Tense standoff with Russian forces at Crimean military base
- 10 years ago
This is Ukraine's Perevalnoye (Pe-re-val-nye) military base in Crimea, where there's been a tense standoff with Russian forces surrounding the base.
Russian troops have effectively seized the mostly-Russian speaking Crimea peninsula, where Moscow has a crucial naval base.
They've have urged Ukrainian forces to give up their weapons and support regional authorities loyal to Moscow.
But the Ukrainian troops inside this base have refused.
Their representative addressed reporters outside.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) REPRESENTATIVE OF UKRAINIAN BASE COMMANDER, VALERY BOIKO, SAYING:
"I am far from thinking that there will be an attack or a war. Nobody needs this, you or we, nobody from Ukrainian citizens to those serving in the army. I hope that the politicians will come to an agreement at their level."
No shots were fired in the standoff.
But the families of the servicemen stuck inside are anxious about how this might end.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian
Russian troops have effectively seized the mostly-Russian speaking Crimea peninsula, where Moscow has a crucial naval base.
They've have urged Ukrainian forces to give up their weapons and support regional authorities loyal to Moscow.
But the Ukrainian troops inside this base have refused.
Their representative addressed reporters outside.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) REPRESENTATIVE OF UKRAINIAN BASE COMMANDER, VALERY BOIKO, SAYING:
"I am far from thinking that there will be an attack or a war. Nobody needs this, you or we, nobody from Ukrainian citizens to those serving in the army. I hope that the politicians will come to an agreement at their level."
No shots were fired in the standoff.
But the families of the servicemen stuck inside are anxious about how this might end.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian