Sevastopol: in Moscow's sights.
11'43
Sevastopol. These are the last days of summer, and tourists are soaking up the last of the sun's rays. The Russian seamen can also begin to relax as the Black Sea fleet has returned to anchor after deployment off Georgia.
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12'02
Flashback. May this year: the Black Sea Fleet is celebrating its birthday with great pomp and ceremony. Founded by Russian Empress Catherine the Great 225 years ago, this fleet underlines the strategic importance of Sevastopol. These days you could be forgiven for forgetting that Sevastopol is in fact not in Russia, but in Ukraine.
12'27
Aside from historic ties, Russia's claims on this seaside city lie in the large number of Russian nationals living in the city. In May 2008 Yuri Luzhkov, the Mayor of Moscow declared Sevastopol a part of Russia. Stunned Ukrainian officials have since banned him from entering their country.
12'43
Insert: Yuri Luzhkov, Moscow Mayor
Luzhkov says that historically Sevastopol has always been Russian. He wants the city's nationality settled.
12'53
The citizens of Sebastapol certainly want their towns relationship with Moscow clarified.
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13'01
We're on a harbour cruise. Here the Russian influence is everywhere: not a single mention of Ukraine. The tourist industry is dominated by Russians. They have no interest in Ukrainian culture, or indeed in their fleet docked next door, or so says Elena Worobiowa, our tour guide. Given this attitude, it is no surprise that there is no word on the subject that everyone is thinking about: the looming date for Russian withdrawal from Sevastopol.
13'33
OT Elena Worobiowa, tour guide:
I don't think that the Russian fleet will ever leave. This is not an issue. I think that our politicians are wise enough to guarantee the survival of our fleet. This is a Russian city and the pride of our homeland.
Open
13'56
The war in Georgia is just over. At the invitation of the Ukraine, a NATO ship has entered Sevastopol. This created a peak in hostilities between Moscow and Kiev.
14'13
The Russian inhabitants of Sevastopol are furious. The hated Americans anchored on their own doorstep!
14'22
We are visiting fleet TV channel "TV Brisa": this is the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy's media machine. This is transmitter-in-chief Miroslaw Mamtschak. He is also a naval officer. The powers that be have already planned for armed confrontation with the Russians, he explains.
14'45
Miroslaw Mamtschak OT, Editor in Chief "TV Brisa"
The Russians can move their fleet to the moon or to Mars. But the Ukrainian Constitution provides a clear date for their departure. No later than 2017, the Russian fleet must have gone.
14'59 Mamtschak contd.
The dilemma we have seen with war in Georgia. What would have happened if Georgia had attacked the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol? It presents a real danger for us Ukrainians for the Russian fleet to be stationed here. If the Russians went to war, we would be the first to suffer.
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15'28
When two states fight for dominance it is the ordinary people who suffer. We want to know what the inhabitants of Sevastopol think - those who have nothing to do with politics. Three-quarters of these inhabitants are Russian nationals, many are attached to the Fleet.
15'46
We are in a military general store. This shop owner is called Nikolai. Sailors come here to buy their badges and uniforms. Nikolai is Ukrainian, his clientele mostly young Russian sailors. As a precaution, he has hung an image of the Russian President on the wall.
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16'08
In the back room, Nicolai's employees sew insignia onto uniforms: both for Russian sailors, and for Ukrainians.
16'19
Which uniform do you like best we ask, trying to put them at ease. This lady is diplomatic.
16'29
Ljuba OT ritual, seamstress:
I think I prefer the Admiral uniforms, they are so grand! They are not as expensive as you think, it is the gold braid that creates this impression.
16'47 seamstress contd
Whether Russian or Ukrainian, these uniforms are really all the same.
16'55
The shop owner is less positive however. He believes that the Ukrainian-Russians mix is a recipe for chaos. With both Ukrainian and Russian clientele he should know - his store is on the front line.
17'06
OT Nikolai Melnikov, business owner:
It is a pity that the present situation is so heated. The Russians come here and insult us as inferior. It surprises me that our government in Kiev tolerate the situation.
I fear that we will become a second, voluntary Ossetia. Voluntarily because there are so many Russians here. It could get very dangerous.
17'34
I will not be here then. I have plans to close my shop and move elsewhere before open conflict breaks out.
17'45
Nikolai would like to emigrate to the EU. But the Russians have requisitioned his truck - they told him that they would be responsible for importing military equipment.
Open
18'00
Living in Sevastopol is not easy for Ukrainians. Oleksandr is a policeman. He is visting a cafe, enquiring about its license. The problem is that the policeman comes from western Ukraine and refuses to speak Russian. He could if he wanted. But he does not want.
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18'34
This has created many problems.
18'38
OT Oleksandr Popovych, a policeman:
I'm born in Ukraine, I live in Ukraine, my wife is Ukrainian and my children are Ukrainians. Why in the world do I feel like I am struggling to fit into a foreign culture? This is my country.
Open
18'58
Four years ago Oleksandr moved to a Sevastopol suburb. His neighbors are all Russians. His family came with him, but this will never be home.
19'08
For Oleksandr, it is language that is most important. It is an expression of his identity. Though Ukrainian and Russian are similar, there are differences. For Oleksandr Russian is the language of the occupier, yet he had no choice but to send his youngest son first to a Russian speaking nursery and then on to a Russian speaking school.
19'33
OT Ludmila Popovich, laboratory technician:
There are only Russian nurseries. Our son had no choice when we arrived here. He was only four years old. Now if we talk to him in Ukrainian he replies in Russian.
19'50
OT Oleksandr Popovych, a policeman:
It is the the differing interests of our governments that have created these problems: Ukrainians against Russians, the West against the East and so on. Of course, the minorities in Ukraine enjoy special protection, but here in Sevastopol, it is exactly the other way around, we need Ukrainians need to be protected. We are the minority in our own country.
20'20
As the day draws to an end. It is clear that this beautiful Crimean city is facing a troubled future.
END
Contributors: Patrick A. Hafner
Camera: Oleg Zorin
Editor: Peter Weiss