Colonel William A. Phillips

Anti-NATO protests (including one riot) took place in the Ukrainian port city of Feodosia from late May to early June 2006, partially disrupting a joint Ukrainian-U.S. military exercise, which was canceled 20 July 2006.[1]

Background

The military Ukraine-NATO Partnership for Peace military exercise Sea Breeze 2006 exercise (in Crimea) was scheduled to take place in Ukraine starting 17 July 2006.[2][3] Its aim was to "simulate the defence of a peninsula caught between a totalitarian state and a democratic one."[3] "Sea Breeze" manoeuvres had been held annually since 1997.[3] Another British-Ukrainian war-game called "Tight Knot" was scheduled to start on 14 June 2006 (near Mykolaiv).[3]

Legal concerns

On 4 June 2006, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree on preparations of the two war-games.[citation needed] The approval for the exercises by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) was still pending early June 2006 because after the parliamentary election of March 2006 it resumed its work on 7 June 2006.[4] In February 2006 the Verkhovna Rada elected before the 2006 election rejected a presidential bill on allowing foreign troops to take part in the maneuvers planned for 2006.[4] The Verkhovna Rada was due to vote on the same bill on 7 June 2006, but decided to adjourn until 14 June.[2][5]

On 6 June 2006, the Crimean legislature declared Crimea a "NATO-free territory".[3][5]

Events

On 27 May 2006, the United States (U.S.) cargo ship Advantage anchored in Feodosia, bringing what Ukrainian Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko described as U.S. "technical aid."[4] Unarmed[3] seamen offloaded construction materials to build barracks for Ukrainian sailors at a training range near the town of Stary Krym, not far from Feodosia.[4] Two days later, Feodosia residents, mobilized by local chapters of the Party of Regions, the Nataliya Vitrenko Bloc, and the Russian Community of Crimea, began to picket the port,[4] displaying anti-NATO slogans written in Russian and blocking U.S. cargo from getting to its destination.[4]

Together with Advantage, 200 U.S. Marine Corps reservists arrived to Feodosia.[2][6] Their mission was to take part in the Sea Breeze 2006 military exercise from 17 July.[2][3] When the Marine reservists tried to reach the training facility that they were assigned to renovate[6] protesters surrounded their bus, rocking it and trying to smash the windows, eventually forcing the vehicle to head to a military sanatorium, where the reservists remained.[3] Protesters reportedly harassed Marine reservists if they stepped outside their military base.[5] The marines were advised against going into nearby towns for fear of provoking noisy confrontations.[7] On 4 June 2006 U.S. marines began leaving Crimea.[7] American and Ukrainian officials stated because their contract was ending.[7] Associated Press reported that no repair work was done at the base they were assigned to renovate.[6] On June 8 Ukraine and United Kingdom postponed Tight Knot.[6] On 20 July 2006 the United States cancelled Sea Breeze, "due to the situation in the Middle East".[1]

Reportedly the group of protesters rarely consisted of more than a few hundred demonstrators.[4][7] They accused NATO and the United States of seeking a foothold in Ukraine.[7] The Ukrainian defense ministry stated 2 June 2006 that the planned exercises were not connected with NATO.[citation needed]

NATO-involved military events in Ukraine since 2006

The 2006 Crimean anti-NATO protests did not impact foreign military units to participate in multinational military exercises in Ukraine.[8] Various military exercises (including ones with NATO troops) were held in Crimea since 2006.[8][9]

According to a poll by Razumkov Center in March 2011 some 51% of the Crimean residents considered NATO a threat, while across Ukraine this rate was 20.6% on average.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b U.S.-Led Naval Exercise In Black Sea Cancelled, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (20 July 2006)
  2. ^ a b c d Jeremy, Page (June 8, 2006). "Anti-Nato protests threaten eastward expansion". Irish Independent.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Page, Jeremy (June 2006). "US troops trapped in barracks as protesters reheat Cold War 07". The Times Online. London. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Ukraine: U.S. Navy Stopover Sparks Anti-NATO Protests, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (1 June 2006)
  5. ^ a b c Russia tells Ukraine to stay out of Nato, The Guardian (8 June 2006)
  6. ^ a b c d U.S. Marines Leave Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (11 June 2006)
  7. ^ a b c d e U.S. reservists pull out of Ukraine, The New York Times (11 June 2006)
  8. ^ a b Crimean communists to protest against NATO's Sea Breeze exercises, Kyiv Post (May 27, 2010)
  9. ^ Foreign Ministry: Sea Breeze 2011 drills no danger to Ukraine's neighbors (updated), Kyiv Post (Jun 14, 2011)
    Ukraine: Clear Sailing Expected For Sea Breeze Naval Exercises, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (9 July 2007)
    UK-Ukraine leadership training in Crimea, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (4 April 2012)
  10. ^ Poll: Most Crimean residents consider Ukraine their motherland, Kyiv Post (11 April 2011)
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_anti-NATO_protests_in_Feodosia