MOSCOW, March 25. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian servicemen can leave the Russian Republic of Crimea freely, “but only the Russian Defense Ministry will decide whether they should do it with weapons or without them,” Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated about the conclusion of agreement with Russia on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Crimea in full and with weapons. The parties are expected to determine on the same day the mechanism and the procedure of implementing the agreement reached. Ukraine’s General Staff is completing the plan of military units’ redeployment.

According to parliament-appointed Acting Defense Minister of Ukraine Ihor Tenyukh, 18,800 Ukrainian servicemen were deployed in Crimea and Sevastopol, of which 11,900 of the Navy and 2,900 of Air Force. More than 6,500 servicemen and members of their families wish to continue the service in Ukraine’s army and be evacuated from Crimea.