крымский фронт уверяет: "оккупанты Крыма - не россияне"

Ополченцы крымского фронта уверяют: "оккупанты Крыма - не россияне, а сами же крымчане". Один из его руководителей говорит - оружием и машинами, на которых российские номера, обеспечили друзья. Сказал что что скоро все кто эти люди в масках с автоматами!

I'm from the 10th self-defense company

which was formed on

on the 23rd of February in Simferopol

I'm the second in command for combat operations

What are your responsibilities?

My responsibilities are the same as

would be for the same position in any company of the Ukrainian army

I served in the Ukrainian army

I don't know of any other.

So you have a fully legal army here?

How is this a legal army? It's a militia.

An army is put together by the government.

We are a militia.

We were put together by Aksyonov.

All legal issues should be directed to him.

I'm just a volunteer. As far as I know,

we aren't violating anything.

But you, together with the Russian military

Why do you think they are the Russian military?

Who's military are they?

I don't want to hide where these guys are from

I want to assure you, you will be very surprised

in due time, when you find out who they are.

They are Crimeans.

Crimeans?

Yeah, Crimeans. Just like me.

It's just that I can talk to you, but they cannot.

What kind of military are they?

Various. I'm infantry.

But in Crimea, we have the Black Sea Fleet.

That's not the point.

We formed our militia out of former military men, as much as possible,

and not cooks or tailors, but people with experience.

So where are the weapons from?

Kind people helped us out.

You've got nice friends.

Well, the Maidan had nice friends, and so do we.

Would you be able to tell me where to get all this stuff? Machine guns, RPGs...

It's a regular machine gun, PKM. Ukraine is full of them.

You can find them in any armory. There's no extraordinary weaponry here.

So you deny the claim that these guys are Russian military?

I don't refuse, and I don't support that claim.

All I'm saying is you'll be surprised when you find out who this is.

How many such people are in Crimea?

We have a joint regiment.

How many people is that?

It's from 1500 to 2000 people.

And they are dispersed over all of Crimea?

Yes, that's right.

Because there are many things to do, and we have few people.

We have video of these same KamAZ trucks

and BTR with Russian number plates.

Well, if we didn't steal the armor from the Ukrainians, we got it from somewhere else, right?

So you stole them from the Russians?

No. Kind people helped us out.

They just helped you out? For what?

If my friend had 10 roubles, and I came to him

and asked for 50 kopecks, wouldn't he give them to me?

But why, for what reason?

For what reason? If I'm in trouble

I would ask for help from a friend.

But we are in a similar situation here

You're staying at home, I come to your house , armed with weapons

No, that's not how it is. These guys are polite

I don't know what you may have seen

I don't know what in particular you're interpreting, but pay attention to the fact that

I'm here. People come to me, and talk to me in a relatively hostile way

like, back at that upper checkpoint. They accuse me of unimaginable sins

and I never said a bad word to them.

But I've talked to other people like you

and they were rude, they told me to fuck off.

They said not to film.

I will look into it and

instruct my men. Please understand, people are under stress

But they are telling us what to do. In our own homes, in our country

I'm in my own country

if you're going to talk about law, then right now,

we don't, de facto, or de jure,

we don't have a government.

But we are inside Ukraine

I'm not saying Crimea is separate. Crimea is Ukraine

But you're putting up these roadblocks

Why do you think we've put them up?

We put them up so armed people from Ukraine don't come here

and kill me, you and your families.

So you won't let the Ukrainian army come here?

They are already here.

But there aren't many of them

So what? You don't count the rest of the units?

What if they need reinforcements in Crimea?

What for?

We have more than enough personnel.

For what purpose?

We don't want to fight with anyone.

Who is your superior?

My superior is the commander of the 10th self-defense company.

And who is his superior?

The Crimean Front Command. It's a social organization

which, in times of trouble, has decided to

carry out these actions. And right now, we have legal political structures

and we obey their orders. We have a Prime Minister.

we have a Council representative.

