Photograph by Wanwa
Ukraine is preparing to “quickly and efficiently” withdraw its troops and their families from Crimea, according to Kiev’s security chief.
Andriy Parubiy explained more details of Kiev’s position regarding Crimea at a news conference, and said that Ukraine was seeking UN support to designate Crimea a “demilitarised zone”, which would involve the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops to continental Ukraine as well as the withdrawal of Russian troops.
He went on to say that Kiev are also drawing up plans to evacuate any Ukrainians that do not wish to live in an “occupied territory”, and that Ukraine will be leaving the Moscow-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) alliance.
This news comes after a controversial referendum in Crimea on Sunday, with voters choosing to leave Ukraine and join the Russian Federation, with a treaty to this effect signed with Moscow a few days later.
Yesterday, pro-Russian forces captured two of Ukraine’s Crimean naval bases, detained Ukraine’s navy chief, and were filmed replacing Ukraine’s flag at the naval base offices and replacing them with the Russian colours of white, blue, and red.
Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema and Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh reportedly also had their passage blocked into Crimea, with developments ominously described by Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen as:
“The gravest threat to European security and stability since the end of the Cold War”
