Interfax
March 18, 2014
Crimean PM rules out that Ukrainian military may enter Crimea
MOSCOW: Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov has ruled out any possibility that the situation in Crimea could switch into a military phase from a political one, contrary to what Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk said recently.
“Not a single Ukrainian military serviceman will enter Crimean territory,” Aksyonov said in commenting to Interfax on Yatsenyuk’s claim that the situation surrounding Crimea was entering a military phase.
“I absolutely rule out such an option. The approaches to Crimea are blocked from all sides by self-defense units, and therefore not a single Ukrainian military serviceman will step on Crimean soil. This is impossible even theoretically, not to mention practically,” he said.
All statements from Kyiv are “nothing but intimidation. They have developed a habit for intimidating and pressing, but they can’t do anything,” he said.
“The decision has been made irreversibly. Nobody will bully or scare us. All this talk about mobilization in Kyiv is a bluff. I am sure the people of Ukraine and in Kyiv itself don’t want to fight with the Crimeans,” he said.
There will be no military mobilization in Crimea, Aksyonov said. “And we don’t recommend anyone to declare any mobilization. Nothing will come out of this, and nobody will conquer us on our soil. Those sitting in Kyiv now should come to their senses until it’s too late,” he said.
Ukrainian radicals are trying to promote themselves and “are ready for anything and are thirsting for human blood, but I assure you that nothing will come out of this,” he said.
Along with self-defense forces, Crimean Interior Ministry units are maintaining security and order in Crimea now, Aksyonov said. “Over a hundred people are on duty at checkpoints on the ways leading to Crimea. The airport and railway station are being monitored, and the ports are being checked, and all this is happening under our close control, and so I can’t even imagine how these people in Kyiv may try to enter Crimea. The citizens of Crimea are in absolute security,” he said.
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Interfax-Ukraine
March 18, 2014
Yatseniuk: conflict with Russia switches from political to military stage
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatseniuk has said that “the Crimean issue” has moved from a political to a military stage as a result of Russia’s actions.
“Now it actually switches from a political to a military stage due to the Russian military,” he said in a joint statement with Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov on Tuesday.
He noted that the responsibility for the military escalation of the conflict lies solely with the political leadership of Russia.
“Today, Russian military started shooting at Ukrainian servicemen, and this is a war crime that has no period of limitation,” Yatseniuk said.
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