But we also have an interim president

the Verhovna Rada of Ukraine

As far as I know,

legally, the procedure for impeachment wasn't carried out

so while Yanukovich is alive, no matter where he is,

he is the president of the Ukraine and the supreme commander.

To a military person, you don't need to explain what that means.

It's an interesting situation. The HQ for the defense forces is in

Kiev, according to our control and communications systems.

So, whoever is inside that HQ, they are in command. Do you agree?

As a military man, I know that some people would actually say "Yes".

All the communications, all the nodes

go through that HQ. Remarkable, isn't it?

The army is paralyzed.

But there are also forces of

the Ukraine...

We are also the forces of the Ukraine. I'm a citizen, just like you

But you're not an army, you'r a militia.

We don't have the right

to call ourselves an army. We're a militia. Not the kind of militia

that we call our police.

Is it legal or not?

The law doesn't have anything that outlaws us.

The law says that people have the right to self-defense.

But the law prohibits forming armed organizations.

The law in Ukraine has been violated

multiple times. We have a precedent. The country has been moving towards that

So you want to continue violating the law?

No, I don't want to.

So why do you create such self-defense organizations?

Let's not ask each other rhetorical questions

You ask me questions, and don't give me a chance to answer

Whenever I answer however I want to, you bring me back around, full circle

That's a rhetorical question. Now, my answer is that currently

we are currently not violating

a single law of the Ukraine, with the exception of cases where

it has already been violated. Next,

unlike the Right Sector, we haven't killed anyone

haven't crucified, crushed or tortured people in basements.

Did the Right Sector kill anyone?

As far as I know, yes.

I watch TV. I get my information from there.

But do you have proof?

In that case,

whatever is happening now, either it actually happens and gets shown, or

it doesn't happen and doesn't get shown.

But showing and proving are different things.

So you think I should go to Kiev

go to the Maidan, scream out "Glory to the Communist Party of USSR!", wait until

people kill me, and then people here a telegram saying "guys, Kiev is dangerous"?

But there is the police

There is no police in Kiev.

You're just another citizen of Ukraine, like me

and you have all the rights and responsibility, with emphasis on the latter

of a citizen. If you're interested, read

the Constitution. Believe me, the changes made in 2010

don't change the substance of it. The changes are to do with power

So substance is that the source of political power is you and me.

All our freedoms, of religion, of speech,

you can say anything as long as it doesn't upset others

So what are you going to do here?

I'm just going to stand here and wait

until this situation resolves.

What's the point in staying here?

The point is

simply to show that we exist.

We did the exact same thing on the 23rd [of February].

Crimea has shown that it can defend itself

if it has to.

But why do you need to defend the army?

We're not defending the army.

So why are surrounding military units?

We're here to

my unit is here to prevent

civilian unrest, since our police is

unable to fully guarantee

the prevention of

big civil unrest.

What are you most concerned about?

I'm most concerned about stupid people

Somebody will grab a hunting shotgun from home, come here and shoot in the air

If that happens,

there are many armed people here. Things can happen.

You know we have plenty of stupid and drunk people here.

What is your name?

Vasiliy.

What is your last name?

Do you really need to know?

If possible, yes.

Semenyuk.

And who are you?

I'm the second in command for

the 10th self-defense company.

How many people do you have?

We have 126 people in my company.

And in total?

We drafted from 1500 to 2000 people.

I don't know the exact numbers

since I'm only in charge of the company, not the regiment.

So the guys here are just like you?

You will know in due time.

Tell us now, so we all know.

I don't have the right to, it's a secret.

But I've given you enough hints already.

If you want a specific answer, they are Crimeans.

Thank you. By "Crimeans", you mean citizens of the Ukraine?

Of course. I don't mean somebody who is just in Crimea right now. I mean Ukrainian citizens.

And if you want

So these are Ukrainian citizens?

I can show you my passport, but not on camera.

I understand that you're a Ukrainian citizen. But what about these guys?

For now these guys need to remain anonymous, for the security of their families

Trust me, these are citizens of Ukraine, like you and me

So we will find out later?

