''I don't see any future in Crimea,'' trapped Ukrainian soldier tells euronews
- 10 years ago
Perevalnoe is a Ukrainian military base in Crimea located some 20 kilometres from the peninsula’s capital Simferopol.
Inside are Ukranian soldiers. They have been trapped there, surrounded by troops suspected to be Russian, since the beginning of the month.
Describing the stand-off from outside the military barracks, euronews’ Sergio Cantone said: ‘‘We are in front of one of Ukraine’s military bases in the Crimean peninsula. The situation at the base is turning into a major political problem. Namely, what will now happen to the Ukrainian soldiers inside now that the region has voted to join Russia?’‘
Euronews also managed to make contact with a soldier inside the base, who spoke about the Ukrainian troops morale.
He said: “I feel humiliated, I have no future, I don’t see any future here in Crimea. Ukraine, the government in Kyiv, we have the feeling that they don’t care whether Crimea is part of Ukraine or not. They just don’t care. They make decisions in Kyiv and have forgotten Ukrainians still live here. There is something else you must understand; nobody is going to fight against the pro-Russia self-defence forces. If the decision is taken to formally join Russia, the brigade will not fight, they will give up.”
Inside are Ukranian soldiers. They have been trapped there, surrounded by troops suspected to be Russian, since the beginning of the month.
Describing the stand-off from outside the military barracks, euronews’ Sergio Cantone said: ‘‘We are in front of one of Ukraine’s military bases in the Crimean peninsula. The situation at the base is turning into a major political problem. Namely, what will now happen to the Ukrainian soldiers inside now that the region has voted to join Russia?’‘
Euronews also managed to make contact with a soldier inside the base, who spoke about the Ukrainian troops morale.
He said: “I feel humiliated, I have no future, I don’t see any future here in Crimea. Ukraine, the government in Kyiv, we have the feeling that they don’t care whether Crimea is part of Ukraine or not. They just don’t care. They make decisions in Kyiv and have forgotten Ukrainians still live here. There is something else you must understand; nobody is going to fight against the pro-Russia self-defence forces. If the decision is taken to formally join Russia, the brigade will not fight, they will give up.”