Ukraine – Russian threats around Crimea length: 10.16
The waves crash into the harbour of Sevastopol, on the southern Crimean peninsula. The city was founded as a naval base in 1783 by the Russians, and since then their Black Sea Fleet has been stationed here. In 1954 Crimea was given to Ukraine by Russia, but this was during Soviet times and could be perceived merely as a symbolic gift, but after the independence of Ukraine in 1991 this became a contentious issue.
Memories of the Soviet Union are kept alive in Crimea which has a Russian speaking majority. Next to Soviet propaganda from the old days, such as Lenin pictures in the streets. Russian flags can be found flying. On the naval base there are upwards of 15 000 Russian military personnel, and sailors are common in the streets of Sevastopol, well liked by the citizens.
- Igor Sidorov, Russian sailor:
“Yes, they treat us good, there are nice citizens here.”
In the mid 1990’s the Russian nationalistic movement was strong, demanding reunification with Russia. Even today, according to polls up to 40% of Crimean citizens favour reunification.
To appease the nationalists, Crimea was given the status of a semi-autonomous republic, bound by Ukrainian law but largely self-governed. But Ukraine’s ambitions to enhance their own identity have stirred up emotions and problems. Ukrainian is often the only official language used and prescriptions written in a foreign language create problems for old people.
- Old lady at pharmacy
“There...something in Ukrainian...”
Even though most schools teach in Russian, learning Ukrainian is mandatory.
- Arsenij
“I don't like it.”
- Jana
“Because we are Russian.”
- Arsenij
“Because we are Russian and not "Khokhlandski" (a respectful word for
Ukrainian nationalists, but with a negative connotation)
But most here have a more pragmatic view of the other language.
- Jana
“We live in Ukraine so we should learn Ukrainian.”
- Lena
-“I study it in order to enter university and I like this language.”
Tensions over the Black Sea Fleet base have been heightened during the last few years. Ukraine is actively trying to free itself from Russian dominance and seeks EU and NATO membership. The Ukrainian fleet takes part in joint exercises and operations with NATO forces.
Today, according to a treaty Russia pays rent for the base. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that there will be no continuation of the lease after the agreement ends in April 2017.
This will have a damaging effect, not just that all Russian military will be forced to leave the city by then, but also that the up to 30,000 in Sevastopol who are economically dependent on the base will lose their livelihoods.
- Sergej Normanskij, TV-journalist, Sevastopol
“For them it seems that it is a axe hanging over their heads. Here they have flats, business property, children at school and so on and all this instability puts nervous imprints on the situation, so people are afraid of that date.”
The Georgia crisis this summer heightened the conflict surrounding the base when Ukraine heavily criticized the Russian incursion and also demanded to be informed of Russian ship’s movements to and from Sevastopol port. It is here where many of the Russian warships that were dispatched to Georgia are stationed.
There are also huge Russian investments in Sevastopol and politicians in the Russian parliament openly discuss regaining control of the peninsula.
Crimea is economically weak and receives huge subsidies from Ukraine. This fuels discontent in the rest of the country. The Russian speaking population feels unwelcome in Ukraine, and Russia actively stirs up these sentiments. According to Sergei Kulyk, who heads an institute in Sevastopol doing research on security in the Black Sea region, 30,000 Russian passports have been issued the last ten years to Crimeans.
- Sergej Kulyk, director of the NOMOS Centre of Assistance to the Geopolitical Problems and Euro-Atlantic Cooperation of the Black Sea Region Studies
“Russia is interested in having (a significant) number of Russian people in the Crimea. In this case it makes it possible for the Russian Federation to influence and we don't even want to think about it or believe that the situation here can turn into a situation like in South Ossetia.”
The Russian nationalistic movements, of course, are strongly opposed to the removal of the naval base and Russia sends out mixed messages about their respect for Ukraine’s independence.
- Dr. Alexander Sushko, research director, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, Kiev
“Until August Russia also recognized the territorial integrity of Georgia.
