4 Apr 2014 11:38

Shoigu: Ukrainian servicemen leave Crimea, arms being transferred

MOSCOW. April 4 (Interfax) - Ukrainian servicemen who have chosen to continue serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces have freely left the Crimean territory, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu said.

"I deem inappropriate and provocative the claims of certain Ukrainian politicians about the alleged abuse of Ukrainian colleagues by our servicemen," he said at a special meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry Board on Friday.

"We are transferring to the Ukrainian side armaments and hardware of military units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which have been disbanded on the peninsula," Shoigu said.