Anger rises in Ukraine as troops leave Crimea

Ukrainian troops have started leaving Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia, as Moscow’s defence minister inspected their former bases on the Black Sea peninsula.

Amid growing public anger in Ukraine at the fate of its servicemen in Crimea, the first vehicles carrying soldiers and their families left for the mainland. Russian troops looked on, having established full control over the region. “This is all Kiev’s fault. We are defeated. We suffered and ministers in Kiev did not bother to issue us a proper order . . . They smeared our flag and honour,” one marine was quoted as saying as his unit left their base at Feodosia.

Ukrainian television showed soldiers singing the national anthem, hugging and driving out of their base, horns blaring in defiance.

Other marines – some of whom knew their adversaries from joint training exercises held in previous years – said they felt deceived when the Russians stormed them yesterday morning, despite making a verbal agreement to allow a peaceful and dignified handover of the base.

One Ukrainian serviceman and one local militiaman were killed as Russian forces overran Crimea, ahead of a disputed referendum that opened the way for Moscow to annexe the region, a move that drew condemnation and sanctions from the European Union and United States.

Military withdrawal
Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchinov said he had given an order to withdraw from Crimea due to Russian threats of violence against troops and their relatives: "Ukrainian forces in Crimea have fulfilled their duty. They provided the opportunity and the time for the Ukrainian armed forces to be able to ensure defensive preparations and for partial mobilisation to be organised."

Officials have announced that 40,000 reservists are being called up to serve in the armed forces and a new national guard, but there is growing criticism of the government's handling of the Crimea crisis, which began just days after ex-president Viktor Yanukovich and allies fled Kiev.

“On Maidan, people were almost ready to demand that the defence minister resign,” said singer and activist Ruslana, referring to Sunday’s now customary rally on Kiev’s Independence Square, the heart of the revolutionary protests and still a focal point for the reform movement.

“People can’t believe how the situation with the servicemen in Crimea has been handled,” she added. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Crimea to inspect Moscow’s troops and facilities taken from Ukraine. He also named the former chief of Ukraine’s navy, Denys Berezovsky, as the deputy commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. He is considered a traitor by Ukraine’s government for changing sides.

Oleksandr Rozmaznin, deputy chief of operations for Ukraine’s military, said about half the troops in Crimea may have defected to the Russians. Ukrainian officials warned again that Russia may intend to push deeper into southern and eastern Ukraine, and said several suspected Russian agents had been arrested.