Volodymyr Rogov, a member of the main council of the military-civilian administration of the Zaporozhye region, said that the Zaporozhye region could transfer the military airfield in Melitopol and the naval military base in Berdyansk to Russia.
Rogov said in an interview with TASS on May 29 that the region could offer Russia the former Ukrainian naval base Vostok in Berdyansk, which the official said is “quite well technically equipped.”
“But, of course, this should be considered directly by the leadership of the [Russian] Ministry of Defense, whether such a base is needed, for the simple reason that the Sea of Azov, which has become the inland sea of Russia, may not need the presence of the military in Berdyansk,” clarified a member of the main council of the military-civilian administration of the region.
In addition, Rogov added, the Zaporozhye region can transfer the military airfield in Melitopol to the Russian Federation.
“This is a very convenient airfield for a full-fledged base of the Russian Aerospace Forces, where fighters, bombers, and the air defense system itself, as well as military transport aviation, can be located,” Rogov emphasized.
A member of the administration believes that the presence of the Russian military in the Zaporozhye region is a guarantee of security for the inhabitants of the region.
The fact that the military bases and other military facilities of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye region will be transferred to the Russian army was reported by the deputy head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Zaporozhye region, Alexei Selivanov, on May 27. As the deputy head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs pointed out, the attention of the RF Armed Forces will be directed to deterring the Ukrainian regime from harming the inhabitants of the liberated territories.
On the same day, Rogov said that the Ukrainian bases, which are located on the Azov part of the liberated territories of Ukraine, should be occupied by Russian military personnel.
On May 26, a member of the main council of the military-civilian administration of the Zaporozhye region also stated that Ukraine had irrevocably lost access to the Sea of Azov, since the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions would never return under the control of the Kyiv regime.
On the same day, State Duma deputy from the Crimean region Mikhail Sheremet warned that Russia would not leave and would not leave citizens living in the liberated territories unprotected. Integration with Russia “opens up new development opportunities for the liberated territories,” he said.
Also on Wednesday, Rogov said that the region, after its complete liberation, will head towards becoming part of Russia. He noted that there are plans to create a full-fledged subject within Russia – the Zaporozhye Republic.
On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect Donbass. A few days earlier, the situation in the region escalated significantly due to shelling by the Ukrainian military. The authorities of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics announced the evacuation of residents to the Russian Federation, and also turned to Moscow for help. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the DNR and LNR.