Former acting Ukrainian Defense Minister (from February 27 through March 25, 2014) Admiral Ihor Teniukh in testimony during the state treason trial of disgraced ex-President Viktor Yanukovych has said the final decision on withdrawing Ukrainian troops from Crimea without resisting Russian invasion forces was made at a meeting of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on March 23, 2014.

“After navy headquarters were seized, the NSDC on March 23, 2014 reported the situation in Crimea and about results with the deployment of Ukraine’s Armed Forces in the Shyroky Lan district. I forcefully argued to continue efforts to deploy into Crimea. In response, then Presidential Administration head Serhiy Pashynsky said the following: “Everything is clear with the Defense Ministry. It wants war. Let’s listen to other members of the council.” Next to speak was Stepan Poltorak, who was in charge of the National Guard of Ukraine. He said the following verbatim: “I recommend withdrawing our units from Crimea and holding our heads high,” Teniukh said, according to excerpts of the protocol of his interview posted to the Facebook page of Yanukovych’s lawyer, Vitaliy Serdyuk.