2014 Russian annexation of Crimea

2014 annexation of Ukrainian territory yes July 2026 March 2020 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea the Russo-Ukrainian War frameless|upright=1.15 frameless|upright=1.15 Top: Unmarked Russian troops occupying Crimea, 3 March 2014.Bottom: Vladimir Putin signs the treaty of accession with Russian-installed Crimean leaders in Moscow, 18 March 2014. Annexation: 18 March 2014 Military operation: 27 FebruaryThere are "some contradictions and inherent problems" regarding the date on which the Russian operation began.McDermott Roger N. The Return of the Cold War: Ukraine, the West and Russia 2016 978-1-138-92409-3 Black J.L. London Routledge 99–129 Brothers Disunited: Russia's use of military power in Ukraine 10.4324/9781315684567-5 909325250 Johns Michael https://www.academia.edu/11853815 Russia first deployed troops in Crimea on 26 February, seizing roads between their base in Sevastopol and the capital of Simferopol. The Ukrainian Government maintains, and the European Court of Human Rights agrees, that Russia controlled Crimea from 27 February 2014,Ukraine v. Russia (re Crimea) (decision) https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=002-13090 European Court of Human Rights January 2021 The Ukrainian Government maintains that the Russian Federation has from 27 February 2014 exercised effective control over the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol ... There was sufficient evidence that during the relevant period the respondent State [Russia] had exercised effective control over Crimea. when unmarked Russian special forces took control of its political institutions.Sasse Gwendolyn Russia's War Against Ukraine 2023 Wiley & Sons 2004 Russia's war against Ukraine began with the annexation of Crimea on 27 February 2014. On that day, Russian special forces without any uniform insignia appeared in Crimea, quickly taking control of strategic, military and political institutions. The Russian Government later made 27 February "Special Operations Forces Day".DeBenedictis Kent Russian 'Hybrid Warfare' and the Annexation of Crimea 2022 Bloomsbury Publishing 140 During the night of 26–27 February, Russian special forces without insignia departed Sevastopol ... They arrived at the Crimean Rada and Council of Ministers buildings in Simferopol, disarmed the security and took control of the buildings ... Putin later signed a decree designating 27 February as Special Operations Forces Day in Russia. A Ukrainian law adopted by Verkhovna Rada on 15 April 2014 designated 19 February 2014 as the "beginning of Russian occupation in separate Ukrainian territories", as on that date Russian forces established control over the Schmidt Gas Deposit located on the Ukrainian continental shelf in the Black Sea not far from Crimea.Вісім відповідей на питання про початок Війни за Незалежність 19 лютого 2014 року 19 February 2026 https://tyzhden.ua/visim-vidpovidej-na-pytannia-pro-pochatok-vijny-za-nezalezhnist-19-liutoho-2014-roku/ 19 February 2026 In 2015, the Ukrainian parliament officially designated 20 February 2014 as "the beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia",'Няша' Поклонська обіцяє бійцям 'Беркута' покарати учасників Майдану https://www.segodnya.ua/ua/regions/krym/nyasha-poklonskaya-obeshchaet-boycam-berkuta-nakazat-uchastnikov-maydana-700800.html https://web.archive.org/web/20200110141947/https://www.segodnya.ua/ua/regions/krym/nyasha-poklonskaya-obeshchaet-boycam-berkuta-nakazat-uchastnikov-maydana-700800.html dead 10 January 2020 3 February 2022 www.segodnya.ua uk citing the date inscribed on the Russian medal "For the Return of Crimea".7683rd meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Thursday, 28 April 2016, 3 p.m. New York https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/PV.7683&Lang=E Mr. Prystaiko (Ukraine): I have to remind the Council that the official medal that was produced by the Russian Federation for the so-called return of Crimea has the dates on it, starting with 20 February, which is the day before that agreement was brought to the attention of the Security Council by the representative of the Russian Federation. Therefore, the Russian Federation started – not just planned, but started – the annexation of Crimea the day before we reached the first agreement and while President Yanukovych was still in power. In 2018, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that the earlier "start date" on the medal was due to a "technical misunderstanding".Russia's Orwellian 'diplomacy' https://www.unian.info/politics/2347252-two-headed-orwell.html 30 January 2019 unian.info 15 January 2018 President Putin stated in a film about the annexation that he ordered the operation to "restore" Crimea to Russia following an all-night emergency meeting on 22–23 February 2014.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31796226 Putin reveals secrets of Russia's Crimea takeover plot BBC News 9 March 2015https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/09/vladimir-putin-describes-secret-meeting-when-russia-decided-to-seize-crimea Vladimir Putin describes secret meeting when Russia decided to seize Crimea The Guardian Agence France-Presse 9 March 2015 14 April 2016– 26 March 2014 https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1498/RAND_RR1498.pdf Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Michael Kofman 2017 RAND Corporation 978-0-8330-9617-3 Santa Monica 990544142 By March 26, the annexation was essentially complete, and Russia began returning seized military hardware to Ukraine. (2014 02 27 2014 03 26) Crimea Russian victory Russia Ukraine Russia Vladimir Putin Russia Dmitry Medvedev Russia Sergei Shoigu Russia Valery Gerasimov Russia Aleksandr Vitko Russia Igor Girkin Republic of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov Republic of Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov Sevastopol Alexey Chaly Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk Ukraine Ihor Tenyukh Ukraine Mykhailo Kutsyn Ukraine Serhiy Hayduk Ukraine Arsen Avakov Ukraine Valentyn Nalyvaichenko Autonomous Republic of Crimea Anatolii Mohyliov 22px|border Refat Chubarov Protesters 20,000 (Sevastopol)https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/02/24/russian-citizen-elected-sevastopol-mayor-amid-pro-moscow-protests-in-crimea-a32401 Russian Citizen Elected Sevastopol Mayor Amid Pro-Moscow Protests in Crimea The Moscow Times 24 February 2014http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/25/ukraine-leader-turchynov-warns-of-danger-of-separatism/ Ukraine leader Turchynov warns of 'danger of separatism' Euronews 25 February 2014 10 March 2015 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073813/http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/25/ukraine-leader-turchynov-warns-of-danger-of-separatism/ 10,000 (Simferopol)http://www.straitstimes.com/world/russian-flags-flood-crimean-capital-as-thousands-back-takeover-by-russia Russian flags flood Crimean capital as thousands back takeover by Russia The Straits Times 9 March 2014 9 March 2014 Volunteer unitshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/feb/25/pro-russian-rally-crimea-decries-kiev-bandits/132770/ Pro-Russian rally in Crimea decries Kiev 'bandits' The Washington Post 25 February 2014 5,000 (Sevastopol) 1,700 (Simferopol) Russian military forces 20,000–30,000 troopshttps://www.smh.com.au/world/russia-closing-door-on-crimea-as-troops-build-up-20140312-hvi0c.html Russia closing door on Crimea as troops build up Pollard Ruth 13 March 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald 12 March 2014 Protesters 4,000–10,000 (Simferopol)http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192882.html Crimean Tatars, pro-Russia supporters approach Crimean parliament building UA Interfax 20 October 2012Russia puts military on high alert as Crimea protests leave one man dead https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/ukraine-new-leader-disbands-riot-police-crimea-separatism The Guardian 26 February 2014 27 February 2014 Ukrainian military forces 5,000–22,000 troopsEwen MacAskill https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/28/ukraine-military-russia-crimea Ukraine military still a formidable force despite being dwarfed by neighbour The Guardian 28 February 2014 https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=285549287 https://web.archive.org/web/20140305005529/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=285549287 5 March 2014 Putin Talks Tough But Cools Tensions Over Ukraine NPR 4 March 2014 19 March 2014 40,000 reservists, partly mobilised (outside Crimea)Faiola Anthony Ukraine mobilizes reservists but relies on diplomacy https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-activates-reserves-pledges-military-build-up-after-crimea-vote/2014/03/17/aa707502-adc1-11e3-96dc-d6ea14c099f9_story.html 24 March 2014 The Washington Post 17 March 2014 1 Crimean SDF trooper killedHeather Saul Kim Sengupta https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-pro-russian-troops-storm-naval-base-as-clinton-warns-of-aggression-from-putin-9201317.html Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian troops storm naval base as Clinton warns of 'aggression' from Putin The Independent 19 March 2014 24 March 2015 2 soldiers killed https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-military-idUSBREA360GB20140407 Russian marine kills Ukraine navy officer in Crimea, says ministry Reuters 2 October 2014 60–80 soldiers detained Ukraine military to pull out from Crimea http://www.thesudburystar.com/2014/03/24/russian-troops-seize-ukraine-marine-base-in-crimea 24 March 2014 The Sudbury Star 24 March 2014 Aleksander Vasovic Gabriela Baczynska Reuters 9,268 military servicemen and 7,050 civilian employees defected https://tass.com/russia/727904 Russia employs over 16,000 former servicemen and personnel of Ukrainian armed forces 15 April 2014 TASS 6 April 2020 http://new-sebastopol.com/news/flot/Bivshie_ukrainskie_voennoslugashchie_vlivayutsya_v_Voorugennie_Sili_RF Бывшие украинские военнослужащие вливаются в Вооруженные Силы РФ 25 April 2014 Novyy Sevastopol (new-sebastopol.com) Former Ukrainian military join the Russian Armed Forces 6 April 2020 2 civilian deaths (during the protests), http://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine/two-die-in-rallies-outside-crimean-parliament-says-ex-head-of-mejlis-337708.html Two die in rallies outside Crimean parliament, says ex-head of Mejlis Kyiv Post 27 February 2014 26 February 2014 Unrest in Crimea leaves 2 dead; government buildings seized http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/27/Unrest-in-Crimea-leaves-2-dead-government-buildings-seized/6371393516263/ JC Finley United Press International 27 February 2014 9 March 2014 1 civilian killed http://society.lb.ua/life/2014/03/17/259752_pogibshiy_krimskiy_tatarin_shel.html ru:Погибший крымский татарин шел в военкомат, захваченный 'дружинниками' The deceased was a Crimean Tatar on his way to enlist when he was captured "vigilantes" ru LB.ua 17 March 2014 24 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20140318050317/http://society.lb.ua/life/2014/03/17/259752_pogibshiy_krimskiy_tatarin_shel.html 18 March 2014 http://censor.net.ua/news/276351/zverski_ubitogo_krymskogo_tatarina_zvali_reshat_ametov_troe_maloletnih_deteyi_osiroteli_foto ru:Зверски убитого крымского татарина звали Решат Аметов. Трое малолетних детей осиротели. Brutally murdered Crimean Tatar's name was Reshat Ametov. Three toddlers left orphaned. ru censor.net.ua 18 March 2014 3 April 2014 Нет Цензор (by Crimean SDF under command of a former Russian serviceman)ФСБ и крымские "потеряшки" (tr. "FSB and Crimean "losses"") — RFEL, 13 June 2016"Гюндуз Мамедов, прокурор АР Крим: 'Під процесуальним керівництвом прокуратури АР Крим розкрито викрадення кримськотатарського активіста Решата Аметова [Gunduz Mamedov, Prosecutor of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea: "Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the abduction of Crimean Tatar activist Reshat Ametov has been revealed"]. Prosecutor's office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol city, 10 September 2019 Based in Crimea,elements ofGaleotti Mark Armies of Russia's War in Ukraine Osprey Publishing 2019 978-1-4728-3344-0 Elite 228 Oxford 11–1211–12 Navy 510th Naval Inf Bde (Feodosiia) 810th Naval Inf Bde (Simferopol) Deployed to Crimea, elements of Ground Forces 18th Mot Rifle Bde (Grozny) 291st Artillery Bde (Troitskaya) (GRU command) 3rd Spetsnaz Bde (Tolyatti) 10th Spetsnaz Bde (Krasnodar) 16th Spetsnaz Bde (Tambov) 22nd Spetsnaz Bde (Stepnoy) 25th Spetsnaz Rgt (Stavropol) 45th Spetsnaz Rgt(Kubinka, Moscow) Airborne 7th Air Assault Div (Novorossiysk) 31st Air Assault Bde(Ulyanovsk) Navy 382nd Naval Inf Bn (Temryuk) 727th Naval Inf Bn (Astrakhan) Special Operations Forces SOF Command (Prokhladny) Armed forces11–12 Navy 36th Coastal Def Bde (at Perevalne) 1st Naval Inf Bn (Feodosiia) 56th Gds Bn (Sevastopol) 501st Naval Inf Bn (Kerch) 406th Artillery Bde (Simferopol) 37th Comms and Control Rgt (Sevastopol) 72nd Psychological and Information Warfare Centerhttps://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/22/7019918/ https://web.archive.org/web/20141110175733/http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/22/7019918/ У Севастополі росіяни пригнали "Тигр" для штурму українців 10 November 2014 Українська правда Paramilitary Interior troops 9th Bde (Simferopol) 15th Bn (Yevpatoriia) 18th Spec Mot Militia Bn (Haspra) 42nd Operational Rgt (Sevastopol) 47th Bde (Feodosiia) Border guards Special-Purpose Border Guard Bn (Yalta) In February and March 2014, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine, occupied it, and then annexed it after an illegitimate referendum. This took place amid the uncertainty that immediately followed Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity.Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, page 19, published by RAND Corporation in 2017. "Ukraine's government was in transition following the ouster of Yanukovych. As a result, it did not react to the Russian operation when launched. Russia's task was made relatively easy by the confusion and chaos that generally follows an uprising, such as what happened in Kyiv. Moscow capitalized on the tensions and uncertainty in Crimea, as well as on the inexperience of Ukraine's provisional government. Meeting notes of the discussion among Ukrainian leadership reveal a great deal of anxiety, uncertainty, and unwillingness to take action for fear of escalation." The invasion marked the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Crimea's annexation has been described as an instance of modern Russian imperialism.What Started in Crimea Should End in Crimea https://cepa.org/article/what-started-in-crimea-should-end-in-crimea/ Center for European Policy Analysis 15 May 2023 It was the first time since World War II that a European country had annexed part of another,Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia Council on Foreign Relations 5 February 2020 and some analysts see the annexation as the beginning of a Second Cold War between Russia and the West.Chivvis Christopher Alcaro Riccardo West-Russia Relations in Light of the Ukraine Crisis 2015 Edizioni Nuova Cultura 33 Deterrence in the new European security context The United States (US), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Russia are now clearly headed toward a new phase in their relationship ... Some would thus argue that we are either facing or at risk of a new Cold War (Levgold 2014, Kashin 2014, Arbatov 2014).D'Anieri Paul Ukraine and Russia 2023 Cambridge University Press 1 Yet in 2014, Russia invaded, seizing Ukrainian territory and bringing Russia and the West to what many saw as a new Cold War. The events in Kyiv that ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych on 22 February 2014 sparked both pro- and anti-separatistParliament of ARC is doing everything possible to separate Crimea from Ukraine, Chubarov said. http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/parlament_ark_robit_use_moglive_dlya_vidtorgnennya_krimu_vid_ukraiini___chubarov_1912708 https://web.archive.org/web/20150621105531/http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/parlament_ark_robit_use_moglive_dlya_vidtorgnennya_krimu_vid_ukraiini___chubarov_1912708 21 June 2015 demonstrations in Crimea. At the same time, Russian president Vladimir Putin told his security chiefs to begin work on "returning Crimea to Russia". On 27 February, Russian special forces without insigniaWeaver Courtney 15 March 2015 Putin was ready to put nuclear weapons on alert in Crimea crisis Financial Times https://www.ft.com/content/41873ed2-cb60-11e4-8ad9-00144feab7de subscription 23 January 2022 https://archive.today/20210211231429/https://www.ft.com/content/41873ed2-cb60-11e4-8ad9-00144feab7de 11 February 2021 live began seizing strategic sites across Crimea.https://time.com/19097/putin-crimea-russia-ukraine-aksyonov/ Putin's Man in Crimea Is Ukraine's Worst Nightmare Simon Shuster 10 March 2014 Time 8 March 2015 Before dawn on Feb.27, at least two dozen heavily armed men stormed the Crimean parliament building and the nearby headquarters of the regional government, bringing with them a cache of assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades. A few hours later, Aksyonov walked into the parliament and, after a brief round of talks with the gunmen, began to gather a quorum of the chamber's lawmakers. 28 March 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220328085629/https://time.com/19097/putin-crimea-russia-ukraine-aksyonov/ liveDe Carbonnel Alissa 13 March 2014 RPT-INSIGHT-How the separatists delivered Crimea to Moscow Reuters https://reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-russia-aksyonov-idINL6N0M93AH20140313 8 March 2015 Only a week after gunmen planted the Russian flag on the local parliament, Aksyonov and his allies held another vote and declared parliament was appealing to Putin to annex Crimea Russia denied involvement at the time,Baczynska Gabriela Toyer Julien 5 March 2014 Gutterman Steve Russia says cannot order Crimean 'self-defense' units back to base. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-lavrov-spain-idUSBREA240NF20140305 Reuters but Putin later admitted that they were Russian troops.Putin reveals secrets of Russia's Crimea takeover plot BBC News 9 March 2015 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31796226 9 March 2015Soldatkin Vladimir Stamp David 9 March 2014 Putin says plan to take Crimea hatched before referendum https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-putin-crimea-idUSKBN0M51DG20150309 Reuters 10 March 2015 As the armed men occupied Crimea's parliament, it dismissed the Crimean government, installed the pro-Russian Aksyonov government, and announced a referendum on Crimea's status. The referendum was held under Russian occupation and did not have an option to keep the status quo. According to the Russian-installed authorities, the result was overwhelmingly in favor of joining Russia. The next day, 17 March 2014, Crimea's authorities declared independence and requested to join Russia.http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/891-18 uk:Про дострокове припинення повноважень Верховної Ради Автономної Республіки Крим On the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea uk Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine 15 March 2014 Russia incorporated Crimea on 18 March 2014 as the Republic of Crimea and federal city of Sevastopol. https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/crimea_annexion/id2593565/ Four years since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea Government.no 14 March 2018 28 March 2019 Russia also claimed an exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea around Crimea. This zone is three times bigger than the peninsula and holds vast natural gas and oil reserves.Broad William In Taking Crimea, Putin Gains a Sea of Fuel Reserves https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/europe/in-taking-crimea-putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves.html The New York Times 17 May 2014 Russia militarized the peninsula and warned against any intervention.https://thediplomat.com/2014/07/russia-threatens-nuclear-strikes-over-crimea/ 11 July 2014 The Diplomat "Russia Threatens Nuclear Strikes Over Crimea" 22 September 2021 Ukraine and many other countries condemned the annexation as breaking international law and Russian agreements to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The United Nations General Assembly rejected the referendum and annexation, adopting a resolution affirming the "territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders",http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml UN General Assembly adopts resolution affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity China Central Television 28 March 2014 8 March 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20180304200543/http://english.cntv.cn/2014/03/28/ARTI1395947928472439.shtml 4 March 2018https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/a_res_68_262.pdf United Nations A/RES/68/262 General Assembly 1 April 2014 United Nations 24 April 2014 and deeming Crimea to be under Russian occupation.https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N18/451/02/PDF/N1845102.pdf?OpenElement ODS HOME PAGE documents-dds-ny.un.org The other members of the G8 suspended Russia from the group https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-temporarily-kicked-out-of-g8-club-of-rich-countries-2014-3 Russia Temporarily Kicked Out of G8 Club of Rich Countries Bruno Waterfield Peter Dominiczak 24 March 2014 Business Insider 8 March 2015 David Blair The Daily Telegraph and imposed sanctions on Russia. NATO also suspended co-operation with Russia.Ukraine Crisis: NATO Suspends Russia Co-operation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26838894 BBC News, UK 2 April 2014 2 April 2014 The Russian government opposes the "annexation" label, with Putin defending the referendum as complying with the principle of the self-determination.https://news.yahoo.com/crimea-vote-joining-russia-moscow-wields-u-n-024050097--finance.html Crimeans vote over 90 percent to quit Ukraine for Russia Mike Collett-White 16 March 2014 8 March 2015 Reuters Ronald Popeski2627417 The Ukraine Crisis, Cold War II, and International Law The German Law Journal 6 July 2015 Boris N. Mamlyuk In his speech marking the annexation, Putin said Crimea had always been Russian and should never have become part of an independent Ukraine.Crimea crisis: Russian President Putin's speech annotated https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26652058 BBC News 19 March 2014 3 Other names In Ukraine The names of the Crimean annexation vary. In Ukraine, the annexation is known as the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia (uk тимчасова окупація Автономної Республіки Крим і Севастополя Росією tymchasova okupatsiia Avtonomnoi Respubliky Krym i Sevastopolia Rosiieiu), the illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the fall of Crimea, and the invasion of Crimea.https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/1172021-37533 24 March 2021 Президента України 24 March 2021 24 March 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210324193718/https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/1172021-37533 Указ Президента України «Про рішення Ради національної безпеки і оборони України від 11 березня 2021 року "Про Стратегію деокупації та реінтеграції тимчасово окупованої території Автономної Республіки Крим та міста Севастополя"» № 117/2021 Decree of the President of Ukraine "On the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of March 11, 2021" On the Strategy of deoccupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol № 117/2021Kyiv U. S. Embassy https://ua.usembassy.gov/seven-years-of-illegal-occupation-of-the-autonomous-republic-of-crimea/ Seven Years of Illegal Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea ua.usembassy.gov 4 March 2021https://www.army.mil/article/140557/the_fall_of_crimea_one_marines_story The Fall of Crimea: One Marine's Story Jesse Granger 29 January 2015 www.army.mil 27 February 2022http://khpg.org/pda/files/docs/index.php?id=1425046486 Bitter Crimean Anniversary – Victims of Russian Annexation khpg.org In Russia In the Russian Federation, it is also known as the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation (ru присоединение Крыма к Российской Федерации prisoyedineniye Kryma k Rossiyskoy Federatsii), the return of Crimea (ru возвращение Крыма vozvrashcheniye Kryma), and the reunification of Crimea.http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2014/03/25/n_6037281.shtml Минобороны России учредило медаль "За возвращение Крыма" Ministry of Defense of Russia established a medal 'For the Return of Crimea' ru Gazeta.ru 25 March 2014 30 August 201418 March 2021 Right of Reply to Russia – "Seventh Anniversary of the Reunification of Crimea with Russia" https://osce.usmission.gov/right-of-reply-to-russia-seventh-anniversary-of-the-reunification-of-crimea-with-russia/ 27 February 2022 U.S. Mission to the OSCE Background March 2026 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine 1783 Russian annexation of Crimea Crimea in the Soviet Union 1954 transfer of Crimea Crimea was part of the Crimean Khanate from 1441 until it was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1783 by a decree of Catherine the Great.10.1017/S0035869X00013733 Art. XI.—A Turkish Circle Ode, by Shahin-Ghiray, Khan of the Crimea. With Translation, Memoir of the Author, and a brief Account of the Khanate of the Crimea, its Connexion with Turkey, and its Annexation by Catherine the Second of Russia 1861 Redhouse J. W. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 18 400–415 10.2307/2697641 2697641 Schönle Andreas Garden of the Empire: Catherine's Appropriation of the Crimea Slavic Review 2001 60 1 1–23 18727221 41052102 Catherine II Discovers the Crimea Griffiths David M. Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas 2008 56 3 339–348 After the downfall of Russian empire in 1917 during the first stages of the Russian Civil War there were a series of short-lived independent governments (Crimean People's Republic, Crimean Regional Government, Crimean SSR). They were followed by White Russian governments (General Command of the Armed Forces of South Russia and later South Russian Government). In October 1921, the Bolshevik Russian SFSR gained control of the peninsula and instituted the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as a member of Russian Federation. In the following year Crimea joined the Soviet Union as a part of Russia (the RSFSR). After the Second World War and the 1944 deportation of all of the indigenous Crimean Tatars by the Soviet government, the Crimean ASSR was stripped of its autonomy in 1946 and downgraded to the status of an oblast of the Russian SFSR. In 1954, the Crimean Oblast was transferred from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's union with Russia.Ragozin Leonid Annexation of Crimea: A masterclass in political manipulation https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/annexation-crimea-masterclass-political-manipulation-190315174459207.html Al Jazeera 16 March 2019Crimea profile – Overview BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2015 In 1989, under Gorbachev's perestroika,29 March 2022 gorbachev-perestroika https://www.uawarexplained.com/gorbachev-perestroika/?version=sixty-minutes 29 March 2022 UaWaExplained.com the Supreme Soviet declared that the deportation of the Crimean Tatars under Stalin had been illegalhttps://www.alexanderyakovlev.org/fond/issues-doc/67942 1989 ru ru:Декларация Верховного Совета СССР "О признании незаконными и преступными репрессивных актов против народов, подвергшихся насильственному переселению, и обеспечении их прав" Declaration of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the recognition of illegal and criminal acts of repression against peoples subjected to forced resettlement, and ensuring their rights" www.alexanderyakovlev.org 13 October 2019 24 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190224150556/https://www.alexanderyakovlev.org/fond/issues-doc/67942 dead and the mostly Muslim ethnic group was allowed to return to Crimea."The Crimean Tatars began repatriating on a massive scale beginning in the late 1980s and continuing into the early 1990s. The population of Crimean Tatars in Crimea rapidly reached 250,000 and leveled off at 270,000 where it remains as of this writing [2001]. There are believed to be between 30,000 and 100,000 remaining in places of former exile in Central Asia." Greta Lynn Uehling, The Crimean Tatars (Encyclopedia of the Minorities, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn) iccrimea.org In 1990, the Soviet of the Crimean Oblast proposed the restoration of the Crimean ASSR. http://sevkrimrus.narod.ru/ZAKON/1990obl.htm ru:ДЕКЛАРАЦИЯ О ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОМ И ПРАВОВОМ СТАТУСЕ КРЫМА DECLARATION ON THE STATE AND LEGAL STATUS OF CRIMEA 1990 ru The oblast conducted a referendum in 1991, which asked whether Crimea should be elevated into a signatory of the New Union Treaty (that is, become a union republic on its own). By that time, though, the dissolution of the Soviet Union was well underway. The Crimean ASSR was restored for less than a year as part of Ukrainian SSR before the restoration of Ukrainian independence.29 March 2022 Dukrainian-independence-referendum https://www.uawarexplained.com/ukrainian-independence-referendum/?version=sixty-minutes/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained Newly independent Ukraine maintained Crimea's autonomous status,https://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1213а-12 Про внесення змін і доповнень до Конституції... від 19 June 1991 № 1213а-XII On Amendments to the Constitution ... of 19 June 1991 № 1213a-XII 19 June 1991 uk while the Supreme Council of Crimea affirmed the peninsula's "sovereignty" as a part of Ukraine.https://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/krym/show/rb001d002-91 Parliament of Ukraine Законодавство України 17 November 1994 Government of Ukraine ru ru:Декларация о государственном суверенитете Крыма Declaration on State Sovereignty of Crimea 24 April 2014https://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/krym/show/rb0019002-92 Parliament of Ukraine 20 October 1999 Government of Ukraine ru ru:О Республике Крым как официальном названии демократического государства Крым On the Republic of Crimea as the official name of the democratic state of Crimea 24 April 2014 The confrontation between the government of Ukraine and Crimea deteriorated between 1992 and 1995. In May 1992 the regional parliament declared an independent "Crimean republic." In June 1992, the parties reached a compromise, that Crimea would have considerable autonomy but remain part of Ukraine.Subtelny, Orest (2009). Ukraine: A History Fourth Edition. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-8390-6. Yuri Meshkov, a leader of the Russian movement was elected President of Crimea in 1994 and his party won a majority in the regional parliamentary elections in the same year. The pro-Russian movement was then weakened by internal disagreements and in March 1995 the Ukrainian government gained the upper hand. The office of the elected President of Crimea was abolished and a loyal head of region was installed instead of Meshkov; the 1992 constitution and a number of local laws were repealed. According to Gwendolyn Sasse the conflict was defused due to Crimea's multi-ethnic population, fractures within the pro-Russian movement, Kyiv's policy of avoiding escalation and the lack of active support from Russia.Sasse Gwendolyn https://books.google.com/books?id=OVjXEAAAQBAJ&dq=meshkov+crimea+president&pg=PA1989 Russia's War Against Ukraine 14 September 2023 John Wiley & Sons 978-1-5095-6061-5 During the 1990s, the serious dispute over control of the Black Sea Fleet and Crimean naval facilities, as well as the status of Crimea in whole were source of tensions between Russia and Ukraine.Curtis Glenn E. Russia: A Country Study Area handbook series Library of Congress, Federal Research Division The Library of Congress 1st Washington, DC U.S. Government Printing Office 1998 0-8444-0866-2 429 https://www.loc.gov/item/97007563/ 11 June 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210611210545/http://countrystudies.us/russia/ live | also via Archive.org In 1992, Vladimir Lukin, then chairman of the Russian Duma's Committee on Foreign Affairs, suggested that to pressure Ukraine to give up its claim to the Black Sea Fleet, Russia should question Ukrainian control over Crimea.Crimea and the Black Sea Fleet in Russian- Ukrainian Relations, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Victor Zaborsky, September 1995 In 1998 the Partition Treaty divided the fleet and gave Russia a naval base in Sevastopol, and the Treaty of Friendship recognized the inviolability of existing borders. However, in 2003 Tuzla Island conflict issues over maritime border resurfaced. In September 2008, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko accused Russia of giving Russian passports to the population in Crimea, and described it as a "real problem", given Russia's declared policy of military intervention abroad to protect Russian citizens.Tsukanova, Anya. Cheney urges divided Ukraine to unite against Russia 'threat' The Sydney Morning Herald (via Associated Press). 6 September 2008. On 24 August 2009, anti-Ukrainian demonstrations were held in Crimea by ethnic Russian residents. Sergei Tsekov (of the Russian Blochttp://www.taraskuzio.net/media13_files2F26.pdf media13_files2F26.pdf (Archived copy) www.taraskuzio.net 17 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20200528230404/http://www.taraskuzio.net/media13_files2F26.pdf 28 May 2020 and then deputy speaker of the Crimean parliamenthttp://www.taraskuzio.net/media24_files2F15.pdf media24_files2F15.pdf (Archived copy) www.taraskuzio.net 17 January 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20200102195345/http://www.taraskuzio.net/media24_files2F15.pdf 2 January 2020) said then that he hoped that Russia would treat Crimea the same way as it had treated South Ossetia and Abkhazia.https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/world/europe/28crimea.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss Russia and Ukraine in Intensifying Standoff The New York Times 28 August 2009 28 February 2014 Clifford J. Levy Crimea is populated by an ethnic Russian majority and a minority of both ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, and thus demographically possessed one of Ukraine's largest ethnically Russian populations.Ukraine's sharp divisions". BBC News. 23 April 2014. As early as in 2010, some analysts already speculated that the Russian government had irredentist plans. Taras Kuzio said that "Russia has an even more impossible time recognizing Ukraine's sovereignty over the Crimea and the port of Sevastopol – as seen by public opinion in Russia, statements by politicians, including members of the ruling United Russia party, experts and journalists".https://www.peacepalacelibrary.nl/ebooks/files/372451918.pdf The Crimea: Europe's Next Flashpoint? Peacepalacelibrary.nl 11 April 2017 30 November 2010 28 September 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160928203545/http://www.peacepalacelibrary.nl/ebooks/files/372451918.pdf In 2011, William Varettoni wrote that "Russia wants to annex Crimea and is merely waiting for the right opportunity, most likely under the pretense of defending Russian brethren abroad".Crimea's Overlooked Instability Varettoni William 21 June 2011 10.1080/0163660X.2011.588128 The Washington Quarterly 34 3 87–99 154003492 0163-660X Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity Euromaidan Revolution of Dignity thumb|Euromaidan in Kyiv, 29 December 2013 The Euromaidan protest movement began in Kyiv in late November 2013 after President Viktor Yanukovych, of the Party of Regions, failed to sign the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement.29 March 2022 political-part-of-the-association-agreement-with-eu https://www.uawarexplained.com/political-part-of-the-association-agreement-with-eu/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com Yanukovych won29 March 2022 yanukovych https://www.uawarexplained.com/yanukovych/?version=sixty-minutes/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com the 2010 presidential election with strong support from voters in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and southern and eastern Ukraine. The Crimean autonomous government strongly supported Yanukovych and condemned the protests, saying they were "threatening political stability in the country". The Crimean autonomous parliament said that it supported the government's decision to suspend negotiations on the pending association agreement and urged Crimeans to "strengthen friendly ties with Russian regions".