There are some concerns in Ukraine that if something were to happen, Russia would reconsider its official position regarding the territorial integrity of the region. This is one of the main concerns for Ukrainians.”
The Russian Navy is not yet willing to enter the debate on plans for the removal of the base. There have even been threats from the Russians, according to Alexander Sushko, political researcher in Kiev.
- Dr. Alexander Sushko, research director, Institute for Euro-Atlantic
Cooperation, Kiev
“Russia implicitly says that if Ukraine is consistent in its desire to withdraw the Black Sea Fleet something very bad in Sevastopol can happen, some sort of destabilization.”
The growing political tensions also affect normal people. In Sevastopol relations between Russian and Ukrainian speaking people have become strained.
- Sergej Normanskij, TV-journalist
“Before this, Russian and Ukrainian families could easily live their lives as neighbours and visit each other. Now, it's more difficult because the military officers of the Black Sea Fleet (both Ukrainian and Russian) would be asked "who did you visit, what did you speak about there?"
But the bond between Russia and Ukraine is still strong and has made its mark over the years.
Jelena Kudrjasjova lives on the outskirts of Sevastopol in an area built specifically for military families during the Soviet period. Her situation is typical of many of those who live here. She is Ukrainian speaking and her husband Juri is Russian speaking, but also officer in the Ukrainian fleet.
- Juri Kudrjasjova, shows uniform
“It is as if I was boasting...”
According to polls, a majority of Crimeans want friendly relations with Russia and are therefore against NATO membership for Ukraine. But not the Kudrjasjova family, they consider themselves foremost Ukrainians, but more pragmatically they want to be able to finish building their house.
- Jelena Kudrjasjova
“In case Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, we hope the salary (their own) will increase. Life conditions will improve.”
- Juri Kudrjasjov
“We are not against the membership.”
- Jelena Kudrjasjova
“Yes, we are not opposed to NATO. Honestly speaking, we look forward to it because we are a family of Ukrainian military, that's why we look forward to improvements.”
Because of the predominance of Russian speakers, many people watch Russian TV channels that usually present the situation of the Black Sea Fleet and its base totally differently compared to Ukrainian TV channels.
- Jelena Kudrjasjova
“People in Sevastopol are given a lot of incorrect information. People know only the information politicians want them to know.”
- Juri Kudrjasjov
“Some of the citizens of Sevastopol are for the Russian fleet because a lot of them have relatives and they themselves work in this sphere. Their husbands and children do service.”
At an education centre, courses are given to military officers or those who now have employment at the base. The education will lessen the problems associated with the expected redundancies.
- Evgenij Chukhlomin, student
“Without this education it would be worse because 25 000 people in Sevastopol work in the Black Sea Fleet.”
- Alexandra Zosimova, student
“As you know I would like to find a new job that could match my wishes.”
Military naval officers are to receive courses in navigation, among others, to enable them to get civilian jobs once they become unemployed. The re education is paid for by NATO.
- Christopher Staudt, program manager NATO-Ukraine resettlement program
“This is a concern first for all, 1998 already, it was requested by the Ukrainian government to assist in conquering the negative consequences of the closure.”
If the economic problems for all those who are dependent upon the base are not solved, there is a huge risk the situation could be used by the Russians to stir up instability in the Crimea.
- Dr. Alexander Sushko, research director, Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation
“These issues should be addressed by the Ukrainian government beforehand, maybe now or very soon, so it is a task for the Ukrainian government to propose an attractive model for the future of those people living in Sevastopol.”
- Sergej Normanskij, TV-journalist
“I believe if we move forward in the same way and increase tensions in Ukrainian - Russian relations, then principally civil war in Crimea is inevitable. How can we remedy this situation? Moscow and Kiev should discuss as equal parties and decide how to live and cooperate as friends.”
- Jelena Kudrjasjova
“Of course the problem has been discussed and it will be for a long time because it is a burning issue today. It will be discussed until 2017 because we live here. The city is our future, our life, the future of our children. It cannot but worry us, no matter how tired we are of all these political quarrels.”