Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachny entered yesterday the Ukrainian territorial waters and eventually docked at the port of Odesa.
“Today (March 5), Hetman Sahaydachny has entered the Ukrainian territorial waters having participated in Ocean Shield and Atalanta counter-piracy operations; now she is near Odesa port,” the Ukrainian Defence Ministry confirmed.
Capt. 2nd Rank Andriy Magdalyuk, Deputy Commander of the Western Naval Base of the Ukrainian Navy, added that the frigate will soon be docked at the naval base.
The frigate was escorted by Turkish ships through the Bosporus Strait on March 4, when she entered the waters of the Black Sea.
“The military officials are currently solving the personnel accommodation and logistic support. The personnel are ready to accomplish the orders of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of Ukraine,” the Ministry release continued.
With respect to the situation in Crimea, the Ministry said that:”The situation in military units, formations and ships of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is stable but still intense. The Ukrainian ships are blocked in Sevastopol and Streletska Bays. During the night, they were in combat alert.”
On Monday, four Russian Navy ships blocked Ukrainian ships Ternopil and Slavutych inside the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, preventing them to leave the area and demanding that their crews surrender.
Accordingly, the units of coastal troops and marines spent the night following the same scenario: psychological pressure, attempt of forced capture, different provocations. But all these attempts were prevented and neutralized, the Ministry added.
The personnel are said to be lured via proposals of ‘high salaries’ and ‘social bonuses’ in exchange of their defection to the ‘new Crimean authorities’, however the attempts were not successful, said Ukrainian Defence officials. [mappress] Naval Today Staff, March 6, 2014; Image: Ukrainian MoD