Russia Appoints New Commander of Ground Troops in Crimea
16:39 29.01.2015(updated 17:19 29.01.2015)
The Black Sea Fleet command is set to create a combat-ready group of ground troops in Crimea, capable of repelling any threats and challenges. The new deputy commander will be in charge of this task.
MOSCOW, January 29 (Sputnik) – Russia has tasked Lt. Gen. Yuri Petrov, who was appointed deputy Black Sea Fleet commander earlier Thursday, with creating a combat-ready group of ground troops in Russia's region of Crimea.
"The Black Sea Fleet command has been tasked with creating a combat-ready group of ground troops in Crimea, capable of repelling any threats and challenges. The new deputy commander will be in charge of this task," a source in the Russian General Staff told RIA Novosti.
According to the source, additional ground forces were deployed in Crimea following the peninsula's reunification with Russia in March.
The source pointed out that according to the agreement signed between Ukraine and Russia in 1997, the number of Black Sea Fleet troops could not exceed 25,000 in Crimea, though only 15,000 troops were deployed on the peninsula.
In March 2014, Crimea reunified with Russia following a referendum in which as many as 96 percent of voters were in favor of joining Russia. The West branded the move an 'illegal annexation.'
© Sputnik
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
