Servicemen stationed at the Kramatorsk airport claimed they were besieged by approximately 300 pro-Russian activists on Tuesday but their numbers reduced by now.
About 300 “peaceful” citizens carrying the flags of Russia and the so-called Donetsk Republic gathered near the military airfield in Kramatorsk on Tuesday. Their number reduced over the night, a special unit deputy commander told reporters on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity.
The protesters made a number of unsuccessful attempts to penetrate into the airfield premises on Tuesday. The officer claimed six persons were carrying submachine guns and one had a sniper rifle.
Meanwhile, Vitaliy Pylypenko, the commander of a locally stationed military unit, said the “separatists” had urged the servicemen to lay down arms or to take their side.
“I tried to negotiate but they gave us an ultimatum: either we lay down arms and leave or take their side,” Pylypenko said.
“I warned them that I would resort to arms consistent with the Ukrainian Armed Forces internal service regulations if they tried to enter the airport premises, which are a territory of the Defense Ministry.”
The army retained control over the airfield thanks to the support of special units, he added.
“We are holding this ground,” Pylypenko added.