Крымский парламент решил ещё раз поддержать Азарова и заклеймить оппозицию (The Crimean parliament has decided to once again support Azarov and condemn the opposition) – Европейская правда, 27 ноября 2013 http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11433 ru:Решение ВР АРК от 27 November 2013 № 1477-6/13 "О политической ситуации" Decision of the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC of 27 November 2013 № 1477–6 / 13 "On the political situation" ru rada.crimea.ua 27 November 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140329215707/http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11433 29 March 2014 http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11551 ru:Заявление ВР АРК от 22 January 2014 № 29-6/14-ВР "О политической ситуации" Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC of 22 January 2014 № 29-6 / 14-VR "On the political situation" ru rada.crimea.ua 22 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140126041112/http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11551 26 January 2014 On 4 February 2014, the Presidium of the Supreme Council "promised" to consider holding a referendum on the peninsula's status. Speaker Vladimir Klychnikov asked to appeal to the Russian government to "guarantee the preservation of Crimean autonomy".The Chronicles of Alienation; The annexation of Crimea from 2 December 2013, through 4 April 2014, The Ukrainian Week (16 March 2015)http://www.rada.crimea.ua/news/04_02_14_3 ru:Защитить статус и полномочия Крыма! Protect the status and powers of Crimea! ru rada.crimea.ua 4 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140303033017/http://www.rada.crimea.ua/news/04_02_14_3 3 March 2014Overview reliable sources needed July 2024 The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) responded by opening a criminal case to investigate the possible "subversion" of Ukraine's territorial integrity.http://www.unian.net/politics/884848-kryimskie-tataryi-gotovyi-dat-otpor-popyitkam-ottorjeniya-avtonomii-ot-ukrainyi-chubarov.html Крымские татары готовы дать отпор попыткам отторжения автономии от Украины – Чубаров. Crimean Tatars are ready to repel attempts to reject autonomy from Ukraine – Chubarov. 16 February 2014 Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 10 April 2014 On 20 February 2014, during a visit to Moscow, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov stated that the 1954 transfer of Crimea from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic had been a mistake. The Euromaidan protests came to a head in late February 2014, and Yanukovych and many of his ministers fled the capital on 22 February.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis: Timeline 13 November 2014 20 October 2015 BBC News After his flight, opposition parties and defectors from the Party of Regions put together a parliamentary quorum in the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament), and voted on 22 February to remove Yanukovych from his post on the grounds that he was unable to fulfill his duties.Archrival Is Freed as Ukraine Leader Flees The New York Times 22 February 2014 https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/world/europe/ukraine.html 23 February 2014http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192030.html Rada removes Yanukovych from office, schedules new elections for May25 Interfax-Ukraine 22 February 2014 25 February 2015Sindelar Daisy https://www.rferl.org/a/was-yanukovychs-ouster-constitutional/25274346.html Was Yanukovych's Ouster Constitutional? Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty Rferl.org 23 February 2014 25 February 2014 Arseniy Yatsenyuk was appointed by the Rada to serve as the head of a caretaker government until new presidential and parliament elections could be held. This new government was recognised internationally. Russian government and propaganda have described these events as a "coup d'état" and have said that the caretaker government was illegitimate,https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-yanukovych-tymoshenko-live-updates The Guardian Ukraine MPs appoint interim president as Yanukovych allies dismissed – 23February as it happened 23 February 2014 12 June 2014RICHTER ANDREI G. 2015 https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=110802762&site=eds-live&scope=site International Journal of Communication Legal Response to Propaganda Broadcasts Related to Crisis in and Around Ukraine 9 3125–3126Gerber Theodore P Zavisca Jane Summer 2016 Does Russian Propaganda Work? Washington Quarterly 39 2 79–98 10.1080/0163660X.2016.1204398Tomkiw Lydia For Ukraine's Wartime Fact-Checkers, the Battle Rages On. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=31h&AN=128469796&site=eds-live&scope=site Wilson Quarterly Winter2018 1 while researchers consider the subsequent annexation of Crimea to be a true military coup, because the Russian military seized Crimea's parliament and government buildings and instigated the replacement of its government with Russian proxies.Putin on Ukraine crisis: 'It is an unconstitutional coup', BBC News (4 March 2014)March 2026Ukraine defends vote despite unrest, Putin pledges 'respect', Reuters (24 March 2014)March 2026Maria Popova, Oxana Shevel https://books.google.com/books?id=MmTiEAAAQBAJ&dq=Aksyonov+Mohyliov+crimea&pg=PT123 Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States 8 November 2023 John Wiley & Sons 978-1-5095-5738-7Wilson Andrew https://books.google.com/books?id=NMK2BAAAQBAJ&dq=Fast-forward+to+2014,+and+there+was+a+coup+in+Ukraine,+involving+masked+men+with+guns&pg=PA108 Ukraine Crisis: What It Means for the West 18 November 2014 Yale University Press 978-0-300-21292-1 108, 110Mychailo Wynnyckyj https://books.google.com/books?id=9TFVEAAAQBAJ&dq=Republic+of+Crimea+and+supervised+an+illegitimate+and+falsified&pg=PA25 Ukraine's Maidan, Russia's War 30 April 2019 BoD – Books on Demand 978-3-8382-1327-9 28 Annexation Anti-Maidan Russo-Ukrainian War Timeline of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation thumb|Crimea (dark green), Rest of Ukraine (light green) and Russia (light red) in Europe Russian planning thumb|Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in March 2014 At the end of January 2014, Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev travelled to Crimea with his head of security, former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer Igor Girkin (alias 'Strelkov'). Malofeev met with Vladimir Konstantinov, Chairman of the Supreme Council, asking him whether he would be willing to take "more drastic measures" to enforce Crimea's autonomy should there be a revolution. Konstantinov had already met with Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Security Council of Russia, in Moscow in December 2013 where he told Patrushev that if Yanukovych was overthrown, Crimea would be ready to break off and become part of Russia. At the end of January 2014, Konstantinov met with Vladislav Surkov, Putin's adviser on Ukraine. On 4 February, Konstantinov appealed to Putin to guard Crimean autonomy and began preparing a "survey" of Crimeans on what its status should be. Surkov visited Crimea on 14 February, where he might have tried to recruit Crimean prime minister, Anatolii Mohyliov, for the Russian cause.Kim Lucian 2024 Putin's Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine https://books.google.com/books?id=st8JEQAAQBAJ&pg=PT111 Woodrow Wilson Center Series New York Columbia University Press 978-0-231-21402-5 10.7312/kim-21402 71–73, 117–118 In early February 2014, before the Ukrainian revolution, the Kremlin received a strategy paper outlining plans for the annexation of Crimea. It was reportedly part-written by Malofeev, and was published a year later by the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.Lipsky Andrey 24 February 2015 "Представляется правильным инициировать присоединение восточных областей Украины к России" ru «It seems right to initiate the accession of eastern regions of Ukraine to Russia» Novaya Gazeta 19 https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2015/02/24/63168-171-predstavlyaetsya-pravilnym-initsiirovat-prisoedinenie-vostochnyh-oblastey-ukrainy-k-rossii-187 1 January 2016 The documents said that the Ukrainian government and president Viktor Yanukovych were "totally bankrupt" and would not last. They proposed that Russia should foster separatism in Crimea and other eastern provinces, and should begin work on taking control of them. The documents outlined plans for starting pro-Russian protests and a public relations campaign to justify a Russian takeover.Novaya Gazeta’s ‘Kremlin Papers’ article: Full text in English https://www.unian.info/politics/1048525-novaya-gazetas-kremlin-papers-article-full-text-in-english.html UNIAN 25 February 2015Matthew Schofield http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/article24780370.html Russian news report: Putin approved Ukraine invasion before Kiev government collapsed McClatchy DC 21 February 2015 3 January 2016https://www.voanews.com/a/ukraine-rebels-agree-to-begin-withdrawing-weapons/2653786.html Report to Allege Direct Kremlin Link to Ukraine Invasion Voice of America 15 February 2014 24 February 2015http://www.inquisitr.com/1866019/world-war-3-vladimir-putin-plotted-ukraine-invasion-early-as-february-2014-new-report-says/ World War 3: Vladimir Putin Plotted Ukraine Invasion Early As February 2014, New Report Says Inquisitr.com 22 February 2015 24 February 2015 20 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211120102757/https://www.inquisitr.com/1866019/world-war-3-vladimir-putin-plotted-ukraine-invasion-early-as-february-2014-new-report-says/ dead On 21 February 2014, Ukrainian president Yanukovych secretly fled the capital. Russia's leadership worried that its naval base in Crimea might be at risk under a new Ukrainian government that was committed to closer ties with the West. On 22–23 February 2014,The date was given by Putin in Russian film commemorating the annexation of Crimea, however, the inscription on the Medal "For the Return of Crimea", awarded by the Russian Ministry of Defence state put 20 February as the starting date Russian president Putin held an all-night meeting with security chiefs to discuss the crisis. At the end of that meeting, Putin said: "we must start working on returning Crimea to Russia".29 March 2022 putin-as-heir-of-yeltsin https://www.uawarexplained.com/uk/putin-as-heir-of-yeltsin/?version=sixty-minutes/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com The GRU and FSB then began organizing sympathizers in Crimea to ensure that when the operation began there would be armed "local self‑defense groups" on the streets for support.11 In January 2014, the city council of Sevastopol—home of Russia's naval base in Crimea—had called for the formation of "people's militia" units to "ensure firm defence" of the city from "extremism".https://nv.ua/publications/rokirovki-v-sbu-kto-takie-malikov-ostafiychuk-i-frolov-55722.html 25 June 2015 Novoe Vremia ru ru:Рокировки в СБУ. Кто такие Маликов, Остафийчук и Фролов Castling the SBU. Who are Malikov, Ostafiychuk and Frolov 1 January 2016 According to political scientist Daniel Treisman, Putin may have begun planning to take Crimea even before Yanukovych was ousted. A source close to the commander of the operation said that Russian special forces in the port of Novorossiysk and the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol had already been put on alert on 18 February. Participants in the operation were later awarded a medal "For the Return of Crimea", which is engraved with 20 February as the start date of the operation.Treisman Daniel Daniel Treisman 2018 Crimea: Anatomy of a Decision https://books.google.com/books?id=jxZ2EQAAQBAJ&pg=RA3-PT154 Treisman Daniel The New Autocracy: Information, Politics, and Policy in Putin's Russia Washington, D.C. Brookings Institution Press 978-0-8157-3243-3 287–288 Early unrest thumb|"Crimean self-defence forces", 2 March 2014 thumb|A pro-Ukrainian demonstration in Simferopol (Ukrainian flag on the left, Crimean Tatar flag on the right) during the Russian military intervention in Crimea, 9 March 2014 The February 2014 Revolution of Dignity that ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych sparked a political crisis in Crimea, which initially manifested as demonstrations against the new interim Ukrainian government,In Yalta was organized Euromaidan, in Sevastopol were demanding to imprison the opposition https://web.archive.org/web/20201128202347/https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/19/7014965/ 28 November 202019 February 2014 but rapidly escalated. In late February, thousands of Russian soldiers dressed as civilians joined the "Crimean self-defense" units, as did almost one thousand Kuban Cossacks from the North Caucasus. The activities of these groups were closely coordinated with Russian military forces and planned by Russian defense officials. Igor Girkin ('Strelkov') oversaw command of some of the units and their coordination with Russian security officials. Almost ten thousand people joined these "self-defense" units, but it is unclear how many were locals.Kudelia Serhiy 2025 Seize the City, Undo the State: The Inception of Russia's War on Ukraine https://books.google.com/books?id=Jbg7EQAAQBAJ&pg=PA75 Oxford Oxford University Press 978-0-19-779553-8 10.1093/9780197795576.001.0001 75–77 On 20 February several buses with Crimean license plates were stopped at a pro-Maidan checkpoint in a town in Cherkasy oblast. Their passengers were violently intimidated and some buses were burned. This incident was subsequently used by Russian propaganda which made unsubstantiated claims that the passengers were killed in gruesome ways.Arel Dominique Driscoll Jesse Ukraine's Unnamed War: Before The Russian Invasion of 2022 https://books.google.com/books?id=7dWgEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA105 2023 Cambridge University Press 10.1017/9781009052924 978-1-009-05292-4 105–106 The local parliament of Crimea was the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea or Supreme Council of Crimea. Some MPs called for an extraordinary meeting on 21 February. In response to Russian separatist sentiment, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that it would "use severe measures to prevent any action taken against diminishing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine".It also noted that "certain politicians, local government officials, leaders of civil society organizations, and radically inclined individuals have attempted to create grounds for escalating the civil conflict, and have spread autonomous and separatist attitudes among the people, which could lead to the demise of our as a united nation and loss of its national sovereignty." In addition, the statement said that certain lawmakers of every level have begun separatist negotiations with representatives of foreign nations. "Open consultations are being held on the possible division of the country into separate parts in violation of the Ukrainian constitution," read the statement. "This could lead to an escalation of conflict between different sectors of society, inciting ethnic or religious hatred and military conflict."http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-feb-21-live-updates-337287.html EuroMaidan rallies in Ukraine Kyiv Post 21 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140221182944/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-feb-21-live-updates-337287.html 21 February 2014"against diminishing" seems wrong, mistranslation? From context, one of those words should go. April 2022 The party with the largest number of seats in the Crimean parliament (80 of 100), the Party of Regions of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, did not discuss Crimean secession, and were supportive of an agreement between President Yanukovych and Euromaidan activists to end the unrest that was struck on the same day in Kyiv.https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/52929.html Regions Party gets 80 of 100 seats on Crimean parliament 11 November 2010 live https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/52929/ 1 December 2008 Interfax-Ukrainehttps://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/191667.html Regions of Crimea meeting didn't address separation of Crimea from Ukraine – deputy prime minister of Crimea 21 February 2014 live https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/191667.html 1 December 2008 Interfax-Ukraine Crimean prime minister Anatolii Mohyliov said that his government recognised the new provisional government in Kyiv, and that the Crimean autonomous government would carry out all laws passed by the Ukrainian parliament.https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/25274524.html 23 February 2014 live https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25274524.html 1 December 2008 Radio Svoboda uk uk:Прем'єр Криму Могильов заявляє, що виконуватиме нові закони Crimean Prime Minister Mogilev says it will comply with new laws In Simferopol, following a pro-Russian demonstration the previous day where protesters had replaced the Ukrainian flag over the parliament with a Russian flag,Protesters set a flag of Russia on the building of Crimean Parliament. http://www.unian.ua/politics/889804-mitinguvalniki-vstanovili-prapor-rosiji-na-budivli-parlamentu-krimu-foto.html a pro-Euromaidan rally of between 5,000 and 15,000 was held in support of the new government, and demanding the resignation of the Crimean parliament; attendees waved Ukrainian, Tatar, and European Union flags.http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25274499.html uk:У Криму вимагають розпуску парламенту автономії і знесення пам'ятника Леніну Crimea demands the dissolution of the parliament of autonomy and the demolition of the monument to Lenin uk Radio Svoboda 23 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25274499.html 1 December 2008 Meanwhile, in Sevastopol, thousands protested against the new Ukrainian government, voted to establish a parallel administration, and created civil defence squads with the support of the Russian Night Wolves motorcycle club. Protesters waved Russian flags, chanted "Putin is our president!" and said they would refuse to further pay taxes to the Ukrainian state.