ARTICLE
The 1994 secret operation that saved Crimea, and perhaps Ukraine, from Russian occupation-
The untold story of Ukraine’s covert operation 30 years
ago to halt Russia’s attempt to occupy Crimea emerged in
recently published documents. The records detail
Ukraine’s restrained yet decisive actions.
Euromaidan Press
Bohdan Ben
19/08/2023
https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/08/19/the-1994-secret-operation-that-saved-crimea-and-perhaps-ukraine-from-russian-occupation/
Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne produced a documentary by Ukrainian director Serhiy Lysenko titled Crimea. Liberation. Using documents and first-hand accounts from former Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officials, the film tells the story of Russia’s first failed attempt to occupy Crimea and control the Ukrainian peninsula.
“Everything was done quickly, clearly, rigidly, and correctly,” recalled Serhiy Ropaev in the documentary. Ropaev was involved in the 1994 events as head of the SBU’s Special Forces Alpha unit. Due to Ukraine’s demonstration of strength, local Russian-backed politician Yuriy Meshkov quickly lost support and eventually fled to Moscow, while Russia didn’t dare use its army against Ukraine.
But in 2014, Moscow effectively used a small window of opportunity when a destabilized, post-revolutionary Ukraine couldn’t react similarly. Yevhen Marchuk, the first head of the Ukrainian Security Service (1991-1994), admits in the film that the strategy Moscow used to invade Ukraine in 2014 was almost identical to how it attempted to occupy Crimea in 1994. Marchuk conveyed this information in his last interview before his death on 5 August 2021. [Excerpt]
“We can clearly see that our enemy, Russia, is interested in the worst-case scenario in the Middle East.
I am grateful to everyone who works to keep the Middle East from further exploding, but also to hold terrorists accountable for everything they have done against Israel—against children and women, against ordinary people.
We also remember about the citizens of other countries who have been detained or killed by terrorists. There are also Ukrainians among the dead. My condolences go out to everyone who has lost a loved one.
It is critically important—for everyone around the world including those who do not yet comprehend—that terrorists must always be held accountable for all the evil they have caused.”
― Zelensky
https://twitter.com/i/status/1712541061254623684