Russian troops seize Ukraine marine base in Crimea - soldiers

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Russian troops used stun grenades to force their way into a Ukrainian marine base in Crimea early on Monday, overrunning one of the last symbols of resistance left after Moscow wrestled the peninsula away from Kiev, Ukrainian officials said.

The Russians fired weapons as they charged into the compound in the port city of Feodosia, and Ukrainian officers were taken away for questioning, a soldier inside and a Ukrainian military official told Reuters.

Ukrainian flags were taken down inside the base two days after Russian forces used similar tactics to take a Ukraine's Belbek airbase in Crimea.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/24/uk-ukraine-crisis-idUKBREA2J1E820140324

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Ukraine orders troop pullout from Crimea .

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukraine's fledgling government ordered troops to withdraw from Crimea on Monday, ending days of wavering as Russian troops consolidate control over the peninsula.

Russian forces have been systematically seizing Ukrainian ships and military installations in Crimea, including a naval base near the eastern Crimean port of Feodosia, where two wounded servicemen were taken captive on Monday and as many as 80 were detained on-site, Ukrainian officials said.

With the storming of at least three military facilities over the past three days alone, it wasn't clear how many Ukrainian troops remained on the peninsula. Acting President Oleksandr Turchnynov said the Defense Ministry was instructed to redeploy all servicemen in Crimea to Ukraine's mainland, in remarks confirmed by his office.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-03-24-06-35-29

[Duckhunter935]

1. I thought no shots fired

I hope they now feed and clothe the Ukraine soldiers until returned to the new smaller country. So far it seems the Ukraine military has handled the situation very impressively and not provoked anything from the nonexistent Russian troops that have surrounded the bases for weeks.

I would have destroyed all equipment as I can see it being used against them in the future though.

[Igel]

6. More like beat and insult, demanding that they change sides.

Something like half did.

The naval school had the same option, where all the cadets, in order to be allowed to leave, were forced to kneel and pledge allegiance to Russia. Then and only then were they allowed to leave to go home to Ukraine to continue to study in another Ukrainian military academy. That would be a large number. However, if caught fighting Russia, they're traitors--they pledged loyalty to Russia; and if they want to serve Ukraine, there's now the pall over them, if taken seriously, of first having pledged loyalty to Russia.

Can't just let them leave. Must first abuse and humiliate them. Otherwise you're not truly a powerful (vlastnyi) country. (Conveniently, the root of "vlastny' is the same as in "Vladimir".)

[another_liberal]

2. They get Crimea . . .

And we steal the rest of the country, for the IMF to loot at its leisure.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Aside from the base,

and who now gets the $1 billion a year lease payment , the material benefit seems to be related to be Russian imports from Crimea, and those to Belarus and Kazakhstan too, which are now protected and similarly Crimea gets the same benefit. UK tv news reports indicated that little if anything of Crimea's exports would've found substitute markets in the EU.

Crimea will also become the sole beneficiary of income from tourism that area being regarded as having the prize resorts.

Crimea is due to adopt the Ruble but also intends to use the Ukraine's Hryvnia through to 2105. However - Kiev shut down supply of Hryvnias to Crimea's main bank last week. I can only assume that will free off when the dust settles.

Yes - its inevitable Ukraine will be looted largely due to an inability to an inability to conform with the required condition of loans outside of the $2 billion now promised by the EU to help tide them over - that is a aid in the form of a gift. No such gifts are yet apparently forthcoming from the USA who have merely said they will shore up £1 billion in loans by way of guarantees.
They will be required to help themselves by privatising state held assets most of which I would guess will go to western corporations unless China joins the the fray.

[another_liberal]

9. Sounds about right . . .

Ukraine's assets will be sold off by her technocrat "interim" President at yard sale prices, and the Ukrainian people will still be left in debt to the mega-bankers for generations to come.

[LanternWaste]

7. Interesting prophecies...

Interesting prophecies. However, I realize prophecies are the best argument many have to offer.

[another_liberal]

8. "Just the facts, madam, just the facts."

I'm not offering a prophecy at all. I'm merely trying to describe the situation as it actually exists.

[Adrahil]

4. It is time for Ukraine to get their troops out of there....

... they are not going to resist militarily. Best to get those soldiers and their families somewhere safe. Realistically, Crimea is gone. Best to try and keep Putin's talons off of other places.

[blackspade]

5. So the Russians continue their campaign of aggression.

The Ukrainians should have spiked their guns and scuttled their ships weeks ago.
And then left.