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-secession-russian-crimea Ukraine crisis fuels secession calls in pro-Russian south The Guardian 24 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-secession-russian-crimea 1 December 2008 liveBogdan Huzar http://blogi.newsweek.pl/Tekst/swiat/684527,rosja-przygotowuje-sie-do-zbrojnej-interwencji-na-ukrainie.html Rosja przygotowuje się do zbrojnej interwencji na Ukrainie? Russia is preparing for military intervention in Ukraine? pl Newsweek Polska 23 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140224033624/http://blogi.newsweek.pl/Tekst/swiat/684527%2Crosja-przygotowuje-sie-do-zbrojnej-interwencji-na-ukrainie.html 24 February 2014 Russian military convoys were also alleged to be seen in the area. In Kerch, pro-Russian protesters attempted to remove the Ukrainian flag from atop city hall and replace it with the flag of Russia. Over 200 attended, waving Russian, orange-and-black St. George, and the Russian Unity party flags. Mayor Oleh Osadchy attempted to disperse the crowd and police eventually arrived to defend the flag. The mayor said "This is the territory of Ukraine, Crimea. Here's a flag of Crimea," but was accused of treason and a fight ensued over the flagpole.http://www.unian.net/politics/888686-v-kerchi-mitinguyuschie-sorvali-ukrainskiy-flag-i-merii-i-povesili-rossiyskiy.html В Керчи митингующие сорвали украинский флаг и мэрии и повесили российский: Новости УНИАН In Kerch, protesters tore down the Ukrainian flag and the mayor's office and hung up the Russian one: News from UNIAN Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 24 February 2014 On 24 February, more rallied outside the Sevastopol city state administration.http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/24/7016127/ У Севастополі вимагають віддати владу вибраному на мітингу меру ; Українська правда In Sevastopol demand to hand over power to the "chosen" at the "mayor" rally; Ukrainian Pravda Ukrayinska Pravda 24 February 2014 Pro-Russian demonstrators accompanied by neo-Cossacks demanded the election of a Russian citizen as mayor and hoisted Russian flags around the city administration; they also handed out leaflets to sign up for a self-defence militia, warning that the "Blue-Brown Europlague is knocking".http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-7-decoding-documents-indicting-dictators/#2308 Ukraine Liveblog: Day 7 – Decoding Documents & Indicting Dictators The Interpreter 24 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140301065847/http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-7-decoding-documents-indicting-dictators/#2308 1 March 2014 Volodymyr Yatsuba, head of Sevastopol administration, announced his resignation, citing the "decision of the city's inhabitants" made at a pro-Russian rally, and while caretaker city administration initially leaned towards recognition of new Ukrainian government,https://www.unian.ua/politics/889104-vlada-sevastopolya-viznala-novu-verhovnu-radu.html unian.ua 24 February 2014 uk uk:Влада Севастополя визнала нову Верховну Раду Sevastopol authorities recognised new Verkhovna Rada 30 January 2019 continued pressure from pro-Russian activists forced local authorities to concede.http://sevnews.info/rus/view-news/Sevastopolcy-chut-ne-razgromili-administraciyu-no-vse-zhe-dobilis-obeshaniya-peredat-vse-dela-Alekseyu-CHalomu/13540 24 February 2014 News of Sevastopol ru ru:Севастопольцы чуть не разгромили администрацию, но все же добились обещания передать все дела Алексею Чалому Sevastopolitans nearly destroyed city administration, but got a promise [from local authorities] to hand all affairs over to Chaly https://web.archive.org/web/20161017182928/http://sevnews.info/rus/view-news/Sevastopolcy-chut-ne-razgromili-administraciyu-no-vse-zhe-dobilis-obeshaniya-peredat-vse-dela-Alekseyu-CHalomu/13540 17 October 2016 30 January 2019 Consequently, Sevastopol City Council illegally elected Alexei Chaly, a Russian citizen, as mayor. Under the law of Ukraine, it was not possible for Sevastopol to elect a mayor, as the Chairman of the Sevastopol City State Administration, appointed by the president of Ukraine, functions as its mayor.Mark Nordberg Taras Kuzio Contemporary Ukraine: Dynamics of Post-Soviet Transformation https://books.google.com/books?id=tedMMgz3RV8C&pg=PA44 1998 M.E. Sharpe 978-0-7656-3150-3 44 3. State and Institution Building in Ukraine A thousand protesters present chanted "A Russian mayor for a Russian city". On 25 February, several hundred pro-Russian protesters blocked the Crimean parliament demanding non-recognition of the central government of Ukraine and a referendum on Crimea's status.http://www.e-crimea.info/news/ot-parlamenta-kryma-potrebovali-provesti-referendum-ob-otdelenii-ot-ukrainy 25 February 2014 "e-Crimea" News agency ru ru:От парламента Крыма потребовали провести референдум об отделении от Украины [Pro-Russian demonstrators] demand that Crimean parliament hold referendum on separation from Ukraine https://web.archive.org/web/20140303184134/http://www.e-crimea.info/news/ot-parlamenta-kryma-potrebovali-provesti-referendum-ob-otdelenii-ot-ukrainy 3 March 2014 30 January 2019http://www.e-crimea.info/news/protivniki-centralnoy-vlasti-prigrozili-zahvatom-parlamenta-kryma 25 February 2014 "e-Crimea" News agency ru ru:Противники центральной власти пригрозили захватом парламента Крыма Opponents of the central government [of Ukraine] threatened to seize Crimean parliament https://web.archive.org/web/20140308063238/http://www.e-crimea.info/news/protivniki-centralnoy-vlasti-prigrozili-zahvatom-parlamenta-kryma 8 March 2014 30 January 2019http://censor.net.ua/photo_news/272784/prorossiyiskie_sily_zablokirovali_vr_kryma_trebuyut_referenduma_o_nezavisimosti_parlament_sobiraetsya ru:Пророссийские силы заблокировали ВР Крыма, требуют референдума о независимости: парламент собирается на внеочередное заседание. Pro-Russian forces blocked the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea demanding an independence referendum: Parliament to meet in an extraordinary session. ru censor.net.ua 25 February 2014 Цензор.НЕТ Нет Цензор On the same day, crowds gathered again outside Sevastopol's city hall on Tuesday as rumours spread that security forces could arrest Chaly, but police chief Alexander Goncharov said that his officers would refuse to carry out "criminal orders" issued by Kyiv. Viktor Neganov, a Sevastopol-based adviser to the Internal Affairs Minister, condemned the events in the city as a coup. "Chaly represents the interests of the Kremlin which likely gave its tacit approval," he said. Sevastopol City State Administration chairman Vladimir Yatsuba was booed and heckled on 23 February, when he told a pro-Russian rally that Crimea was part of Ukraine. He resigned the next day.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/ukraine-sevastopol-installs-pro-russian-mayor Ukraine: Sevastopol installs pro-Russian mayor as separatism fears grow Howard Amos The Guardian 25 February 2014 In Simferopol, the Regional State Administration building was blockaded with hundreds of protesters, including neo-Cossacks, demanding a referendum of separation; the rally was organized by the Crimean Front.http://www.rbc.ru/politics/25/02/2014/907178.shtml ru:Активисты Крыма требуют отделения полуострова от Украины Activists demand separation of Crimea from Ukraine ru rbc.ru 25 February 2014 21 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151223120800/http://www.rbc.ru/politics/25/02/2014/907178.shtml 23 December 2015 РБК thumb|Protests outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol, 26 February 2014 On 26 February, outside the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol, 4,000–5,000 Crimean Tatars and supporters of the Euromaidan-Crimea movement faced 600–700 supporters of pro-Russian organizations and the Russian Unity Party.Crimean Tatars, pro-Russia supporters approach Crimean parliament building, Interfax-Ukraine (26 February 2014) Tatars leaders organised the demonstration to block the sitting of the Crimean parliament which is "doing everything to execute plans of separation of Crimea from Ukraine". Supreme Council Chairman Vladimir Konstantinov said that the Crimean parliament would not consider separation from Ukraine, and that earlier reports that parliament would hold a debate on the matter were provocations.http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/26/7016360/ uk:У парламенті Криму заявили, що не планують відділятись від України Crimean parliament stated they did not plan to separate from Ukraine uk Ukrayinska Pravda 26 February 2014Crimean Parliament doesn't raise a question of separation from Ukraine, speaker said. http://www.unian.ua/politics/890147-u-vr-krimu-ne-stavlyat-pitannya-pro-vidokremlennya-spiker.html Tatars created self-defence groups, encouraged collaboration with Russians, Ukrainians, and people of other nationalities, and called for the protection of churches, mosques, synagogues, and other important sites.http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/26/7016376/ uk:Татари розійшлися створювати самооборону, щоб захищати Крим Tartars dispersed to organise themselves to defend Crimea uk Ukrayinksa Pravda 26 February 2014 By nightfall the Crimean Tatars had left; several hundred Russian Unity supporters rallied on.Crimean Tatars leave parliament square; Russian Unity supporters continue rally, Interfax-Ukraine (26 February 2014) The new Ukrainian government's acting Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov tasked Crimean law enforcement agencies not to provoke conflicts and to do whatever necessary to prevent clashes with pro-Russian forces; and he added "I think, that way – through a dialogue – we shall achieve much more than with standoffs".Crimean police ordered to prevent clashes at any cost, Interfax-Ukraine (26 February 2014) New Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko requested that the United Nations provide around-the-clock monitoring of the security situation in Crimea.Ukraine asking UN to monitor security situation in Crimea round the clock, says security service chief, Interfax-Ukraine (26 February 2014) Russian military takeover of Crimea thumb|Russian soldiers without markings in Simferopol, Crimea, 2 March 2014 Russia took advantage of the uncertainty in Ukraine immediately after the ousting of Yanukovych.Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine https://web.archive.org/web/20220217091710/http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1498/RAND_RR1498.pdf 17 February 2022 , p. 19, published by RAND Corporation in 2017. "Ukraine's government was in transition following the ouster of Yanukovych. As a result, it did not react to the Russian operation when launched. Russia's task was made relatively easy by the confusion and chaos that generally follows an uprising, such as what happened in Kyiv. Moscow capitalized on the tensions and uncertainty in Crimea, as well as on the inexperience of Ukraine's provisional government. Meeting notes of the discussion among Ukrainian leadership reveal a great deal of anxiety, uncertainty, and unwillingness to take action for fear of escalation." On 26 February, Russian soldiers without insignia began to occupy Crimea and to blockade Ukrainian military bases.The Russian Invasion of the Crimean Peninsula 2014–2015 https://www.jhuapl.edu/Content/documents/RussianInvasionCrimeanPeninsula.pdf 24 September 2021 Johns Hopkins University 6 February 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220206000517/https://www.jhuapl.edu/Content/documents/RussianInvasionCrimeanPeninsula.pdf liveDeBenedictis Kent Russian 'Hybrid Warfare' and the Annexation of Crimea 2022 Bloomsbury Publishing 140 During the night of 26–27 February, Russian special forces without insignia departed Sevastopol ... They arrived at the Crimean Rada and Council of Ministers buildings in Simferopol, disarmed the security and took control of the buildings ... Putin later signed a decree designating 27 February as Special Operations Forces Day in Russia. In Simferopol, the Russian soldiers seized the Crimean parliament building and the Council of Ministers building.https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/europe/crimea-ukraine.html Gunmen Seize Government Buildings in Crimea Andrew Higgins Steven Erlanger The New York Times 27 February 2014 25 February 2015 Russian flags were raised over these buildingshttps://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-politics/ Gunmen seize government buildings in Ukraine's Crimea, raise Russian flag 27 February 2014 CNN Gumuchian Marie-Louise Smith-Spark Laura Formanek Ingrid and barricades were erected outside them.http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/27/berkut/ Бывший СССР: Украина: Украинский депутат объявил о бунте крымского "Беркута" Former USSR: Ukraine: Ukrainian MP announces riot of Crimean "Golden eagle" lenta.ru A military checkpoint, with a Russian flag and Russian military vehicles, was set up on the main highway between Sevastopol and Simferopol.https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tension-in-crimea-as-pro-russia-and-pro-ukraine-groups-stage-competing-rallies/article17110382/#dashboard/follows/ Globe in Ukraine: Russian-backed fighters restrict access to Crimean city The Globe and Mail Mark MacKinnon 26 February 2014 thumb|Russian soldiers without markings occupying the Crimean parliament building, 1 March 2014 While the armed soldiers occupied the Crimean parliament building, the parliament held an emergency session.https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193292.html Number of Crimean deputies present at referendum resolution vote unclear Interfax-Ukraine 27 February 2014 28 August 2022De Carbonnel Alissa 13 March 2014 RPT-INSIGHT-How the separatists delivered Crimea to Moscow Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-russia-aksyonov-idINL6N0M93AH20140313 28 November 2020 It voted to dismiss the Crimean government, and replace Prime Minister Anatolii Mohyliov with Sergey Aksyonov.Crimea sets date for autonomy vote amid gunmen, anti-Kiev protests, (27 February 2014). Aksyonov belonged to the Russian Unity party, which received only 4% of votes in the last election. According to the Constitution of Ukraine, the prime minister of Crimea is appointed by the Crimean parliament (Supreme Council of Crimea) in consultation with the president of Ukraine.Crimean parliament to decide on appointment of autonomous republic's premier on Tuesday, Interfax Ukraine (7 November 2011).uk The new prime minister is the leader of Russian Unity, Ukrayinska Pravda (27 February 2014). Both Aksyonov and speaker Vladimir Konstantinov stated that they viewed Viktor Yanukovych as the de jure president of Ukraine, through whom they were able to ask Russia for help.http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/27/truepresident/ ru:Крымские власти объявили о подчинении Януковичу 28 February 2014 lenta.ru ru Crimean authorities declared submission to Yanukovych The parliament also voted to hold a referendum on greater autonomy, set for 25 May. Historian Andrew Wilson and journalist Luke Harding called this the "Crimean coup".Wilson Andrew Andrew Wilson (historian) Ukraine Crisis: What It Means for the West 2014 Yale University Press 108–111Harding Luke Crimean coup is payback by Putin for Ukraine's revolution https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/28/vladimir-putin-crimean-coup-russia-ukraine The Guardian 28 February 2014 The troops had cut all of the building's communications, and took MPs' phones as they entered. No independent journalists were allowed inside the building while the votes were held. Some MPs said they were threatened and that votes were cast for them and other MPs, even though they were not in the chamber. Interfax-Ukraine reported that there was no way to know how many MPs were present, and whether they voted themselves or if someone else used their voting cards.Number of Crimean deputies present at referendum resolution vote unclear, Interfax-Ukraine (27 February 2014). The head of parliament's information and analysis department, Olha Sulnikova, phoned journalists from inside the building, telling them 61 of the registered 64 deputies had voted for the referendum resolution and 55 for the resolution to dismiss the government. These votes were immediately declared illegal by the Ukrainian interim government.http://obozrevatel.com/politics/08249-turchinov-izdal-ukaz-o-nezakonnosti-izbraniya-novogo-premera-kryima.htm uk:Турчинов издал указ о незаконности избрания нового премьера Крыма Turchynov issued a decree on the illegality of the election of a new prime minister of Crimea 1 March 2014 uk Russian FSB colonel Igor Girkin (alias 'Strelkov'), one of the commanders of the soldiers, said in January 2015 that Crimean MPs were held at gunpoint, and were forced to support the annexation.https://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/putins-narrative-on-crimea-annexation-takes-an-evolutionary-leap-383183.html Putin's narrative on Crimea annexation takes an evolutionary leap Kyiv Post 11 March 2015 12 March 2015 Girkin said:"Unfortunately I did not see any support from the [Crimean] authorities in Simferopol where I was ... It was militants who collected deputies and forced them to vote. Yes, I was one of the commanders of those militants".Miller Christopher 2023 The War Came To Us: Life and Death in Ukraine https://books.google.com/books?id=pOu-EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA121 Bloomsbury Continuum 978-1-399-40685-7 121Kofman Michael Michael Kofman Migacheva Katya Nichiporuk Brian Radin Andrew Tkacheva Olesya Oberholtzer Jenny 9 May 2017 Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1498.html RAND Corporation 18 January 2026 10–11 thumb|Armed men in Berkut uniform guarding a checkpoint at Chonhar, on the border of mainland Ukraine and Crimea, 10 March 2014 The same day, more unmarked troops set up security checkpoints on the Isthmus of Perekop and the Chonhar Peninsula, which separate Crimea from the Ukrainian mainland.http://vizit.ks.ua/news/post_chongar_kontroliruet_krymskij_berkut_podchinennyj_janukovichu/2014-02-27-3148 ПОСТ "ЧОНГАР" КОНТРОЛИРУЕТ КРЫМСКИЙ "БЕРКУТ" ПОДЧИНЕННЫЙ ЯНУКОВИЧУ видео) – 27 Февраля 2014 – "Новый Визит" Генический информационный портал POST "CHONGAR" CONTROLS CRIMEAN "BERKUT" SUBJECT TO YANUKOVYCH (video) – 27 February 2014 – "New Visit" Genetic Information Portal vizit.ks.ua https://web.archive.org/web/20140314131955/http://vizit.ks.ua/news/post_chongar_kontroliruet_krymskij_berkut_podchinennyj_janukovichu/2014-02-27-3148 14 March 2014http://news.allcrimea.net/news/2014/2/27/na-chongarskom-perevale-dezhurit-berkut-i-nekie-grazhdanskie-litsa-6025/ ru:На Чонгарском перешейке дежурит «Беркут» и некие гражданские лица "Berkut" and some civilians act as sentries at Chongarsky Isthmus ru news.allcrimea.net 27 February 2014 24 March 2015http://armyansk.info/news/news-archive/120-2014/4592-pod-armyansk-styanulis-siloviki-iz-berkuta Армянск Информационный – Под Армянск стянулись силовики из "Беркута" Armyansk Informational – Security forces from "Berkut" gathered near Armyansk Армянск Информационный (Armyansk Informational)http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/28/blockpost/ Lenta.ru: Бывший СССР: Украина: СМИ сообщили о блокпостах "Беркута" на въездах в Крым Former USSR: Ukraine: media reported about Berkut checkpoints at the entrances to Crimea lenta.ru They were helped by what appeared to be local Berkut riot police, as well as Russian troops from the 31st Separate Airborne Assault Brigade dressed in Berkut uniforms.https://informnapalm.org/en/how-ukrainian-berkut-officer-from-russian-ulyanovsk-assaulted-crimean-parliament-back-in-2014/ How 'Ukrainian Berkut Officer' from Russian Ulyanovsk Assaulted Crimean Parliament Back in 2014 InformNapalm 9 July 2015 20 October 2015 Within hours, Ukraine had been cut off from Crimea. Ukrainian TV channels became unavailable for Crimean viewers, some replaced with Russian stations. On 29 February, unmarked Russian special forces occupied Crimea's airports and communications centers. On the day of the invasion, the Russian government dismissed accusations that it was in violation of the agreement on the Black Sea Fleet: "All movements of armored vehicles are undertaken in full compliance with the basic agreements and did not require any approvals". http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016538/ Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the movement of armored vehicles in Crimea Ukrayinska Pravda 27 February 2014 On 28 February, an estimated 1,400 Spetsnaz troops were flown in to the Gvardeyskoye air base from Russia.Arutunyan Anna Anna Arutunyan 2022 Hybrid Warriors: Proxies, Freelancers and Moscow's Struggle for Ukraine https://books.google.com/books?id=33KMEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT63 London Hurst & Company 978-1-78738-795-9 46–47 On the same day, Putin assured German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a phone call that no regular Russian soldiers are active in Crimea.Rinke Andreas 2014 Wie Putin Berlin verlor: Moskaus Annexion der Krim hat die deutsche Russland-Politik verändert Internationale Politik 69 3 39–40 https://internationalepolitik.de/de/wie-putin-berlin-verlor de thumb|The blockade of military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the capture of Crimea by Russia in February–March 2014 On 1 March 2014, Aksyonov asked Putin for "assistance in ensuring peace and tranquillity" in Crimea.Mirovalev Mansur 1 March 2014 Crimea PM Takes Control Of Army, Police And Seeks Russian Help https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/crimea-pm-takes-control-army-police-seeks-russian-help-n41826 19 June 2021 NBC News Putin promptly received authorisation from the Federation Council of Russia for a Russian military intervention in Ukraine until the "political-social situation in the country is normalized".1 March 2014 Federation Council Approves Putin's Request for Troop Deployment in Ukraine https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/03/01/federation-council-approves-putins-request-for-troop-deployment-in-ukraine-a32583 19 June 2021 The Moscow TimesCouncil of the Federation: Russia may introduce troops into Crimea. Ukrainska Pravda. 1 March 2014. Ukraine's prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said that Russian military intervention would be the beginning of war,1 March 2014 Russian parliament approves use of armed forces in Crimea Deutsche Welle https://www.dw.com/en/russian-parliament-approves-use-of-armed-forces-in-crimea/a-17467100 24 September 2021 30 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211130112024/https://www.dw.com/en/russian-parliament-approves-use-of-armed-forces-in-crimea/a-17467100 live and Ukraine's representative told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Russia was committing "an act of aggression against the state of Ukraine".Russia, West trade accusations over Ukraine crisis at U.N. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-west-trade-accusations-over-ukraine-crisis-at-un-idUSDEEA2100T/ Reuters 2 March 2014 2 June 2025 27 March 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250602230334/https://www.reuters.com/article/world/russia-west-trade-accusations-over-ukraine-crisis-at-un-idUSDEEA2100T/ live By 2 March, Russian troops were in full control of Crimea, having deployed from the naval base in Sevastopol and reinforced by troops, armour, and helicopters from mainland Russia.https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/russian-parliament-approves-use-of-army-in-ukraine/article5739708.ece Russian Parliament approves use of army in Ukraine. The Hindu March 2014 Radyuhin VladimirWalker Shaun 4 March 2014 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/04/ukraine-crisis-russian-troops-crimea-john-kerry-kiev Russian takeover of Crimea will not descend into war, says Vladimir Putin The Guardian 4 March 2014https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-04/russia-calls-ukraine-intervention-legal-citing-yanukovych-letter Russia Stays in Ukraine as Putin Channels Yanukovych Request Sangwon Yoon Daryna Krasnolutska Kateryna Choursina 4 March 2014 Bloomberg News 29 August 2014 At a press conference on 4 March, president Putin said that Russia had no plans to annex Crimea.https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1498/RAND_RR1498.pdf Lessons from Russia's Operations in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine Kofman Michael Migacheva Katya RAND Corporation Santa Monica 14–15 Nichiporuk Brian Radin Andrew Tkacheva Olesya Oberholtzer Jenny 2017 He also said that it had no plans to invade Ukraine, but that it might intervene if Russians in Ukraine were threatened. Numerous media reports and statements by the Ukrainian and foreign governments noted the identity of the unmarked troops as Russian soldiers, but Russian officials concealed the identity of their forces, claiming they were local "self-defence" units over whom they had no authority. As late as 17 April, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that there were no "excessive Russian troops" in Ukraine, referring to those who were allowed to be at the Sevastopol naval base.McCarthy Tom Tran Mark 17 April 2014 Ukraine crisis: Obama says Russia has 'hand' in 'disruption and chaos' The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/17/ukraine-diplomats-meet-in-geneva-in-bid-to-ease-crisis-live-coverage 19 June 2021 0261-3077 Putin later acknowledged that he had ordered "work to bring Crimea back into Russia" as early as February. thumb|upright|Medal of the Russian Defense Ministry "For the return of Crimea" (ru За возвращение Крыма), 20 February – 18 March 2014 Russia eventually admitted its troops' presence.17 April 2014 Путин: наши военные "встали за спиной" самообороны Крыма Putin: our military "stood behind the back" of the self-defense of Crimea https://www.bbc.com/russian/russia/2014/04/140417_putin_phone_line 19 June 2021 BBC News Russian ru Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu said Russian military actions in Crimea were undertaken by forces of the Black Sea Fleet and were justified by a "threat to lives of Crimean civilians" and danger of "takeover of Russian military infrastructure by extremists".http://tass.ru/politika/1097051 ru:Шойгу: действия Минобороны РФ в Крыму были вызваны угрозой жизни мирного населения Shoigu: the actions of the Russian Defense Ministry in Crimea were caused by a threat to the lives of civilians Information Telegraph Agency of Russia 4 April 2014 ruJune 2021 Ukraine complained that Russia violated the agreement under which it headquartered its Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopolhttp://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-politics/1626422-russia_redeploys_ships_of_baltic_and_northern_fleets_to_sevastopol_violates_agreement_with_ukraine_317983.html Russia redeploys ships of Baltic and Northern fleets to Sevastopol, violates agreement with Ukraine 3 March 2014 Ukrinform 21 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151126044846/http://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-politics/1626422-russia_redeploys_ships_of_baltic_and_northern_fleets_to_sevastopol_violates_agreement_with_ukraine_317983.html 26 November 2015 and violated the country's sovereignty.http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/charlescrawford/100262865/vladimir-putins-illegal-occupation-of-crimea-is-an-attempt-to-put-europes-borders-up-for-grabs/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140310214230/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/charlescrawford/100262865/vladimir-putins-illegal-occupation-of-crimea-is-an-attempt-to-put-europes-borders-up-for-grabs/ 10 March 2014 Charles Crawford Vladimir Putin's illegal occupation of Crimea is an attempt to put Europe's borders up for grabs 10 March 2014 The Daily Telegraph 24 March 2015 The United States and United Kingdom accused Russia of breaking the terms of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, by which Russia, the US, and the UK had affirmed they would not use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine. The Russian government said the Budapest Memorandum29 March 2022 budapest-memorandum https://www.uawarexplained.com/budapest-memorandum/?version=sixty-minutes/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com did not apply due to "circumstances resulting from the action of internal political or socio-economic factors".20 May 2014 Медведев: Россия не гарантирует целостность Украины Medvedev: Russia does not guarantee the integrity of Ukraine https://www.bbc.com/russian/rolling_news/2014/05/140520_rn_medvedev_ukraine.shtml 19 June 2021 BBC News Russian ru In March 2015, retired Russian Admiral Igor Kasatonov ru said that, according to his information, the Russian troop deployment in Crimea included six helicopter landings and three landings of an IL-76 with 500 troops.Urbanskaya Tatyana 22 February 2018 Operation "Crimea is Ours" https://www.unian.info/politics/10017818-operation-crimea-is-ours.html Ukrainian Independent Information Agency13 March 2015 Касатонов: Черноморский флот был плацдармом для аннексии Крыма Kasatonov: the Black Sea Fleet was a springboard for the annexation of Crimea https://www.currenttime.tv/a/26899211.html Current Time TV ru Legal issues Declaration of Independence of Crimea The obligations between Russia and Ukraine with regard to territorial integrity and the prohibition of the use of force are laid down in a number of multilateral or bilateral agreements to which Russia and Ukraine are signatories.https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2520530 The Crimea Crisis – An International Law Perspective 17 April 2014 Heidelberg Journal of International Law 2520530 7 November 2014 Marxsen Christian Vladimir Putin said that Russian troops in the Crimean Peninsula were aimed "to ensure proper conditions for the people of Crimea to be able to freely express their will," http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20796 Direct Line with Vladimir Putin 17 April 2014 kremlin.ru 17 April 2014 whilst Ukraine and other nations argue that such intervention is a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances Russia was among those who affirmed to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine (including Crimea) and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.http://mfa.gov.ua/en/news-feeds/foreign-offices-news/20572-spilyna-zajava-ukrajini-ta-spoluchenih-shtativ-ameriki Joint Statement by the United States and Ukraine mfa.gov.ua 25 March 2014 24 March 2015 19 April 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014331/http://mfa.gov.ua/en/news-feeds/foreign-offices-news/20572-spilyna-zajava-ukrajini-ta-spoluchenih-shtativ-ameriki The 1997 Russian–Ukrainian Treaty on Friendship,29 March 2022 russian-ukrainian-friendship-treaty https://www.uawarexplained.com/russian-ukrainian-friendship-treaty/?version=sixty-minutes/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com Cooperation, and Partnership again reaffirmed the inviolability of the borders between both states, and required Russian forces in Crimea to respect the sovereignty of Ukraine, honor its legislation and not interfere in the internal affairs of the country. The Russian–Ukrainian Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet signed in 1997 and prolonged in 2010, determined the status of Russian military presence in Crimea and restricted their operations, including requirement to show their "military identification cards" when crossing the international border and that operations beyond designated deployment sites was permitted only after coordination with Ukraine.11 March 2014 Bound by treaty: Russia, Ukraine and Crimea https://www.dw.com/en/bound-by-treaty-russia-ukraine-and-crimea/a-17487632 17 December 2020 Deutsche Welle According to Ukraine usage of navigation stations and troop movements were improperly covered by the treaty and were violated many times as well as related court decisions. February's troop movements were in "complete disregard" of the treaty.Yeroshko Iryna Ukraine: Russia shows 'complete disregard' for Black Sea Fleet agreement in Crimea http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/what-parts-of-the-black-sea-fleet-agreement-is-russia-violating-338358.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140305020550/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/what-parts-of-the-black-sea-fleet-agreement-is-russia-violating-338358.html 5 March 2014 Kyiv Post 4 March 2014Dilanian (2014) on 3 March, "CIA director John Brennan told a senior lawmaker Monday that a 1997 treaty between Russia and Ukraine allows up to 25,000 Russia troops in the vital Crimea region, so Russia may not consider its recent troop movements to be an invasion, U.S. officials said." https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-us-intelligence-russia-ukraine-20140303-story.html CIA reportedly says Russia sees treaty as justifying Ukraine moves Los Angeles Times 3 March 2014 12 March 2014 Ken Dilanian thumb|"Little green men" and trucks after the seizure of Perevalne military base, 9 March 2014 Declaration of Independence: a letter of intentAccording to the Constitution of Russia, the admission of new federal subjects is governed by federal constitutional law (art. 65.2).http://constitution.garant.ru/english/ Constitution of the Russian Federation Official site 30 December 2008 3 January 2016 Such a law was adopted in 2001, and it postulates that admission of a foreign state or its part into Russia shall be based on a mutual accord between the Russian Federation and the relevant state and shall take place pursuant to an international treaty between the two countries; moreover, it must be initiated by the state in question, not by its subdivision or by Russia.http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2014)004-e Opinion on "Whether Draft Federal constitutional Law No. 462741-6 on amending the Federal constitutional Law of the Russian Federation on the procedure of admission to the Russian Federation and creation of a new subject within the Russian Federation is compatible with international law" Endorsed by the Venice Commission at Its 98th Plenary Session (Venice, 21–22 March 2014) Venice Commission 21–22 March 2014 On 28 February 2014, Russian MP Sergey Mironov, along with other members of the Duma, introduced a bill to alter Russia's procedure for adding federal subjects. According to the bill, accession could be initiated by a subdivision of a country, provided that there is "absence of efficient sovereign state government in foreign state"; the request could be made either by subdivision bodies on their own or on the basis of a referendum held in the subdivision in accordance with corresponding national legislation. http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-REF(2014)011-e Draft Federal Constitutional Law of the Russian Federation 'amending the Federal Constitutional Law on the Procedure of Admission to the Russian Federation and creation of a new subject of the Russian Federation in its composition' of the Russian Federation (translation) 10 March 2014 On 11 March 2014, both the Supreme Council of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence, which stated their intent to declare independence and request full accession to Russia should the pro-Russian option receive the most votes during the scheduled status referendum. The declaration directly referred to the Kosovo independence precedent, by which the Albanian-populated Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija declared independence from Russia's ally Serbia as the Republic of Kosovo in 2008—a unilateral action Russia staunchly opposed. The Russian government used Kosovo independence precedent as a legal justification for the annexation of Crimeahttps://www.e-ir.info/2019/03/18/the-kosovan-precedent-for-the-annexation-of-crimea/ The Kosovan Precedent for the Annexation of Crimea Daniel Millar 18 March 2019Jusufa Elvina 2015 The Kosovo Precedent in the Secession and Recognition of Crimea https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=442265 ILIRIA International Review English 5 1 267–286 10.21113/iir.v5i1.20 13 January 2026 2192-7081 free Rossi Christopher R. 2015–2016 Impaled on Morton's Fork: Kosovo, Crimea, and the Sui Generis Circumstance https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/emint30&id=369&div=&collection= Emory International Law Review 30 353https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2461153 Has the Advisory Opinion's finding that Kosovo's Declaration of Independence was not Contrary to International Law Set an Unfortunate Precedent? by Anne Peters :: SSRN July 2014 2461153 Anne Peters Many analysts saw the Crimean declaration as an overt effort to pave the way for Crimea's annexation by Russia http://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2014/03/11/verhovnyj-sovet-kryma-prinyal-deklaraciyu-nezavisimosti ru:Крым определился, каким способом войдет в Россию Crimea decided how to enter Russia 11 March 2014 Vedomosti ru and reject Russia's Kosovo precedent justification as being different compared to Crimea events,Šućur Adam 2014 Observing the Question of Secession in the Wake of Recent Events in Kosovo, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Crimea https://hrcak.srce.hr/clanak/209344 Zagrebačka pravna revija en 3 3 275–301 1848-6118Kosumi Vebi https://books.google.com/books?id=hs5QDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT31 Can Crimea Claim Secession and Accession to Russian Federation in Light of Kosovo'S Independence? 