Russian military men were paid before Russia reunited with Crimea - News from Russia

Prior to the operation to annex the Crimea, the Russian military on the peninsula had received a cash allowance.

Photo: Source: Fotodom.ru/DP

The financial of the Russian Defence Ministry had made such a decision over the fear of the blockage of financial assets on the accounts of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukrainian banks, Deputy Defence Minister Tatyana Shevtsova said.

According to her, since the end of February, military financiers had been closely watching the development of the situation in the Crimea and, together with large Russian banks, they had been looking for ways that would save budget money.

"Already in early March, Russian servicemen in the Crimea received an early monetary allowance, and a couple of weeks later all the Russian budget money in cash was collected at military pay offices and subsequently transferred to the treasury under enhanced security," the deputy minister said.

The financial service organised cash support for the Black Sea Fleet through field institutions of the Bank of Russia and interrupted the financing of the Black Sea Fleet through a foreign bank. The moves ensured the timely financial support for military units stationed in the Crimea and Sevastopol, Shevtsova concluded.