'Local Patriots' Drive American Marines from Crimea
Kommersant, Russia
June 12, 2006
Due to mass rallies held by local patriots, the U.S. Marines are leaving Crimea without taking part in any tactical maneuvers. Actually, there was no preparation for Sea Breeze 2006
. The Marines spent their time confined within a military base, a site which had been hastily decided upon for the purpose by Ukraine's Defense Ministry.
Editor's Note: The unarmed Marine reservists arrived last week to install showers and toilets at a Ukrainian military training facility in Feodosiya, Crimea, before joint exercises with NATO later this month.
On Sunday, the first U.S. Marines, 125 in strength, stepped into the busses headed for Simferopol, where a military plane was waiting to transfer them to Germany. The second group is expected to leave Crimea today.
The U.S. Marines faced trouble in Crimea from the very day of their arrival. As soon as a transport ship with containers of armaments and equipment was delivered to the port of Feodosiya, the locals gathered on shore carrying English-language signs and demanding that the guests depart.
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