Turchynov said that “traitor Yanukovych” was to blame for the surrender of Crimea
The Yanukovych regime destroyed Ukraine's defense complex, so by the beginning of the crisis in Crimea it was impossible to assemble a sufficient military reserve to defend the country.
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Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Alexander Turchynov said this during interrogation at the court hearing in the case of Yanukovych’s treason, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Unfortunately, on February 27, there was no head of executive power in Ukraine yet. Without the government, without the leadership of the security forces, it was almost impossible to take effective measures. Therefore, the main task that stood before me on the 27th was the formation of a coalition and parliament.
At the same time, when I was informed in the morning that Russian special forces had seized administrative buildings in Crimea, I immediately gave the order to the leaders of the internal troops who were based in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to surround the parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers in Crimea, prepare to repel them and carry out an operation. A few hours later I was informed that, unfortunately, they were only able to cordon off the buildings, but under pressure from aggressive civilians who had gathered in large numbers, they were unable to complete the task and were forced to disperse. That is, there was no one to carry out the task of unblocking the Cabinet of Ministers and Parliament,” he told the court.
After the coalition and the Cabinet of Ministers were formed in the Rada, Turchynov, according to him, invited the security ministers and gave the order to immediately prepare the armed forces to enter Crimea and “repel Russian aggression.”
“On the 28th, already during the first meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, Defense Minister Tenyukh reported that due to the destroyed state of the Armed Forces, it was impossible to assemble more than 5 thousand military personnel, this is about two battalion tactical groups. In fact, one of Yanukovych’s most terrible crimes was that they systematically, deliberately destroyed the Armed Forces, they systematically destroyed the defense complex, the entire security and defense sector. But the main problem, which I quote was revealed at the National Security and Defense Council, is that the biggest threat in these conditions is an invasion (by the Russian Federation) of the mainland of Ukraine. The leaders said that up to 20 thousand Russian military, tanks, multiple launch rocket systems, aviation, etc. could be deployed against Ukraine. In such conditions, this reserve (of the armed forces of Ukraine - Ed) in the country was virtually impossible,” he said.
Turchynov also added that the transfer of troops had begun to protect the most dangerous areas, in particular Kiev.
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