Russia's 25,000-troop allowance & other facts you may not know about Crimea -- RT News

2) In 1997, amid the wreckage of the USSR, Russia & Ukraine signed a Partition Treaty determining the fate of the military bases and vessels in Crimea. The deal sparked widespread officer `defections' to Russia and was ratified by the Russian & Ukrainian parliaments in 1999. Russia received 81.7 percent of the fleet's ships after paying the Ukrainian government US$526.5 million.

3) The deal allowed the Russian Black Sea Fleet to stay in Crimea until 2017. This was extended by another 25 years to 2042 with a 5-year extension option in 2010.

4) Moscow annually writes off $97.75 million of Kiev's debt for the right to use Ukrainian waters and radio frequencies, and to compensate for the Black Sea Fleet's environmental impact.

5) The Russian navy is allowed up to

- 25,000 troops,

- 24 artillery systems with a caliber smaller than 100 mm,

- 132 armored vehicles, and

- 22 military planes, on Crimean territory.

Reportedly, there are 30,000 Russians troops in Crimea now. Didn't Putin want to "occupy" within the quota? Or is Russia still within the allowance?

Why is this agreement not explored in the media? It is also the reason why the Russian troops do not wear distinguishing marks, I was told.