First Ukrainian Navy Ships Sail Out of Crimea

Ukrainian naval fleet is leaving Crimea, Colonel General Mykhaylo Koval, Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine, said during briefing in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on Friday, April 11.

“This is our fleet and it sails to our coasts. We have arrangements with Russian party about evacuation of our ships and materiel. We follow the scheme: one aircraft flight, two aircraft are transported disassembled on trailers; one ship sails from the port, two ships are towed,” Colonel General Mykhaylo Koval remarked. “Pryluky and Fastiv are the first ships leaving Crimea. Totally, there were 70 ships in Crimea. Only obsolete ships and vessels will stay in the peninsula for their further disposal at site,” he underlined.

Ukrainian missile boat Pryluky (U153) and tanker Fastov left Sevastopol on Thursday, April 10, according to Ukrainian Defence Ministry.

Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine informed that Ka-29 helicopter and MiG-29 aircraft were evacuated from Crimea as well. He also noted that tanks from Perevalne were in a good state while vehicles were almost destroyed.

On the same day, several groups of Ukraine’s navy officers and their families arrived from the occupied Crimean peninsula to Odesa.

According to the representatives of the Ukrainian Navy Command, about 30 vehicles with 80 servicemen and their families left Sevastopol on Thursday, April 10, and arrived to Odesa. The officers started to accomplish their duties at the new location.

Simultaneously, about 100 servicemen were redeployed to Ochakov from South and Sevastopol Naval Bases. Currently, there are some Ukrainian servicemen in Crimea settling the issues of materiel evacuation, the Defence Ministry said in a release.

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Press Release, April 14, 2014, Image: Ukrainian MoD