Russia or Ukraine? Sea cadets in Sevastopol told to choose
- 10 years ago
Life for the cadets at the naval academy in Sevastopol has changed completely since Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
A few weeks ago the students here were in the Ukrainian navy dressed in Ukrainian uniforms.
Now they have been asked to make a choice: stay and serve Russia or leave.
It is a difficult dilemma for some of the recruits:
“If you take an oath to serve a country you should stand by it, whatever happens, however bad the country is, even if its falling apart ,” said one, while another appeared only to happy to change:
“There is a future in being with the Russian Fleet. We know that the Russian Fleet has new generation vessels, equipped with modern weapon systems and state-of-the-art defence equipment.”
For most of the young cadets here, as for most of Crimea, the future is far from settled.
A few weeks ago the students here were in the Ukrainian navy dressed in Ukrainian uniforms.
Now they have been asked to make a choice: stay and serve Russia or leave.
It is a difficult dilemma for some of the recruits:
“If you take an oath to serve a country you should stand by it, whatever happens, however bad the country is, even if its falling apart ,” said one, while another appeared only to happy to change:
“There is a future in being with the Russian Fleet. We know that the Russian Fleet has new generation vessels, equipped with modern weapon systems and state-of-the-art defence equipment.”
For most of the young cadets here, as for most of Crimea, the future is far from settled.