The central government in Kiev announced that they plan to evacuate all Ukrainian military personnel and their families from the Crimean peninsula.
"When the commander gives us an order, we will march out of here," said a Ukrainian senior staff sergeant. "With dignity, and we won't just be kicked out. We won't let that happen so that is why we decided to stand until the end."
Despite the condemnation by Ukraine and Western nations of the annexation as illegal, the evacuation signals a surrender. The remaining problem is how to get the nearly 25,000 troops and their families back to mainland Ukraine and how Russia will respond to the evacuation.
"That's how we understand that we have found ourselves to be on the foreign territory. We do want to live at our home." said Larisa Mamchur, a Ukrainian now living in the Russian controlled region.
The withdrawal of troops could reduce the risk of open military conflict in the region, but the tension and potential for escalation are likely to continue.
[NYT]
Read More
- Ukraine says it needs EU energy support
- Biden meets with presidents of Latvia and Lithuania to discuss Crimea
- Ukrainian officials, sent by prime minister to defuse crisis, barred from entering Crimea
- Ukraine seeks U.N.. action after naval base in Crimea seized
- NATO condemns Russian military for killing Ukrainian officer in Crimea
- Ethnic Tatars must vacate land and be moved, Crimean official says
