999-in-crimea-russias-military-presence-raises-tensions-in-ukraines-military/