Ukrainian military who refused to pledge allegiance to people of Crimea leave republic
SIMFEROPOL. March 13 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian military who refused to pledge their allegiance to the people of Crimea are leaving the territory of the peninsula, Rustam Temirgaliyev, the first deputy prime minister of Crimea, told Interfax.
"Most Ukrainian military units located in Crimea have taken the side of the self-defense units. Some military men, primarily from the western regions, including sailors, who have refused to pledge their allegiance to the people of Crimea, have begun leaving the territory of the peninsula. We are enabling them to leave Crimea without weapons," Temirgaliyev said.
Temirgaliyev said the first group of such military men has already reached the area of the city of Armyansk on the Ukrainian-Crimean border.
In the meantime, the military in several tank units stationed on the peninsula have stated their readiness to pledge their allegiance to the people of Crimea.
"The Crimean self-defense units have taken the tank units where T-80UD tanks are quartered under their control. The personnel of these units have stated their readiness to serve the people of Crimea. This means that we have armored vehicles now," Temirgaliyev said.
