Ukraine’s Navy flagship, the Hetman Sahaidachny frigate, has reportedly refused to follow orders from Kiev, and come over to Russia’s side and is returning home after taking part in NATO operation in the Gulf of Aden flying the Russian naval flag.
There has been conflicting information on where exactly the vessel is, but a Russian senator has confirmed to Izvestia daily that the frigate defected to the Russian side.
“Ukraine’s Navy flagship the Hetman Sahaidachny has come over to our side today. It has hung out the St Andrew’s flag,” Senator Igor Morozov, a member of the committee on the international affairs, told Russia’s Izvestia.
He said the flagship is on its way back to the Black Sea after drills in the Mediterranean. “The crew has fulfilled the order by the chief commander of Ukraine’s armed forces Viktor Yanukovich,” he added.
The move comes after the Navy command resigned Friday. Self-appointed President Aleksandr Turchinov made Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky the new Navy Chief, a statement published on the President’s website Saturday said.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the Prime Minister Ukraine’s self-imposed government, had earlier asked his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to let the frigate through the Bosporus strait, according to the Kiev Times. The ship captain and the head of Ukraine’s contingent in the operation, Rear Admiral Andrey Tarasov disobeyed orders from Kiev.
The Hetman Sahaidachny returns to Sevastopol, Crimea after taking part in a joint counter-piracy operation with NATO and the EU off the Horn of Africa, reported UNN on Friday, citing Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. On February 26, after crossing the Suez Canal, the ship entered the Mediterranean Sea and was expected to be in Sevastopol in early March.
Everything is proceeding according to plan.
Defects To Russia
And half of the Ukrainian Army.
Ping.
This happens when soldiers don’t get paid.
” a Russian senator has claimed in an interview with Ivestia Daily. “
Waiting for verification
Ukraine defense minister just said they cannot defeat russian army.
I’ve found another source for the news:
Ukrainian Navy flagship takes Russia’s side – report
http://rt.com/news/ukraine-navy-flaghsip-protest-389/
I posted the Isvestia article yesterday...
Deputy chief of staff of Ukrainian armed forces resigns
Lt. Gen. Yury Dumansky, deputy chief of staff of the Ukrainian armed forces, has announced his resignation.
“The Ukrainian armed forces are being dragged into a social conflict today. This may cause a massive loss of life, both among civilians and military servicemen. This is my personal position as an officer and a citizen of Ukraine.
I have decided to tender my resignation to prevent further escalation [of violence] and bloodshed,” he said.
The Commander of Ukraine’s Naval Forces had pledged his allegiance to the Crimean people. He made the announcement at a news-conference in the city of Sevastopol today.
http://www.onlinenewsvideo.net/ukraines-navy-chief-swears-allegiance-to-crimea_43e7d2f7e.html