Ukrainian admiral calls to "drastic measures" against BSF

04.03.2010
Ex-commander of Ukrainian Navy Boris Kozhin called to "proceed to drastic measures" as for payment of all Russia's Black Sea Fleet debts.

"Debt of BSF to Ukrainian Superannuation Fund which currently makes 10.5 mln grivnas [Ukrainian currency] is just the iceberg' tip because, in fact, Russia has been using Ukrainian territory for free. Moreover, Russia forces our country to pay for its fleet", explains Ukrainian admiral retired.

The sum of $97.75 mln – which is frequently named as lease payment for Black Sea Fleet deployed in Ukraine – is actually an annual Ukraine's debt redemption and it has no connection to estimated cost of leased lands and objects. Thus, $97.75 mln is liquidation of virtual debt; in fact, this money does not come to Ukrainian budget, Kozhin said.

Annual Ukrainian budget's expenditures connected with maintaining infrastructure and providing BSF mariners and their families with welfare, public and medical services make 47 mln grivnas. Annual disbenefit of Sevastopol budget due to BSF land use without lease payments makes 36.4 mln; due to rendered privileges – 24.8 mln grivnas per year, said the interviewee.

Therefore, "we have an absurd situation when Ukraine itself has to support the foreign fleet. Only drastic actions could redress situation", concluded Kozhin.

First, he proposes "to make demands to BSF command about compensation for losses sustained by use of military objects, environmental pollution in BSF deployment sites and also to sum up losses inflicted to Ukraine by non-payment for leasing Ukrainian lands, assets, objects and resources; finally, to prepare a bill for the Russian Federation. That sum should be recognized as Russia's government debt for Ukraine".

Second, the ex-commander of Ukrainian Navy insists that "as soon as possible the Parliament should pass the draft law recommended by Security Council to break in 2017 all international agreements on temporal deployment of Russian Black Sea Fleet at Ukrainian territory".

Source: New Region Crimea, photo: Vice Admiral Boris Kozhin (zik.com.ua)