KP Media, photo by Oleksiy Boyko Ukraine flaunts military might

a military parade on Sunday during Independence Day celebrations, demonstrating might amid a perceived threat after Moscow’s invasion of Georgia, a mutual pro­Western ally.

Some 3,500 soldiers, tanks, armored personal carriers and anti­aircraft systems rumbled down Khreshchatyk which cost Hr 70 million. A flyby of fighter jets and helicopters followed.

Addressing citizens, Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko expressed solidarity with Georgia and said Kyiv’s military should be beefed up. Ukraine seeks good relations with all neighbors, but he added: “We are well aware of the threats that are emerging more and more acutely in our region. We condemn acts of aggression.”

This, the first military parade held by Kyiv since 2001, was planned months ago. But officials stressed its importance to show Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, and the need to upgrade its aging Soviet military. In the 1990s, Ukraine relinquished its nuclear warheads to Russia, but retains a large conventional arsenal.

Simmering differences between Ukraine and Moscow have escalated into sharper rhetoric since the Georgia conflict. As with Georgia, Kyiv’s relations with Moscow sunk after a pro­democracy revolution propelled to power a pro­western leadership that seeks speedy membership in the European Union and NATO.

Yushchenko said NATO membership would bring security guarantees. Still, most citizens fear it will anger Moscow and draw Ukraine into conflicts.

Nervous by Russia’s use of naval vessels stationed at Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula against Georgia, Kyiv fears Moscow may refuse to remove its fleet in 2017 when a lease agreement expires. Fears also loom that pro­Russian sentiment in Crimea could flare up separatism. Without mentioning Russia, Yushchenko said: “Nobody will ever instruct us on what road to choose. Nobody will ever cut off our borders, islands or peninsulas.” (1) Mechanized infantry soldier salutes as a (2) row of of T­64 Bulat tanks roll; (3) Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov in a Chaika convertible while (4)infantry march.