Ukraine Orders Pullout from Crimea

“National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine ordered the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to withdraw military units from Crimea,” Ukraine’s interim President Olexander Turchynov said.

Olexander Turchynov explained that this decision was taken because of Russian threats to the lives of military staff and their families in Crimea.

“National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine ordered MoD to withdraw military units from Crimea and ordered the Government to evacuate families of servicemen. The Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers must ensure accommodation of these families and other people leaving Crimea,” Olexander Turchynov stressed.

Maj. Gen. Olexander Rozmaznin, Chief of Central Command Center of Armed Forces of Ukraine, said during a meeting in Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine that servicemen and their families from Crimea would be accommodated and appointed to new posts.

He stressed that a special commission was working in MoD and General Staff on the issue, and that the appropriate plan was developed.

“In the course of current negotiations with Russian party it is scheduled to make ‘corridors’ to withdraw military units under their combat flags and with armament and materiel. Our priority is to evacuate people,” he remarked.

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Press Release, March 25, 2014, Image: Ukrainian MoD