Ukrainian military unwilling to serve under Crimean gov't 'free to leave' - source
3 March 2014, 17:24
The military service members who do not want to serve under command of the Crimean authorities and obey their orders, are free to leave the peninsula, a source in the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has said.
'We notified all the military bases, including the administration of the military bases deployed on the peninsula, is held by the Crimean government and its chairman, Sergei Aksyonov. Those who disagree are free to keep their personal weapon and leave Crimea,' the source said.
'They will not be impeded by anyone, we guarantee them a 'green corridor' exit, we respect their choice,' he added.
'We cannot allow ourselves to have a fifth column behind our backs, so we insist that those who disagree with the autonomous republic's current policy should leave our territory,' the source said.
'The majority of the brigade soldiers and commanders come from the western parts of Ukraine. The sentiments in the Ukrainian West are well known. We understand that if they stay and serve in Crimea, it will be difficult for them to explain such a decision once they are back home. This is why we are giving them a chance to leave Crimea,' he said.
Nevertheless, a majority of Ukrainian military service members do not want to fight against the Crimeans, the source claimed.
'A day earlier the command of an airborne division based in Kherson lined up the personnel and asked just one question: 'Who is ready to fight in Crimea - fall out!' As a result, only 14 out of approximately 15,000 troops fell out,' the source said.
Voice of Russia, Interfax
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