Value of Ukrainian military infrastructure in Crimea estimated at about $20 bln - Hrytsenko

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister (2005-2007) and independent MP Anatoliy Hrytsenko has estimated the value of the infrastructure, armaments and military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces seized by Russia on the annexed Crimean peninsula at about $20 billion.

While assessing on a Ukrainian television channel the actions of the Ukrainian military-political leadership to preserve the territorial integrity of the state under Russian military aggression in Crimea, he described as a betrayal of national interests the surrender to the aggressor of the weapons and infrastructure of the Ukrainian Navy in Crimea.

The expert noted that the absence of appropriate actions amid military aggression had caused a situation when "nothing was used, nothing was destroyed."

"Now all of these [weapons] are directed at us. That's betrayal," Hrytsenko said.

"Putin has received a gift worth about $20 billion," he said, adding that the seized armaments include ships, the underwater infrastructure of the Ukrainian Navy that has no analogues anywhere else in the Black Sea, Marine Corps weapons, including MANPADS, air defense systems, and, in particular, Buk M1 missile systems.

However, Hrytsenko said he was confident expectations of a number of Ukrainian politicians that UN troops could be deployed in Crimea were unrealistic.

"There should be elementary legal preparations: UN troops could be deployed [in a disputed territory] only with the consent of both sides. Russia will not agree," he said.