Ukraine faces loss of navy as Russian forces in Crimea dig in
- 10 years ago
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Wind whips across Crimea's biggest lake, as Ukraine's warships rise and fall in the choppy waves.
Russian forces have blocked Ukraine's only exit point to the Black Sea by sinking two aging vessels here.
And a well-armed Russian missile cruiser sits a short distance off the coast.
A third of Ukraine's warships are left stranded in the waters close to land, as Russian forces have blocked their only exit point to the Black Sea.
Ukraine is now facing a humiliating loss of its navy.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VADIM FILIPENKO, THE UKRAINIAN DEPUTY COMMANDER, SAYING:
"We are not going to fight, we hope it will be resolved in a peaceful way. If the Crimea will go to Russia, it is all right, we will go to serve [Ukraine] in the other locations."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's naval headquarters in Sevastopol -- the same port where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based -- remains under virtual siege by Russian soldiers and pro-Russia
Wind whips across Crimea's biggest lake, as Ukraine's warships rise and fall in the choppy waves.
Russian forces have blocked Ukraine's only exit point to the Black Sea by sinking two aging vessels here.
And a well-armed Russian missile cruiser sits a short distance off the coast.
A third of Ukraine's warships are left stranded in the waters close to land, as Russian forces have blocked their only exit point to the Black Sea.
Ukraine is now facing a humiliating loss of its navy.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VADIM FILIPENKO, THE UKRAINIAN DEPUTY COMMANDER, SAYING:
"We are not going to fight, we hope it will be resolved in a peaceful way. If the Crimea will go to Russia, it is all right, we will go to serve [Ukraine] in the other locations."
Meanwhile, Ukraine's naval headquarters in Sevastopol -- the same port where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is based -- remains under virtual siege by Russian soldiers and pro-Russia