Turchynov: We will return Crimea in a way we lost – bloodless

Thursday, September 11, 2014 - 13:30 (EEST) Section: Latest news

The Ukrainian Army in Crimea had the order to open fire on occasion of the capture of its military units, but it did not fulfill this order.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov in an interview to the magazine Focus, published on Thursday, said about some of the “behind the scenes” details of the loss of Crimea.
When asked why our soldiers in Crimea did not fire even during the seizures of military units, Turchynov noted that the Ukrainian army, located in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, was completed by local contractors by more than by 70%,” for whom it was just an opportunity to earn. “Hence, there was the unwillingness to execute the order on the use of weapons in an attempt to capture. Such an order was given at once, but then there was not anyone to perform it,” he said, a statement on the website of the parliament reads.
Turchynov said that Russian aggression in Crimea began on the background of an actual lack of power and the efficient army in the country. Russia was well prepared to the force action.
“Russian troops in Crimea were actually legitimate. They acted illegally, making an avant-garde of provocateurs and separatist sentiments of the population. But at the same time, according to the contract, which was prolonged in Kharkiv by Yanukovych, Russia could place on the territory of Crimea the military contingent of up to 46,000 persons. Not only in Sevastopol – the Russian soldiers had a right to move around the peninsula,” recalled the head of the parliament.
Besides, separatism made ??itself felt – a stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea was used for subversive propaganda among the population of the autonomy.
“This provocation would never be a success without support of the local population,” he added.
However, according to Turchynov, the time will dispel the illusion of people, who were led by generous pledges of the Kremlin provocateurs. Strong European state, which will be built by the Ukrainian people, whatever Putin does to hamper, will be a convincing argument for all. “And it will be a basis for the return of Crimea to Ukraine – understanding by the majority of Crimean residents what they have lost. The main factor that will help us to do this without the bloodshed is stabilization of the economic situation in Ukraine and active movement towards European integration,” he said.