NEW: Crimea is a territory teeming with Russian forces. Annexed by the Kremlin in 2014, the peninsula is now an ambitious target for Ukraine. NBCNews takes a rare view from inside Crimea:
Praskovya Baranova, 73, thinks Ukraine will not manage to take back Crimea.“This is our land,” she told NBC News on Monday. “We will all put on uniforms and will go to the border to defend ourselves.”Her comments echoed those of most people NBC News spoke to in Crimea this week.
NBC News traveled to Crimea by train from Moscow, across the Kerch Bridge that was blown up in a strategic and symbolic blow to Putin last fall. It is now fully restored but would likely be targeted again if the fight came to this peninsula. Sevastopol is steeped in Russian military culture. It even has a Russian Army Store with toy tanks, Kalashnikovs and artillery for kids. For adults it stocks clothes with “Victory is ours” emblazoned on them.
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