Putin Pulls Back Troops, Says No Need for Military Action in Ukraine

Xcathdra
Putin Pulls Back Troops, Says No Need for Military Action in Ukraine

In a small press conference on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed there were no Russian troops in Ukraine. However, he maintained that he reserves the right to use military action if needed, and he will do so according to international law.

As far as reports of Russian troops on the ground in the Crimea region, which several journalists have confirmed, Putin denied they were part of his regime, citing the fact that their uniforms were unmarked. According to the Washington Post

“Look at former Soviet republics,” he said, according to the Washington Post's translation. “You can go to a store and buy a uniform. Were these Russian soldiers? No, they’re very well-trained self-defense forces.”

The Russian president claimed that he is not trying to make Crimea a part of Russia, saying that only people who live in Crimea can determine their future.

Putin did, however, say Ukraine's interim president, who replaced the ousted Viktor Yanukovych after he fled the country, unlawfully came into power. In his own news conference last week, Yanukovych expressed a similar sentiment, saying, "I am president of Ukraine, elected by the people of Ukraine [...] and I remain the legitimate president of Ukraine."

Earlier today, Putin pulled back thousands of troops that have been amassing along the Russia-Ukraine border over the past few days, Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing the Kremlin’s press secretary.

edit on 4-3-2014 by Xcathdra because: (no reason given)

Putin skirted questions about Russian troops' taking control of Ukraine's Crimea, saying the armed men who seized buildings there over the past few days were local forces.

I also just read that some Ukrainian internet useres noticed in one of the photos one of the soldiers forgot to take off his name tag. Searching for him on vkontakte (the Russian facebook) they found him, with information on his page about his Russian military unit (GRU, military intelligence).

The GRU does not have any special-purpose large units, units, or subunits that are directly under the jurisdiction of the GRU. They are all part of the military districts and the fleets, and in operational terms are subordinate to the relevant commanders. During the Soviet period, the basic operational spetsnaz unit was the brigada or brigade. Virtually every military district (MD) was assigned one spetsnaz brigade of 900 to 2,000 spetsnazovtsi. Each brigada includes a brigade headquarters, a signal battalion, support units and battalions (otriadi) of variable composition, ranging from fewer than 200 to over 200 soldiers.

As of mid-1992, GRU special-operations groups remained trained to operate in 3-7 man groups for intelligence-gathering and directaction missions in enemy rear areas. They likely are assigned missions in interethnic conflict areas, as well. Their prominent role in the new Russian mobile force components now being planned (comprising largely airborne, naval infantry, air assault and transport aviation) seems assured.

deviant300
reply to post by tommyjo

 

Spetsnaz GRU ? So Russian Spec Forces are at work in Crimea?

deviant300
reply to post by tommyjo

 

Spetsnaz GRU ? So Russian Spec Forces are at work in Crimea?

SLAYER69
reply to post by Xcathdra

 

I think some people may simply be disappointed that the Mystery soldiers may be pulled back to wherever they once came from. It just only happens to coincide with Putin saying Russian Soldiers who were on a Surprise Exercise are being returned to Russia from wherever they were..

No harm, no foul

edit on 4-3-2014 by SLAYER69 because: (no reason given)

They are the third arm of Russian State Security and not a happy thing as an explanation for the masks, I'd think.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday denied that Russian forces are currently deployed in Ukraine's Crimea region and said that video footage showing Russian license plates on the military vehicles was "complete nonsense."

Shoigu responded to journalists' questions Wednesday by saying that he did not know how the unidentified forces came to possess the Lynx and Tiger armored cars that are used by the Russian military.

Photos of Russian hardware in Crimea nothing but provocation – Russia's Defense Minister

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has dismissed as nothing but a provocation the alleged photos and videos in mass media of Russian military hardware in Crimea. "Of course, it’s a provocation," Shoigu told reporters on Wednesday. "Pure rubbish," he said, commenting on the allegations.

Shoigu also noted that there was no information that people blocking Ukrainian military facilities in Crimea had received modern weaponry, including Tigr and Rys personnel armored carriers. "I do not have any idea about this," the minister said

I'd hazard a guess the masks are used for the same reason balaclavas and masks were used by the protestors, to hide an individuals identity to mitigate the danger of reprisals and targeting of their families and homes.

The exact same thing is done by US and UK riot police...no face on show, no identifying numbers...the idea is not to be recognised, so no reprisals can come your way.