Last week the Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko issued two edicts restricting toughly the opportunity of traveling for the Black Sea Fleet on the country’s territory and the opportunity of crossing the border. Now the Russian militaries will have to arrange their plans with 6 authorities within 10 days. In case the Black Sea Fleet leaves for some hot spot without permission, it would not be allowed to come back to Sevastopol.    

Initially the Ukrainian President wanted those documents to be registered as the decrees by the government. However, the sly Yulia Timoshenko has resorted to her tried trick – she pretended to be ill and canceled the meeting of the cabinet ministers. The presidential camp accused the Prime Minister of betraying the national interests made in exchange for Russian support at the presidential elections.     

In the meantime the Russian militaries stated that they would be guided with edicts by Yushchenko. The Ukrainian General Staff, on the contrary, reported about its faithfulness to the Supreme Commander. So the initially absurd-like thesis about possibility of passing the war from South Ossetia to the Crimea has got closer to reality. On Friday the Ukrainian media informed that the Russian garrison in Sevastopol has been put on alert.   

The real Sevastopol, however, does not correspond with the anxious informational picture. “What alert? We were not even recalled from our vacations!” an acquaintance of mine, the Russian officer, calmed me down.  

The Russian community in Sevastopol organized a support meeting. The meeting was held at 5 p.m. when the heat was still on, and so the event went in a rather sluggish way. It was decided to meet the returning ships in the way letting know everyone that the base of the Black Sea Fleet will be in Sevastopol forever.     

Kiev has to consider that along with possible actions against the Russian militaries it will have to carry out police operations against their own citizens in the Crimea. This is why no one is in hurry to support the president’s decision, except his entourage.   

“One may issue any edicts, but how are they supposed to be executed? There has been already a permission for that base, so we must submit that this is not our Fleet and it can be free in its choice of the tasks posed. We shall see after the term defined by the Constitution is over” said Gennady Moscal, the member of a parliamentary faction NUNS.   

Another MP from this pro-presidential bloc, Anatoly Gritsenko, suggests revoking the application for joining the membership plan in NATO that annoys Russia so much. In exchange he would like to raise the rent for the Black Sea Fleet up to one billion dollars. With that money Mr. Gritsenko suggests making great living conditions for Sevastopol dwellers so that them stop considering Russian militaries to be their breadwinner.