Russian Flag Flying on All Crimea, Ukraine Stops Moscow’s Crews in Kiev

Local Editor

The Russian flag is now flying over all the military facilities in Crimea, following Moscow's seizure of the region from Ukraine, Russia's top general said on Wednesday.

The announcement by military chief of staff General Valery Gerasimov came after Russian troops on Tuesday stormed the last naval vessel still flying the Ukrainian flag in Crimea and said they now have complete control over all military bases.

"The flags of the Russian Federation have been raised at all 193 military installations in Crimea," said Gerasimov, quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency, adding that flag raising ceremonies had taken place with the singing of the Russian national anthem.
He said those Ukrainian servicemen wishing to leave Crimea could freely do so by rail and then be sent on to new postings by the Ukrainian military once they were outside Crimea.

He said that some 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers who formerly served in Crimea had so far registered at a central registration point in the Crimean capital Simferopol to organize their departure.

Russia has this month seized control of Crimea from Ukraine in defiance of international fury and last week officially incorporated it into Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukraine of violating international conventions and putting lives at risk by preventing Russian pilots and crew disembarking after passenger flights to Kiev.

Citing information from Russian carrier Aeroflot, the Foreign Ministry said Ukrainian border officials were not allowing crews to rest in compliance with flight safety regulations when they flew to the Ukrainian capital." Russia insists on an unconditional cessation of these irresponsible practices by Ukraine which endanger the safety of civil aviation flights," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier this week, the ministry issued statements saying Russians had been targeted by Ukrainian nationalists in two robberies and accusing the Ukrainian authorities of being unable or unwilling to prevent the incidents.

Moscow has used reports that ethnic Russians in Ukraine are under threat from nationalists as part of its justification for annexing the Crimea region. Russia has also reserved the right to use its armed forces to protect compatriots in Ukraine.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team