Russian tugboats and warships are surrounding a Ukrainian naval vessel
The first actual physical assault by Russian Forces on a Ukrainian naval vessel intent on resisting is shaping up as a forced tow job. Pictures published in the Washington post show what appears to be an unarmed naval auxiliary. The crew is rigging mattresses along the bow rails and stretching firefighting equipment and hoses in almost a replication of an unarmed merchant ship's pirate anti boarding defense. It would appear given that the ship is surrounded by tugs that the Ukrainian crew expects boarders to try and take control of the fore deck and take the vessel in tow. The mattresses might deflect water cannon but not bullets. Given that no defensive fighting positions reflective of a planned small arms defense are visible perhaps the ship doesn't even have a small arms armory. If the Russians really "assault" the ship with a small arms boarding party it would be a slaughter. If they assault the ship with a larger "riot" equipped type force there could still be death and injury if the Ukrainian sailors make a real show of it. Either way neither Russia nor the so called provisional government of the Crimea has any legal right under international law to the warship of a nation. If it happens, with or without gun fire this is the final clear act of war by Russia and Russia is the clear aggressor. Attitudes will harden on both sides, nothing about what the Washington Post is reporting appears to have any discernible potential for a positive out come.
HERE IS A LINK TO THE WASHINGTON POST STORY WITH PHOTOS: STAND OFF
UPDATE: March 4, 2014:
"In Crimea, a supposed Russian ultimatum for two Ukrainian warships to surrender or be seized passed without action from either side, as the two ships remained anchored in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Anikin said late Monday that no ultimatum had been issued. For the full story and an update on the March 4th stand down of Russian military units exercising near the Ukraine border click here: Russia Acts to Reduce Tension But Maintains Right tO Use Force.
RUSSIAN MILITARY READING SHELF
UPDATE: March 4, 2014:
"In Crimea, a supposed Russian ultimatum for two Ukrainian warships to surrender or be seized passed without action from either side, as the two ships remained anchored in the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Anikin said late Monday that no ultimatum had been issued. For the full story and an update on the March 4th stand down of Russian military units exercising near the Ukraine border click here: Russia Acts to Reduce Tension But Maintains Right tO Use Force.
RUSSIAN MILITARY READING SHELF
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