Ukraine air force officer feted as hero after standing up to Russia
After Crimeans voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia, a man in a black raincoat turned up at the gate of the Belbek Air Base to demand that Ukrainian forces holed up inside surrender to Russia.
After Crimeans voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia, a man in a black raincoat turned up at the gate of the Belbek Air Base to demand that Ukrainian forces holed up inside surrender to Russia.
The Ukrainian commander of the base came out wearing his cap decorated with gold wings, and refused.
They tried to get me to renounce my military oath to Ukraine and [defect to Russia]
The Russian visitor persisted: "From yesterday, you are located on the territory of a foreign state. So I'm giving you your chance to keep your honour as an officer."
"As an officer with honour, I tell you I will stay," retorted Air Force Colonel Yuliy Mamchur.
That act of defiance against the overwhelming force of Russian troops that had put Belbek under siege created a new Ukrainian national hero.
Today, Mamchur is hailed as an officer who stood up to the Russian juggernaut, remained true to his oath as a soldier and held out with his beleaguered unit in Crimea for as long as he could.
After Mamchur refused to cave in, Russian forces overran Belbek with irresistible force and numbers.