Crimea Tatars’ Dzhemilev: “No other way” to liberate Crimea but by force

The leader of the Crimean Tatar people, People's Deputy of Ukraine Mustafa Dzhemilev addressed the issue in an interview with Ukrinform.

"They themselves closed all the paths for negotiations. And now there is no other way, except the military one. When compatriots from Crimea call me and ask how things are, what are the prospects, I say that, most likely, there will be liberation by force. I say that we will strike, in particular military bases in Crimea. Of course, I talk to conscious people, they answer me: even if you turn everything here into hell, we are ready for it, just come as soon as possible. This is the attitude of the Crimean Tatars to the issue," Dzhemilev said.

He explained this position by the fact that at the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, held after the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian side defended the stance that the aggressor should withdraw to the border as of February 24, 2022, and that the issue of Crimea and Donbas should be resolved through talks.

"But almost immediately, a statement was made by Putin's spokesman Peskov that the issue of Crimea will not be discussed," Dzhemilev noted.

As reported earlier, referring to the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, with the advance of Ukrainian units into Crimea, Russia backers will flee the peninsula via the Kerch ferry crossing.