27 February 2018 AuthorHouse 978-1-5462-8888-6 en comparing the annexation to the Nazi Germany's anschluss of Austria and Czechoslovak Sudetes instead.19 March 2014 Преса Британії: Путін запозичив аргументи фюрера? https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/press_review/2014/03/140319_uk_press_yg 10 September 2024 BBC News Україна uk30 September 2022 Мюнхенское согласие на аннексию: земля Чехословакии в обмен на мир с Гитлером https://ruski.radio.cz/myunhenskoe-soglasie-na-anneksiyu-zemlya-chehoslovakii-v-obmen-na-mir-s-gitlerom-8762879 10 September 2024 Radio Prague International ru Crimean authorities' stated plans to declare independence from Ukraine made the Mironov bill unnecessary. On 20 March 2014, two days after the treaty of accession was signed, the bill was withdrawn by its initiators.http://asozd2.duma.gov.ru/main.nsf/%28SpravkaNew%29?OpenAgent&RN=462741-6&02 ru:Законопроект № 462741-6 О внесении изменений в Федеральный конституционный закон "О порядке принятия в Российскую Федерацию и образования в ее составе нового субъекта Российской Федерации" (в части расширения предмета правового регулирования названного Федерального конституционного закона) Draft Law No. 462741-6 On Amendments to the Federal Constitutional Law "On the Procedure for Admission to the Russian Federation and the Formation of a New Subject of the Russian Federation within it" (in terms of expanding the subject of legal regulation of the named Federal Constitutional Law) duma.gov.ru ru 3 May 2014 3 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141103193822/http://asozd2.duma.gov.ru/main.nsf/%28SpravkaNew%29?OpenAgent&RN=462741-6&02June 2021 At its meeting on 21–22 March, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission stated that the Mironov bill violated "in particular, the principles of territorial integrity, national sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of another state and pacta sunt servanda" and was therefore incompatible with international law.22 March 2014 Venice Commission gives damning verdict on Crimean http://khpg.org//en/1395450934 19 June 2021 Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-AD(2014)004-e CDL-AD(2014)004-e Opinion on "Whether Draft Federal constitutional Law No. 462741-6 on amending the Federal constitutional Law of the Russian Federation on the procedure of admission to the Russian Federation and creation of a new subject within the Russian Federation is compatible with international law" endorsed by the Venice Commission at its 98th Plenary Session (Venice, 21–22 March 2014) Venice Commission March 2014 Crimean status referendum 2014 Crimean status referendum thumb|A polling station during the "referendum" On 27 February 2014, following the takeover of its building and replacement of Ukrainian-elected officials with Russian-controlled actors by Russian special forces,Coynash Halya Charron Austin 2 January 2019 Russian-occupied Crimea and the state of exception: repression, persecution, and human rights violations https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15387216.2019.1625279 Eurasian Geography and Economics en 60 1 28–53 10.1080/15387216.2019.1625279 1538-7216 ... The referendum was a transparent attempt to validate a violent coup of the Crimean government, and was accordingly held under hostile occupation by the military of a foreign state aided by Russian and pro-Russian paramilitary forces. ... subscription the Supreme Council of Crimea voted to hold a referendum on 25 May, with the initial question as to whether Crimea should upgrade its autonomy within Ukraine.http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11610 ru:Постановление ВР АРК "Об организации и проведении республиканского (местного) референдума по вопросам усовершенствования статуса и полномочий Автономной Республики Крым" Decree of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea "On organizing and holding a republican (local) referendum on improving the status and powers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea" ru rada.crimea.ua 9 March 2014 10 April 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140329214951/http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11610 29 March 2014June 2021 The referendum date was later moved from 25 May to 30 March.http://www.interfax.ru/world/362023 ru:Аксенов: перенос референдума в Крыму связан с тем, что конфликт вышел за пределы разумного Aksyonov: referendum postponement in Crimea is due to the fact that the conflict went beyond reasonable limits Interfax ru March 2014 A Ukrainian court declared the referendum to be illegal.http://www.unian.net/politics/892973-sud-priznal-nezakonnyimi-naznachenie-aksenova-premerom-i-provedenie-referenduma-v-kryimu.html Суд признал незаконными назначение Аксенова премьером и проведение референдума в Крыму The court ruled that Aksenov's appointment as prime minister and the holding of a referendum in Crimea were illegal Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 10 April 2014 On 6 March, the Supreme Council moved the referendum date to 16 March and changed its scope to ask a new question: whether Crimea should apply to join Russia as a federal subject or restore the 1992 Crimean constitution within Ukraine, which the Ukrainian government had previously invalidated. This referendum, unlike one announced earlier, contained no option to maintain the status quo of governance under the 1998 constitution.http://www.golos-ameriki.ru/content/world-ukraine-crisis-referendum/1869197.html ru:Референдум в Крыму: ответ "нет" не предусмотрен Referendum in Crimea: the answer "no" is not provided Voice of America ru 22 April 2014 5 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305090114/http://www.golos-ameriki.ru/content/world-ukraine-crisis-referendum/1869197.html Ukraine's acting president, Oleksandr Turchynov, stated that "The authorities in Crimea are totally illegitimate, both the parliament and the government. They are forced to work under the barrel of a gun and all their decisions are dictated by fear and are illegal".6 March 2014 Crimean authorities work under barrel of a gun – Ukraine leader Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-crimea-gun-idUSL6N0M32QY20140306 8 May 2014 On 14 March, the Crimean status referendum was deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, http://24tv.ua/ru/ks_priznal_nekonstitutsionnim_postanovlenie_o_provedenii_referenduma_v_krimu_n420886 КС признал неконституционным постановление о проведении референдума в Крыму – Видео 14 March 2014 The Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the decision to hold a referendum in Crimea – Video and a day later, the Verkhovna Rada formally dissolved the Crimean parliament. With a referendum looming, Russia massed troops near the Ukrainian eastern border,https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/world/europe/ukraine.html "Russian Troops Mass at Border With Ukraine" The New York Times 13 March 2014 Myers Steven Lee Smale Alison likely to threaten escalation and stymie Ukraine's response. The referendum was held despite the opposition from the Ukrainian government. Official results reported about 95.5% of participating voters in Crimea (turnout was 83%) were in favour of seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia.Collett-White Mike Popeski Ronald Crimeans vote over 90 percent to quit Ukraine for Russia https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis/crimeans-vote-over-90-percent-to-quit-ukraine-for-russia-idUSBREA1Q1E820140316 Reuters 15 March 2014https://www.foxnews.com/world/crimea-referendum-wide-condemnation-after-region-votes-to-split-from-ukraine/ Crimea referendum Wide condemnation after region votes to split from Ukraine Fox News Fox News Channel 16 March 2014 Crimean Tatars mostly boycotted the referendum.Halimah Halimah Crimea's vote: Was it legal? http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/17/world/europe/ukraine-vote-legality/ 19 March 2014 CNN 17 March 2014 A report by Evgeny Bobrov, a member of the Russian President's Human Rights Council, suggested the official results were inflated and between 50 and 60% of Crimeans voted for the reunification with Russia, with the turnout of 30–50%, meaning that 15% to 30% of Crimeans eligible to vote voted for the Russian annexation (the support was higher in administratively separate Sevastopol).https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/05/05/putins-human-rights-council-accidentally-posts-real-crimean-election-results-only-15-voted-for-annexation/ Putin's 'Human Rights Council' Accidentally Posts Real Crimean Election Results Paul Roderick Gregory 5 May 2014 ForbesСовет при Президенте РФ Проблемы жителей Крыма http://www.president-sovet.ru/structure/gruppa_po_migratsionnoy_politike/materialy/problemy_zhiteley_kryma.php https://web.archive.org/web/20141008041908/http://www.president-sovet.ru/structure/gruppa_po_migratsionnoy_politike/materialy/problemy_zhiteley_kryma.php 8 October 2014 ru According to a survey carried out by Pew Research Center in 2014, 54% of Crimean residents supported the right of regions to secede, 91% believed the referendum was free and fair and 88% believed that the government in Kyiv ought to recognize the results of the vote.8 May 2014 Despite Concerns about Governance, Ukrainians Want to Remain One Country http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/05/08/despite-concerns-about-governance-ukrainians-want-to-remain-one-country/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20151001152520/http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/05/08/despite-concerns-about-governance-ukrainians-want-to-remain-one-country/ 1 October 2015 19 May 2014 Pew Research Center The means by which the referendum was conducted were widely criticised by foreign governmentsCrimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union' https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26606097 BBC News 16 March 2014 and in the Ukrainian and international press, with reports that anyone holding a Russian passport regardless of residency in Crimea was allowed to vote.Declaring victory, Crimean and Russian officials pledge fast integration http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/voting-in-crimean-referendum-starts-even-as-ukraine-government-declares-it-illegitimate-339523.html Kyiv Post 17 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140317082713/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/voting-in-crimean-referendum-starts-even-as-ukraine-government-declares-it-illegitimate-339523.html 17 March 2014 OSCE refused to send observers to the referendum, stating that invitation should have come from an OSCE member state in question (i.e. Ukraine), rather than local authorities.11 March 2014 ru:Наблюдатели ОБСЕ не приедут на референдум в Крым ru-RU OSCE observers won't monitor referendum in Crimea Deutsche Welle https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BB%D1%8E%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%81%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%BC-%D0%B2-%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%8B%D0%BC/a-17488704 27 September 2021 Russia invited a group of observers from various European far-right political parties aligned with Putin, who stated the referendum was conducted in a free and fair manner.http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/buitenland/1.1908165 De Redactie nl Extreemrechtse partijen uitgenodigd op referendum Krim Far-right parties invited to Crimea referendum 13 March 2014 12 June 2014http://www.dw.com/en/referendum-day-in-crimeas-simferopol/a-17500378 Deutsche Welle Referendum day in Crimea's Simferopol 16 March 2014 12 June 2014 Crimean proclamation of independence Republic of Crimea (country) other uses Republic of Crimea (disambiguation) Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Crimea The Republic of Crimea was short lived. On 17 March, following the official announcement of the referendum results, the Supreme Council of Crimea declared the formal independence of the Republic of Crimea, comprising the territories of both the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which was granted special status within the breakaway republic.http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11748 ru:Постановление ГС РК № 1745-6/14 – О независимости Крыма Resolution State Council Republic of Crimea № 1745-6/14 – On the independence of Crimea ru rada.crimea.ua 17 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140319060200/http://www.rada.crimea.ua/act/11748 19 March 2014 The Crimean parliament declared the "partial repeal" of Ukrainian laws and began nationalising private and Ukrainian state property located on the Crimean Peninsula, including Ukrainian portshttp://nbnews.com.ua/ru/news/115865/ ru:Парламент Крыма национализировал порты полуострова и их имущество The Parliament of Crimea nationalized the ports of the peninsula and their property nbnews.com.ua ru 17 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073203/http://nbnews.com.ua/ru/news/115865/ 7 April 2014 and property of Chornomornaftogaz.http://glavred.info/ekonomika/krym-nacionaliziroval-chernomorneftegaz-274301.html ru:Крым национализировал "Черноморнефтегаз" Crimea nationalized "Chernomorneftegaz" glavred.info 17 March 2014 ru 26 April 2014 19 October 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171019025004/http://glavred.info/ekonomika/krym-nacionaliziroval-chernomorneftegaz-274301.html dead Parliament also formally requested that the Russian government admit the breakaway republic into Russia,https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/17/ukraine-crimea-russia-referendum-complain-result Crimea applies to be part of Russian Federation after vote to leave Ukraine The Guardian 17 March 2014 with Sevastopol asking to be admitted as a "city of federal significance".https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/18/world/europe/european-union-ukraine.html?hpw&rref=world&_r=0 The New York Times Lawmakers in Crimea Move Swiftly to Split From Ukraine 17 March 2014 17 March 2014 David M. Herszenhorn Alan Cowell On the same day, the de facto Supreme Council renamed itself the State Council of Crimea,http://ria.ru/world/20140317/999851464.html ru:Крым начал процедуру присоединения к РФ, объявив о независимости Crimea began the process of joining the Russian Federation, declaring independence RIA Novosti ru 17 March 2014 РИА Новости declared the Russian ruble an official currency alongside the hryvnia,http://tass.ru/en/economy/723938 https://web.archive.org/web/20141201221944/http://tass.ru/en/economy/723938 live 1 December 2014 Russian ruble announced Crimea's official currency Information Telegraph Agency of Russia 17 March 2014 and in June the Russian ruble became the only form of legal tender.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-01/crimea-adopts-ruble-as-ukraine-continues-battling-rebels.html Bloomberg Volodymyr Verbyany Crimea Adopts Ruble as Ukraine Continues Battling Rebels 1 June 2014 25 June 2022 Putin officially recognised the Republic of Crimea 'as a sovereign and independent state' by decree on 17 March.Putin Approves Draft Treaty On Crimea https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-crimea/25300414.html 17 February 2021 RadioFreeEurope/RadioLibertyhttp://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20596 Kremlin Executive Order on recognising Republic of Crimea 17 March 2014 17 March 2014 On 21 March the Republic of Crimea became a federal Subject of Russia. Accession treaty Republic of Crimea (Russia) Crimean Federal District Political status of Crimea thumb|President Putin with Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergey Aksyonov and Alexey Chaly at the Kremlin, 18 March 2014 The Treaty on Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia was signed between representatives of the Republic of Crimea (including Sevastopol, with which the rest of Crimea briefly unified) and the Russian Federation on 18 March 2014 to lay out terms for the immediate admission of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol as federal subjects of Russia and part of the Russian Federation.Myers Steven Lee Barry Ellen Ellen Barry (journalist) 18 March 2014 Putin Reclaims Crimea for Russia and Bitterly Denounces the West The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/ukraine.html 19 June 2021 0362-433118 March 2014 Ukraine crisis: Putin signs Russia-Crimea treaty BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26630062 19 June 2021The treaty between Russia and pro-Russian Aksyonov government of Crimea, signed on that date, specified that Crimea would be considered incorporated into Russia since the date of signing. The document entered into force on 1 April 2014,http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20605 ru:Договор между Российской Федерацией и Республикой Крым о принятии в Российскую Федерацию Республики Крым и образовании в составе Российской Федерации новых субъектов Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on the acceptance of the Republic of Crimea into Russian Federation and education of new subjects of the Russian Federation ru Kremlin.ru 18 March 2014 2 January 2016 (and a PDF copy of signed document) but pending that was applied provisionally since very signing. On 19 March, the Russian Constitutional Court decided that the treaty is in compliance with the Constitution of Russia.19 March 2014 Constitutional Court Approves Russia-Crimea Treaty https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/03/19/constitutional-court-approves-russia-crimea-treaty-a33133 19 June 2021 The Moscow Times The treaty was ratified by the Federal Assembly and Federation Council by 21 March.Pifer Steven Steven Pifer 18 March 2019 Five years after Crimea's illegal annexation, the issue is no closer to resolution https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/03/18/five-years-after-crimeas-illegal-annexation-the-issue-is-no-closer-to-resolution/ 19 June 2021 Brookings Institution A Just Russia's Ilya Ponomarev was the only State Duma