The Ukraine seems to have the least effective military on the planet

[boomer55]

Giving up multiple ships, all their bases and when attacked they seem unable to defend themselves. Weird


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2586765/Breaking-News-Defiant-Ukranian-commander-orders-outnumbered-men-stand-ground-expect-engage-Russian-troops-surrounding-military-base.html

[Democracyinkind]

1. That is on the false presumption that they wanted to defend them.

It's pretty clear that they made it an official policy to give up the bases as soon as the Russians put on pressure.

All of this "storming of bases" is just PR. Russia showing it is in control, Ukraine showing it is being the victim of aggression.

It's for the cameras, not about fighting it out.

[Igel]

7. Pointless slaughter that would have made for more slaughter.

The Ukrainians really believed the people who said that the side that fired the first shot would lose. Ra-si-ya!! did that and, you know, the general attitude was, "Gee ... Sorry if you thought *that* mattered. They're still the good guys. You made them do it. Somehow. Because you're fascists."

Then there are the delusional folk who believe that Russians aren't really all that nationalist and since they're the good guys and just like us don't want violence.

And the even more delusional folk like Tymoshenko who believe that Crimean will soon be returned to Ukraine, with all the appurtenances thereof.

[RobertEarl]

2. Smart people

Why get slaughtered over some whacked out theory that one ruler is better than another?

Hell, they just found lots of gold in the previous ruler's basement. Who in the hell is willing to die for that?

Well, in the US, we do have some willing to sign up and go for it, eh?

Ukrainians are smarter than you think, I'd say.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

3. 1. Resistance is futile.

2. Any resistance given would have given Russia an excuse to widen its attacks.
3. There was a danger that if they responded in Crimea, they'd get attacked on their eastern border. Flanked.

[CJCRANE]

5. There were lot of Russians already in Crimea.

Crimea was a gift from Kruschev to Ukraine in 1954.

[reformist2]

6. The Ukrainians know Crimea was never really theirs, anyway. No sense killing yourself over it.