Ukranian troops eye their Russian counterparts across the border with suspicion
- 10 years ago
Ukrainian troops are on patrol along the border with Russia while Kyiv and the West try to second guess President Vladimir Putin.
NATO’s top commander has warned that with his sizable force in the region the Russian leader could be thinking of taking more areas of Ukraine or even have another ex-Soviet republic in his sights after annexing Crimea.
Ukraine’s new pro-European Union cabinet, which refuses to recognise Russia’s takeover of Crimea, is concerned about eight other regions. A national security committee has warned of pro-Russian elements trying to usurp regional government power.
While most of the military bases in Crimea are now under Russian rule, at the Feodosya base the Ukrainians had been holding on.
But on Monday Russian troops seized the naval base, forcing themselves in using helicopters and armoured personnel carriers. Kyiv has not officially ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the region but is said to be organising their relocation.
NATO’s top commander has warned that with his sizable force in the region the Russian leader could be thinking of taking more areas of Ukraine or even have another ex-Soviet republic in his sights after annexing Crimea.
Ukraine’s new pro-European Union cabinet, which refuses to recognise Russia’s takeover of Crimea, is concerned about eight other regions. A national security committee has warned of pro-Russian elements trying to usurp regional government power.
While most of the military bases in Crimea are now under Russian rule, at the Feodosya base the Ukrainians had been holding on.
But on Monday Russian troops seized the naval base, forcing themselves in using helicopters and armoured personnel carriers. Kyiv has not officially ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the region but is said to be organising their relocation.