Originally published on March 20, 2014
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Ukraine said on Wednesday that it is prepared to remove its 25,000 military personnel and their families from Crimea to mainland Ukraine, as Russian troops took over two Ukrainian naval bases on the peninsula, according to a report by The Guardian.
"We are developing a plan that would enable us not only to withdraw servicemen but also members of their families in Crimea, so that they could be quickly and efficiently moved to mainland Ukraine," said head of Ukraine's national security and defence council Andriy Parubiy during a press conference in Kiev.
The announcement comes a day after Russia declared the annexation of Crimea. It is clear that Moscow has staged the expansion, as it has been busy expanding its military presence on the peninsula in recent weeks. On Wednesday, it seized two Ukrainian naval bases, Bakhchisaray and Sevastopol, and the latter is the headquarters of Ukraine's navy.
Observers say the Ukrainian government's actions shows it has given in to Russia's military might. According to a CNN report, Ukraine only has 139,000 military personnel and 735 tanks, while the Russian military can deploy up to 774,500 troops and 2,850 tanks. Ukraine also lags far behind in naval power. The Ukrainian naval fleet comprises 25 ships, while Russia has 219 ships at its disposal.
The Crimea crisis has seen relations between Russia and the West revert to a state reminiscent of the Cold War. Ukraine has appealed to the international community not to recognise the "independence" of Crimea, and the west has denounced Russia's advance into Crimea as an act of aggression.
Europe and the United States, despite vows to punish Russia for its incursion into Crimea, have only impos
