Kyiv Dissatisfied With Russian Style Partnership

Baidarsky State Game Reserve in Bakhchysarai rayon.

After this information came to light, the official Kyiv had to backtrack on its earlier position, belatedly as usual, but better late then never. Last week, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry sent a note to the Russians stressing the BSF command had violated Ukrainian law. The note demanded that no such violations recur. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ihor Hrushko said Ukraine’s belated reaction was due to “the sensitive area to which issues of the Russian BSF presence belong.” In his opinion, “efficiency and speed are vital but not central factors in resolving the problems that emerge.

From the outset, it seemed that the scandal, which erupted over Russia’s Black Sea Fleet military exercises in Crimea in February this year, would end without having started. Word spread by the mass media that Moscow had violated Ukrainian law by staging such military exercises was soon dismissed by official Kyiv. The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated at the time that Russia’s actions were in line with the bilateral agreements on the BSF, while the Defense Ministry refused comment. It looked like Kyiv was bending over backwards not to sour relations with its strategic partner.

In recent days the story has taken a new turn.

The follow-up study made by Foreign Ministry has shown that the Russian Marine Force commanders did violate some of the provisions of the bilateral agreements. First, the exercises involving marine reconnaissance commando groups had not been agreed upon with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. Although the Alsu-2 summer camp, where the marines flex their muscles, had been leased to the Russians four years ago, this does not mean they can do whatever they want there. Second, by ordering the use of dummy mines and ammunition, the Russian command had disregarded the fact that the Alsu-2 camp is located within the