FEODOSIA, Crimea (AP) — Piling into buses, Ukrainian marines in Crimea began their journey back to the mainland yesterday as former comrades saluted them from outside a base overrun by Russian forces.

It was a low-key exit from the eastern port of Feodosia, with fewer than a dozen friends or relatives bidding the marines farewell. A troop transporter bearing black Russian military plates trailed the bus as it pulled away.

Their departure came as Ukraine’s defence minister stepped down yesterday after harsh criticism for authorities’ often-hesitant reaction to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which was formalised following a hastily organised referendum this month.

And while Ukraine struggles to handle its humbling at the hands of Russia, it is also dealing with the menace of seething Ukrainian nationalists angered by the police’s killing of a leading radical.

So far, 131 marines have left Crimea, the defence ministry said. They are going to be stationed temporarily at a military barracks in the town of Genichesk in Ukraine’s southern Kherson province, but their final destination is still unclear.

In an address to Parliament, Defence Minister Igor Tenyukh denied that he had failed to issue clear instructions to troops but said he reserved the right to resign.

The order for Ukrainian troops to withdraw from Crimea was issued Monday, a week after many bases had already been stormed and seized by pro-Russian forces.

Lawmakers initially refused Tenyukh’s resignation, but later accepted it and voted to appoint Colonel General Mykhailo Koval as his replacement.

About 4,300 Ukrainian servicemen and 2,200 of their relatives have asked to leave Crimea, Tenyukh said yesterday. That means about two-thirds of the 18,800 military personnel and relatives that he said were stationed on the Black Sea peninsula were so far taking their chances in Crimea.