When you Secede you don't get to keep the Military Assets

[cthulu2016]

It would be nice if everyone could get this straight.

This is the same thing the Confederacy did... it's tiresome.

Crimea does not own Ukrainian military assets or other material assets of the Ukrainian government aside from land and unmovable structures. Any pens at the Post Office marked "property of Ukraine" are still property of Ukraine.

When the USSR fell apart Ukraine was, geographically, one of the world's biggest nuclear powers. Lots and lots of nukes were in Ukraine. But they did not magically belong to Ukraine.

That's the deal. Breaking away means you have to buy your own shit. Joining Russian means that Russia has to buy that shit for you.

The problem is that if Crimea just takes shit that belongs to Ukraine then Russia (which Crimea is, right?) is stealing Ukraine's shit.

You can conquer a place and steal their shit. That is time-honored. But if your shtick is that you are not conquering anybody then you don't get their shit.

You can even take all of Ukraine's clothes and throw them on the sidewalk while yelling to the neighbors that Ukraine is a no-count peice of crap. But you don't get to sell Ukraine's clothes or keep them to wear yourself.

(re: Crimean/Russian forces interdicting Ukrainian troops trying to take Ukranian equipment back with them when they leave Crimea.)

[dipsydoodle]

1. Yes - would be classed as theft

which I would imagine Ukrainian courts are quite capable of dealing with just as they would with the theft of cars whatever.

[HereSince1628]

2. There are rules that Russia recognizes? Who knew?

I'm pretty sure the big rule of conquest is "You Get To Do What You Can Get Away With".

And you've got to admit, Russia can get away with a lot because Russia is, well...Russia.