Of course. It will be a nice surprise.

If I were you, when this surprise comes about, I would be at

the Supreme Council.

When will it happen?

I honestly don't know.

That's not even a secret. I simply don't know

when these guys will get the order to show their papers, take off their masks, etc.

So that will happen?

Of course. It can't not happen.

I can tell that you're concerned about things. My friends

call me in concern that we've been invaded by another country

But that's how it is. These vehicles are Russian

So, if I can't get vehicles from, say, Turkey, what do you expect me to do?

But these vehicles are Russian?

That's right. If I had the money, I'd buy myself a Tiger (GAZ-2975)

but I don't have the money.

But you'll get them as gifts, right?

I really hope so. I personally can't afford it, 40 thousand dollars.

I'd like one, though. Turbo diesel, six cylinder

What's the point of another country financing

and providing cars and special equipment?

Can I answer your question with another question?

Go ahead.

Tell me, do you feel surprised when

the Crimean Tatars, our brotherly people,

since we honestly never make a distinction between ourselves and yourselves,

are you surprised when you receive aid from Turkey?

I know, for a fact, that the renovations of the coastline

in front of the Khan Palace was paid for by Turkish money.

But a Crimean Tatar who lives in Turkey paid for that

OK. So think about it, several million...

Crimean Tatars are the native people

of Crimea, but we don't have a government, so we don't have a budget

we don't have finances, so we get help from other countries.

And I'm a Ukrainian living in Crimea.

But there is such a thing as the Ukrainian government...

Let's talk in turns, OK?

I'm not accusing you of anything,

I'm not saying that Turkey is financing you.

I'm saying that IF another country gives you money

look at me, I'm not here representing a government body,

I'm here as someone that realized, on the 26th [of February], that he was betrayed. By everybody

They were obligated, by law to protect us. I was really surprised

I was ready to ask for help from anyone

from the devil himself, or from Lord Vader, if he came here with his Death Star

We just didn't have anywhere else to go.

Things were bad. In such a case,

if there is a kind person, well, obviously not just one,

many people have money, much more than me, with more possibilities

If that person offered to help...

But what about independence and sovereignty?

I'm standing here to ensure that Ukraine doesn't fall apart

I studied in Kiev.

But what about people that protest in the squares

demanding that Crimea gets annexed by Russia?

I'm not asking for that.

But some Russian people are.

Hold on. There are different companies, different commanders.

I can only speak for the people under my command.

But your command is united.

Wait. We have a unified command, but

the spectrum of political opinions within that command is very wide.

But you take orders from

Aksyonov? No, personally, I don't take orders from Aksyonov.

I take orders from the commander of my company. And he takes orders from

actually, if you want to go up the hierarchy, he is a Cossack

from Terek. So you can get an interview from him.

He's my direct commander. I came to sign up and saw that he knew what he was doing

and personally, I can't entrust my life and the life of my people under my command to just anyone.

Does he take orders from Akyonov?

I just gave you a clear answer.

I told you who I take orders from. If you want to know who my commander takes orders from, ask him.

I have my own opinion. I can say that yes, Aksyonov

is our head of government, and he's in my chain of command.

He's our main guy. I have to take orders from him.

[inaudible question]

Everyone has their own opinion.

I can't give you my opinion, since I'm a member of a militia

So you think this is a militia?

What else can you call this?

I don't know, what do you think?

Calling us "opolchenie" isn't really a politically correct term. A militia is when

people take up arms for self-defense.

So anybody who wants to, can take up arms and

you can call that a militia?

There are many historical examples.

Tell me, why the guys on Maidan can take up arms, but I can't?

What is my fault?

I don't know, I wasn't on the Maidan.

Neither was I. But I saw people shooting at each other.

I can tell you that in 22 years of life in Ukraine,

I was completely unprepared and deeply shocked.

Everything that's been happening in the past 3 months. All I want to say is

I don't want this to happen in Crimea.

I see. Thank you.