member to vote against the treaty.Conrad Naomi 1 May 2014 The deputy who voted against annexing Crimea https://www.dw.com/en/the-deputy-who-voted-against-annexing-crimea/a-17605965 19 June 2021 Deutsche Welle The Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol became the 84th and 85th federal subjects of Russia.http://pravo.gov.ru:8080/page.aspx?92062 ru:Распоряжение Президента Российской Федерации от 17 March 2014 No. 63-рп 'О подписании Договора между Российской Федерацией и Республикой Крым о принятии в Российскую Федерацию Республики Крым и образовании в составе Российской Федерации новых субъектов' 25 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20140318095051/http://pravo.gov.ru:8080/page.aspx?92062 18 March 2014 Russian president Putin gave a speech on 18 March 2014 to mark the annexation of Crimea. Putin defended the referendum as being "in full compliance with democratic procedures" and the principle of self-determination. He said "In people's hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an inseparable part of Russia" and argued that it should never have become part of an independent Ukraine. Putin lamented the dissolution of the Soviet Union for having "robbed" Russia of territories and making Russians "the biggest ethnic group in the world to be divided by borders", calling this an "outrageous historical injustice". According to Putin, the Ukrainian revolution was a "coup" by "Nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites". Referring to the armed men occupying Crimea as "local self-defense units", he claimed that "Russia's armed forces never entered Crimea", and he denied that Russia wanted to take any other regions of Ukraine.Crimea crisis: Russian President Putin's speech annotated https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26652058 BBC News 19 March 2014 Armed clash and withdrawal of Ukrainian troops During a controversial incident in Simferopol on 18 March, some Ukrainian sources said that armed gunmen that were reported to be Russian special forces allegedly stormed the base. This was contested by Russian authorities, who subsequently announced the arrest of an alleged Ukrainian sniper in connection with the killings,https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26637296 Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base' BBC 18 March 2014 Crimean police later said both Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces had been fired on from a single location ... None of the accounts can be independently confirmed. but later denied the arrest had occurred.http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/197041.html Crimean prosecutors do not confirm info on Simferopol shooter detention Interfax-Ukraine 15 July 2017 The two casualties had a joint funeral attended by both the Crimean and Ukrainian authorities, and both the Ukrainian soldier and Russian paramilitary "self-defence volunteer" were mourned together.Roland Oliphant https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10716412/Ukraines-unlikeliest-funeral-the-only-two-foes-to-die-in-Russias-Crimea-takeover-are-mourned-together.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10716412/Ukraines-unlikeliest-funeral-the-only-two-foes-to-die-in-Russias-Crimea-takeover-are-mourned-together.html 11 January 2022 subscription live Ukraine's unlikeliest funeral: the only two foes to die in Russia's Crimea takeover are mourned together The Daily Telegraph 22 March 2014 2 January 2016 As of March 2014 the incident was under investigation by both the Crimean authorities and the Ukrainian military."Joint Funeral2" 'Opposing sides in Crimean conflict come together today for Simferopol funeral of two men killed, one Ukrainian, the other Russian', Kyiv Post, 22 March 2014"Joint Funeral3" 'Funeral held for Crimea's first casualties', Agence France-Presse, 22 March 2014 In response to shooting, Ukraine's then acting defense minister Ihor Tenyukh authorised Ukrainian troops stationed in Crimea to use deadly force in life-threatening situations. This increased the risk of bloodshed during any takeover of Ukrainian military installations, yet the ensuing Russian operations to seize the remaining Ukrainian military bases and ships in Crimea did not bring new fatalities, although weapons were used and several people were injured. The Russian units involved in such operations were ordered to avoid usage of deadly force when possible. Morale among the Ukrainian troops, which for three weeks were blockaded inside their compounds without any assistance from the Ukrainian government, was very low, and the vast majority of them did not offer any real resistance.Brothers Armed: Military Aspects of the Crisis in Ukraine Lavrov Anton East View Press 2015 978-1-879944-65-7 Second Minneapolis Russian Again: The Military Operation for Crimea 921141500 Pukhov Ruslan On 24 March, the Ukrainian government ordered the full withdrawal of all of its armed forces from Crimea.https://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/24/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/ 24 March 2014 24 March 2014 Ukraine orders Crimea troop withdrawal as Russia seizes naval base CNN Approximately 50% of the Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea had defected to the Russian military.http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140326090516/http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html 26 March 2014 Defense Ministry: 50% Of Ukrainian Troops in Crimea Defect To Russia Ukrainian News Agency 24 March 2014 20 April 2014Jonathan Marcus https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26713727 Ukrainian forces withdraw from Crimea BBC 24 March 2014 20 April 2014 On 26 March the last Ukrainian military bases and Ukrainian Navy ships were captured by Russian troops.uk Russian troops captured all Ukrainian parts in the Crimea, BBC Ukrainian (26 March 2014) Continued occupation and integration with Russia Russian occupation of Crimea thumb|Russian troops in Crimea, March 2014 On 27 March, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a non-binding resolution, which declared the Crimean referendum and subsequent status change invalid, by a vote of 100 to 11, with 58 abstentions and 24 absent.https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=Ukraine&Cr1= United Nations News Centre – Backing Ukraine's territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid 27 March 2014 United Nations 1 April 2014Charbonneau Louis Donath Mirjam Chizu Nomiyama Tom Brown 27 March 2014 U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327 1 April 2014 Crimea and Sevastopol switched to Moscow Time at 10 p.m. on 29 March.В 22.00 в Крыму и в Севастополе стрелки часов переведут на два часа вперёд – на московское время At 22.00 in the Crimea and in Sevastopol, the clock hands will be moved two hours ahead – to Moscow time http://www.1tv.ru/news/social/255292 29 March 2014 29 March 2014https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/crimea-to-set-clocks-to-russia-time-114033000014_1.html Crimea to set clocks to Russia time Business Standard India 30 March 2014 Business Standard On 31 March, Russia unilaterally denounced the Kharkiv Pact29 March 2022 kharkiv-agreements https://www.uawarexplained.com/kharkiv-agreements/?version=sixty-minutes/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com and Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet.31 March 2014 Россия денонсировала соглашения с Украиной о флоте Russia denounced the agreements with Ukraine on the fleet https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/ukraine_russian/2014/03/140331_ru_s_russia_ukraine_agreements 19 June 2021 BBC News Ukrainian ruMay 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes Putin cited "the accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol into Russia" and resulting "practical end of renting relationships" as his reason for the denunciation.See Presidential explanatory note to the denunciation bill https://web.archive.org/web/20171019030057/http://asozd2.duma.gov.ru/main.nsf/(ViewDoc)?OpenAgent&work%2Fdz.nsf%2FByID&FB317FAF2E70539D43257CAA0031A71B 19 October 2017 ru On the same day, he signed a decree formally rehabilitating the Crimean Tatars, who were ousted from their lands in 1944, and the Armenian, German, Greek, and Bulgarian minority communities in the region that Stalin also ordered removed in the 1940s. Also on 31 March 2014, the Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev announced a series of programmes aimed at swiftly incorporating the territory of Crimea into Russia's economy and infrastructure. Medvedev announced the creation of a new ministry for Crimean affairs, and ordered Russia's top ministers who joined him there to make coming up with a development plan their top priority.http://www.marketwatch.com/story/medvedev-visits-crimea-vows-development-aid-2014-03-31 Medvedev visits Crimea, vows development aid Lukas I. Alpert, Alexander Kolyandr Market Watch 31 March 2014 On 3 April 2014, the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol became parts of Russia's Southern Military District.May 2023 On 7 May 2015, Crimea switched its phone code system from the Ukrainian number system to the Russian number system.Crimea switches to Russian telephone codes, Interfax-Ukraine (7 May 2015) thumb|Russian forces during Victory Day in Sevastopol, 2014 On 11 April, the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea and City Charter of Sevastopol were adopted by their respective legislatures,http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2451537 ru:Крым и Севастополь ожидают представления свыше Crimea and Sevastopol await submission from above 12 March 2014 Kommersant ru Nikiforov Vadim 23 April 2014http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140411/189159776/Crimean-Parliament-Approves-New-Constitution.html Crimean Parliament Approves New Constitution Sputnik 11 April 2014 ria.ru coming into effect the following day in addition the new federal subjects were enumerated in a newly published revision of the Russian Constitution.http://www.mk.ru/politics/russia/article/2014/04/11/1012747-kryim-propisalsya-v-konstitutsii-rossii.html ru:Крым прописался в конституции России Crimea registered in the Russian constitution 11 April 2014 mk.ru Nezamyatnyj Ivan ruThomas D. Grant Annexation of Crimea The American Journal of International Law 109 1 1 January 2015 68–95 amerjintelaw.109.1.0068 10.5305/amerjintelaw.109.1.0068 146943718 On 14 April, Vladimir Putin announced that he would open a ruble-only account with Bank Rossiya and would make it the primary bank in the newly annexed Crimea as well as giving the right to service payments on Russia's $36billion wholesale electricity market – which gave the bank $112million annually from commission charges alone.Hobson Peter 14 April 2014 Sanctioned Bank Rossiya to Service $36Bln Domestic Electricity Market The Moscow Times https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/04/14/sanctioned-bank-rossiya-to-service-36bln-domestic-electricity-market-a33944 Russia withdrew its forces from southern Kherson in December 2014.http://www.ukrinform.ua/rus/news/rossiya_ubrala_voyska_s_arabatskoy_strelki Ukrinform ru:Россия убрала войска с Арабатской стрелки Russian troops removed from the Arabat Spit ru 9 December 2014 14 April 2016 In December 2014, and electricity supply agreement was made between Ukraine's Ukrinterenergo and Russia's Inter RAO that electricity would be supplied from Ukraine in return for an equivalent supply of Russian electricity to Ukraine, which resolved electricity rationing in Crimea.https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2015-11-25/crimea-left-without-power Crimea is left without power Strzelecki Jan Rafał Sadowski Centre for Eastern Studies 25 November 2015 19 January 2026 In July 2015, Russian prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, declared that Crimea had been fully integrated into Russia.Jess McHugh http://www.ibtimes.com/putin-eliminates-ministry-crimea-region-fully-integrated-russia-russian-leaders-say-2009463 International Business Times Putin Eliminates Ministry of Crimea, Region Fully Integrated into Russia, Russian Leaders Say 15 July 2015 13 April 2016 Until 2016 these new subjects were grouped in the Crimean Federal District. thumb|Victory Day in Simferopol, occupied Crimea, 2019 In 2017, a survey performed by the Centre for East European and International Studies showed that 85% of the non-Crimean Tatar respondents believed that if the referendum would be held again it would lead to the same or "only marginally different" results. Crimea was fully integrated into the Russian media sphere, and links with the rest of Ukraine were hardly existent.http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/74635 What Is the Public Mood Like in Crimea? Sasse Gwendolyn 6 November 2017 Carnegie Europe 19 November 2017https://www.zois-berlin.de/fileadmin/media/Dateien/ZOiS_Reports/ZOiS_Report_3_2017.pdf ZOiS Report № 3. Terra Incognita: The public mood in Crimea November 2017 31 January 2019 24 February 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190224203617/https://www.zois-berlin.de/fileadmin/media/Dateien/ZOiS_Reports/ZOiS_Report_3_2017.pdf On 28 December 2018, Russia completed a high-tech security fence marking the de facto border between Crimea and Ukraine.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46699807 Ukraine conflict: Russia completes Crimea security fence BBC 28 December 2018 31 December 2018 In 2021, Ukraine launched the Crimea Platform, a diplomatic initiative aimed at protecting the rights of Crimean inhabitants and ultimately reversing the annexation of Crimea.https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/23/crimea-is-ukraine-zelenskyy-opens-inaugural-crimea-summit 'Crimea is Ukraine': Zelenskyy opens inaugural Crimea summit 23 August 2021 euronews 29 August 2021 Transition and aftermath Economic implications Economic history of the Russian Federation Russian financial crisis (2014–2016) thumb|A Ukrainian Chornomornaftogaz platform in the Black Sea, which Russia seized during the Crimea annexation Initially after the annexation, salaries rose, especially those of government workers.June 2021 This was soon offset by the increase in prices caused by the depreciation of the ruble. Wages were cut back by 30% to 70% after Russian authority became established.June 2021 Tourism, previously Crimea's main industry, suffered in particular, down by 50% from 2014 in 2015.https://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/20/opinions/crimea-anniversary/ Back in the USSR? Spying and control in the new Crimea Christian Streib 20 March 2015 3 January 2016 CNNhttps://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2015-09-08/paradise-lost-crimea Paradise Lost in Crimea: How Russia Is Paying for the Annexation Berman Ilan 8 September 2015 Foreign Affairs 31 August 2016 Crimean agricultural yields were also significantly impacted by the annexation.June 2021 Ukraine cut off supplies of water through the North Crimean Canal, which supplies 85% of Crimea's fresh water, June 2024 causing the 2014 rice crop to fail, and greatly damaging the maize and soybean crops.https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/05/06/crimea-rice-crop-fails-over-water-war-with-ukraine-a35082 Crimea Rice Crop Fails Over Water War With Ukraine 6 May 2014 The Moscow Times 3 January 2016 The annexation had a negative influence on Russians working in Ukraine and Ukrainians working in Russia.Naidenova Iuliia Nesseler Cornel Parshakov Petr Chusovliankin Aleksei 2020 After the Crimea crisis: Employee discrimination in Russia and Ukraine PLOS ONE 15 10 e0240811 10.1371/journal.pone.0240811 33112927 7592748 2020PLoSO..1540811N free The number of tourists visiting Crimea in the 2014 season was lower than in the previous years due to a combination of "Western sanctions", ethical objections by Ukrainians, and the difficulty of getting there for Russians.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28688478 Tourism takes a nosedive in Crimea Ash Lucy BBC News Magazine 8 August 2014 29 December 2015 The Russian government attempted to stimulate the flow of tourists by subsidizing holidays in the peninsula for children and state workers from all Russiahttp://ria56.ru/posts/45547575473754735.htm Крым готовится к референдуму и ожидает Русских сезонов Crimea prepares for a referendum and expects Russian seasons РИА Оренбуржье 17 March 2014 17 March 2014 9 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141109162758/http://ria56.ru/posts/45547575473754735.htmhttp://www.vz.ru/society/2014/3/17/677499.html Снова в "Артек" Back to Artek Vzglyad 17 March 2014June 2021 which worked mostly for state-owned hotels. In 2015, overall 3 million tourists visited Crimea according to official data, while before annexation it was around 5.5million on average. The shortage is attributed mostly to stopped flow of tourists from Ukraine. Hotels and restaurants are also experiencing problems with finding enough seasonal workers, who were most arriving from Ukraine in the preceding years. Tourists visiting state-owned hotels were complaining mostly about low standard of rooms and facilities, some of them still unrepaired from Soviet times.Titov Evgeny 11 September 2015 Полуостров в тени материка Peninsula in the shadow of the mainland https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2015/09/11/65560-poluostrov-v-teni-materika 12 September 2015 Novaya Gazeta ru According to the German newspaper Die Welt, the annexation of Crimea is economically disadvantageous for the Russian Federation. Russia will have to spend billions of euros a year to pay salaries and pensions. Moreover, Russia will have to undertake costly projects to connect Crimea to the Russian water supply and power system because Crimea has no land connection to Russia and at present (2014) gets water, gas and electricity from mainland Ukraine. This required building a bridge and a pipeline across the Kerch Strait. Also, Novinite claims that a Ukrainian expert told Die Welt that Crimea "will not be able to attract tourists".Steiner Eduard 17 March 2014 Krim-Annexion wird zur Milliardenlast für Russland de The annexation of Crimea is becoming a billion dollar burden for Russia Die Welt https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/politik/article125869962/Krim-Annexion-wird-zur-Milliardenlast-fuer-Russland.html The then first Deputy to Minister of Finance of Russian Federation Tatyana Nesterenko said that the decision to annex Crimea was made by Vladimir Putin exclusively, without consulting Russia's Finance Ministry.http://www.unian.info/politics/1052109-decision-to-annex-crimea-taken-by-putin-personally.html Decision to annex Crimea 'taken by Putin personally' UNIAN 3 March 2015 The Russian business newspaper Kommersant expresses an opinion that Russia will not acquire anything economically from "accessing" Crimea, which is not very developed industrially, having just a few big factories, and whose yearly gross product is only $4billion. The newspaper also says that everything from Russia will have to be delivered by sea, higher costs of transportation will result in higher prices for everything, and to avoid a decline in living standards Russia will have to subsidise Crimean people for a few months. In total, Kommersant estimates the costs of integrating Crimea into Russia in $30billion over the next decade, i.e. $3billion per year.http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2425287 Расходный полуостров Expendable Peninsula Kommersant 7 March 2014 Western oil expertsJune 2021estimate that Russia's seizing of Crimea, and the associated control of an area of Black Sea more than three times its land area gives it access to oil and gas reserves potentially worth trillions of dollars.Broad William 17 March 2014 https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/europe/in-taking-crimea-putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves.html In Taking Crimea, Putin Gains a Sea of Fuel Reserves The New York Times It also deprives Ukraine of its chances of energy independence. Moscow's acquisition may alter the route along which the South Stream pipeline would be built, saving Russia money, time and engineering challenges.June 2021 It would also allow Russia to avoid building in Turkish territorial waters, which was necessary in the original route to avoid Ukrainian territory.