Russian Black Sea Fleet approaching Sevastopol, Ukraine

Ukrainian Defense Ministry: Russian ships fulfilled Yushchenko’s orders

UNIAN-19.08.2008

The ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet – “Moskva” missile cruiser, Smetlivy patrol boat, Mirazh missile boat, and Turbinist minesweeper – plan to enter Sevastopol in the morning of August 20.
According to the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, the leadership of the Russian fleet submitted to the Defense Ministry of Ukraine the official information about the planned entrance of four ships to Sevastopol.
They followed the procedure of informing the Ukrainian side, which was determined in the Decrees of the Ukrainian President №705/2008 and №706/2008 “On Decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated August 13”, concerning the movement of Russian military objects on the Ukrainian territory.
As UNIAN reported earlier, President Yushchenko of Ukraine signed a decree requiring the fleet, based in the Crimean port of Sevas-topol, to give 72 hours’ notice of any ship movements. But General Nogovitsyn in Moscow said that the restrictions would be ignored.

“We have one general commander for the Black Sea Fleet,” he said. “It is the President of Russia and all commands from outside are illegitimate to us.”