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/In-taking-Crimea-Putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves/articleshow/35312595.cms? https://web.archive.org/web/20140519140005/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/In-taking-Crimea-Putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves/articleshow/35312595.cms 19 May 2014 In taking Crimea, Putin gains a sea of fuel reserves The Times of India 18 May 2014 This pipeline was later canceled in favour of TurkStream, however. thumb|Vladimir Putin and his close confidant Arkady Rotenberg before the opening of the Crimean Bridge in May 2018 The Russian Federal Service for Communications (Roskomnadzor) warned about a transition period as Russian operators have to change the numbering capacity and subscribers. Country code will be replaced from the Ukrainian +380 to Russian +7. Codes in Crimea start with 65, but in the area of "7" the 6 is given to Kazakhstan which shares former Soviet Union +7 with Russia, so city codes have to change. The regulator assigned 869 dialling code to Sevastopol and the rest of the peninsula received a 365 code.http://www.1prime.biz/news/telecommunications/_Ctrl_Telegraph_to_set_Russian_tariffs_on_telegrams_in_Crimea_Apr_3/0/%7B49A072BC-07C5-44F4-8296-74340FE93120%7D.uif Central Telegraph to set Russian tariffs on telegrams in Crimea Apr3 Prime 26 March 2014 30 March 2014 31 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211031035351/http://www.1prime.biz/news/telecommunications/_Ctrl_Telegraph_to_set_Russian_tariffs_on_telegrams_in_Crimea_Apr_3/0/%7B49A072BC-07C5-44F4-8296-74340FE93120%7D.uif At the time of the unification with Russia, telephone operators and Internet service providers in Crimea and Sevastopol are connected to the outside world through the territory of Ukraine.http://www.comnews.ru/node/81207 Крымчанам придется поменять номера телефонов и SIM-карты Crimeans will have to change phone numbers and SIM cards comnews.ru 19 March 2014 19 March 2014 Minister of Communications of Russia, Nikolai Nikiforov announced on his Twitter account that postal codes in Crimea will now have six-figures: to the existing five-digit number the number two will be added at the beginning. For example, the Simferopol postal code 95000 will become 295000.http://www.comnews.ru/node/81297 "Почта России" переводит почтовое сообщение с Крымом на российские тарифы "Post of Russia" translates postal communication with the Crimea to Russian tariffs comnews.ru 25 March 2014 25 March 2014 In the area that now forms the border between Crimea and Ukraine mining the salt lake inlets from the sea that constitute the natural borders, and in the spit of land left over stretches of no-man's-land with wire on either side was created.https://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2014/05/30/sneaking-into-crimea-or-maybe-not/ Sneaking into Crimea – Or Maybe Not Forbes 30 May 2014 31 May 2014 On early June that year Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a Government resolution No.961О пунктах пропуска через государственную границу России в Республике Крым и городе Севастополе dated 5 June 2014 establishing air, sea, road and railway checkpoints. The adopted decisions create a legal basis for the functioning of a checkpoint system at the Russian state border in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. http://government.ru/en/docs/12922/ Government Order on checkpoints at the Russian border in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol Government of Russia 7 June 2014 7 June 2014June 2021 In the year following the annexation, armed men seized various Crimean businesses, including banks, hotels, shipyards, farms, gas stations, a bakery, a dairy, and Yalta Film Studio. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/166097f662ec4e6e899b14c12e9a0c58/change-leadership-crimea-means-property-grab https://web.archive.org/web/20141203004052/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/166097f662ec4e6e899b14c12e9a0c58/change-leadership-crimea-means-property-grab 3 December 2014 Change of leadership in Crimea means property grab Laura Mills John-Thor Dahlburg Associated Press 2 December 2014https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/world/seizing-assets-in-crimea-from-shipyard-to-film-studio.html Seizing Assets in Crimea, From Shipyard to Film Studio Neil MacFarquhar The New York Times 10 January 2015https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/under-russia-isolated-crimea-twilight-060215014.html Under Russia, isolated Crimea is twilight zone for business Maria Antonova Agence France-Presse Yahoo News 27 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150301041453/https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/under-russia-isolated-crimea-twilight-060215014.html 1 March 2015 live Russian media have noted this trend as "returning to the 90's," which is perceived as a period of anarchy and rule of gangs in Russia.Murtazin Irek Irek Murtazin 3 September 2015 На часах – "девяностые" "Nineties" on the clock https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2015/09/04/65471-na-chasah-8212-171-devyanostye-187 12 September 2015 Novaya Gazeta ru After 2014 the Russian government invested heavily in the peninsula's infrastructure—repairing roads, modernizing hospitals and building the Crimean Bridge that links the peninsula to the Russian mainland. Development of new sources of water was undertaken, with huge difficulties, to replace closed Ukrainian sources.https://www.rferl.org/a/new-maps-appear-to-show-crimea-is-drying-up/29361889.html New maps appear to show Crimea is drying up Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 13 July 2018 In 2015, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced a number of theft and corruption cases in infrastructure projects in Crimea, for example; spending that exceeded the actual accounted costs by a factor of three. A number of Russian officials were also arrested for corruption, including head of federal tax inspection.30 June 2015 Second Russian Official in 2 Days Arrested in Crimea Over Corruption The Moscow Times https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2015/06/30/second-russian-official-in-2-days-arrested-in-crimea-over-corruption-a47787 12 September 2015 (According to February 2016 official Ukrainian figures) after Russia's annexation 10% of Security Service of Ukraine personnel left Crimea; accompanied by 6,000 of the pre-annexation 20,300 people strong Ukrainian army.uk After the annexation of Crimea left only 10% of staff SBU, Ukrayinska Pravda (8 February 2016) As result of the disputed political status of Crimea, Russian mobile operators never expanded their operations into Crimea and all mobile services are offered on the basis of "internal roaming," which caused significant controversy inside Russia. Telecoms however argued that expanding coverage to Crimea will put them at risk of Western sanctions and, as result, they will lose access to key equipment and software, none of which is produced locally.http://krymsos.com/en/news/cherez-sanktsiyi-v-krimu-ne-bude-velikikh-operatoriv-zvyazku-rf/ Crimea will not have large telecom operators of Russian Federation because of sanctions CrimeaSOS 10 July 2018 11 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180711022744/http://krymsos.com/en/news/cherez-sanktsiyi-v-krimu-ne-bude-velikikh-operatoriv-zvyazku-rf/https://mts-guide.ru/rouming-mts-v-krymu.html ru:Роуминг МТС в Крыму: есть или нет в 2018 году MTS roaming in Crimea: yes or no in 2018 mts-guide.ru ru 10 July 2018 11 July 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180711030651/https://mts-guide.ru/rouming-mts-v-krymu.html The first five years of Crimean occupation cost Russia over $20 billion, roughly equal to two years of Russia's entire education budget.https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-03-19/russia-vs-ukraine-crimea-s-water-crisis-is-an-impossible-problem-for-putin Crimea's Water Crisis Is an Impossible Problem for Putin Bloomberg.com Bloomberg 19 March 2021 30 August 2021 Human rights situation thumb|A commemoration in Kyiv likening the Deportation of the Crimean Tatars to the annexation of Crimea According to the United Nations and multiple NGOs, Russia is responsible for multiple human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary detention, forced disappearances and instances of discrimination, including persecution of Crimean Tatars in Crimea since the illegal annexation.https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/14/crimea-persecution-crimean-tatars-intensifies Crimea: Persecution of Crimean Tatars Intensifies Human Rights Watch 14 November 2017 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-ukraine-crimea-putin-human-rights-abuses-un-accusations-claims-a7421406.html UN accuses Russia of multiple human rights abuses 16 November 2016 The Independent 21 June 2017 The UN Human Rights Office has documented multiple human rights violations in Crimea. Noting that minority Crimean Tatars have been disproportionately affected.https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/CrimeaThematicReport10Sept2018_EN.pdf Report on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol OHCHR 30 June 2018 24 September 2021https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=25681&LangID=E Human Rights Situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol OHCHR 6 March 2020 24 September 2021 In December 2016, the UN General Assembly voted on a resolution on human rights in occupied Crimea. It called on the Russian Federation "to take all measures necessary to bring an immediate end to all abuses against residents of Crimea, in particular reported discriminatory measures and practices, arbitrary detentions, torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment, and to revoke all discriminatory legislation". It also urged Russia to "immediately release Ukrainian citizens who were unlawfully detained and judged without regard for elementary standards of justice". https://www.unian.info/politics/1687011-un-general-assembly-votes-for-resolution-on-human-rights-in-crimea.html UN General Assembly votes for resolution on human rights in Crimea 21 June 2017 After the annexation, Russian authorities banned Crimean Tatar organizations, filed criminal charges against Tatar leaders and journalists, and targeted the Tatar population. The Atlantic Council have described this as the practice of collective punishment, and therefore as a war crime prohibited under international humanitarian law and Geneva convention.https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/russias-collective-punishment-of-the-crimean-tatars-is-a-war-crime/ Russia's collective punishment of the Crimean Tatars is a war crime 25 February 2021May 2023 In March 2014, Human Rights Watch reported that pro-Ukrainian activists and journalists had been attacked, abducted, and tortured by "self-defense" groups.https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/03/14/crimea-attacks-disappearances-illegal-forces Crimea: Attacks, 'Disappearances' by Illegal Forces Human Rights Watch 14 March 2014 Some Crimeans were simply "disappeared" with no explanation. On 9 May 2014, the new "anti-extremist" amendment to the Criminal Code of Russia, passed in December 2013, came into force. Article 280.1 designated incitement of violation of territorial integrity of the Russian FederationФедеральный закон от 28 December 2013 N 433-ФЗ "О внесении изменения в Уголовный кодекс Российской Федерации" ru [Federal Law of 28 December 2013 No. 433-FZ "On Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation"] (incl. calls for secession of Crimea from RussiaАвтор статьи: Мария Макутина http://rbcdaily.ru/politics/562949990932895 За призывы вернуть Крым Украине можно будет лишиться свободы сроком до пяти лет – РБК daily For calls to return the Crimea to Ukraine, it will be possible to lose freedom for up to five years– RBC daily Rbcdaily.ru 1 April 2014) as a criminal offense in Russia, punishable by a fine of 300 thousand roubles or imprisonment up to 3 years. If such statements are made in public media or the internet, the punishment could be obligatory works up to 480 hours or imprisonment up to five years. According to a report released on the Russian government-run President of Russia's Council on Civil Society and Human Rights website, Tatars who were opposed to Russian rule have been persecuted, Russian law restricting freedom of speech has been imposed, and the new Russian authorities "liquidated" the Kyiv Patriarchate Orthodox church on the peninsula.https://unpo.org/article/17122 Timeline: Escalation of The Crisis in Crimea UNPO 2 November 2009 24 September 2021 31 March 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220331091200/https://unpo.org/article/17122 deadhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/05/06/russian-government-agency-reveals-fraudulent-nature-of-the-crimean-referendum-results/ Russian government agency reveals fraudulent nature of the Crimean referendum results The Washington Post Ilya Somin 6 May 2014 The Crimean Tatar television station was also shut down by the Russian authorities.Ukraine crisis: Crimean Tatars uneasy under Russia rule https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34042938 BBC News 2 January 2016 Sarah Rainsford 25 August 2015 thumb|Russian president Putin meeting with representatives of the Crimean Tatars, 16 May 2014 On 16 May the new Russian authorities of Crimea issued a ban on the annual commemorations of the anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars by Stalin in 1944, citing "possibility of provocation by extremists" as a reason.http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2014/05/17_a_6037401.shtml ru:Крымским татарам запретили митинговать Crimean Tatars have been banned from holding protest rallies ru gazeta.ru 17 May 2014 24 March 2014 Previously, when Crimea was controlled by Ukraine, these commemorations had taken place every year. The Russian-installed Crimean authorities also banned Mustafa Dzhemilev, a human rights activist, Soviet dissident, member of the Ukrainian parliament, and former chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars from entering Crimea. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/93ded53c-de99-11e3-b46b-00144feabdc0.html Crimean Tatars defy ban on rallies to commemorate deportation Financial Times 18 May 2014 19 May 2014 Hille Katherine Additionally, Mejlis reported, that officers of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) raided Tatar homes in the same week, on the pretense of "suspicion of terrorist activity".https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-crimea-tatars-idUSBREA4H06S20140518 Crimean Tatars commemorate Soviet deportation despite ban 18 May 2014 Reuters 19 May 2014 Winning, Alexander 18 May 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140518215141/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/18/us-ukraine-crisis-crimea-tatars-idUSBREA4H06S20140518 live The Tatar community eventually did hold commemorative rallies in defiance of the ban. In response Russian authorities flew helicopters over the rallies in an attempt to disrupt them.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27461159 Crimea helicopters try to disrupt Tatar rallies BBC News 18 May 2014 19 May 2014 In May 2015, a local activist, Alexander Kostenko, was sentenced to four years in a penal colony. His lawyer, Dmitry Sotnikov, said that the case was fabricated and that his client had been beaten and starved. Crimean prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya accused Kostenko of making Nazi gestures during the Maidan protests, and that they were judging "not just [Kostenko], but the very idea of fascism and Nazism, which are trying to raise their head once again". Sotnikov responded that "There are fabricated cases in Russia, but rarely such humiliation and physical harm. A living person is being tortured for a political idea, to be able to boast winning over fascism".15 May 2015 Russia jails Crimea activist for 4 years over Kiev protest allegations NDTV Agence France-Presse https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/russia-jails-crimea-activist-alexander-kostenko-for-4-years-over-kiev-protest-allegations-763392 8 December 2021 In June 2015, Razom released a report compiling human rights abuses in Crimea.http://razomforukraine.org/crimeareport Human Rights on Occupied Territory: Case of Crimea Ivanna Bilych Andreas Neumann Victor C. Okpara Ajitha Pichaipillai Matheus de Moura Sena Olena Sharvan Razom 15 June 2015 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/06/23/crimean-gangland-putin-s-seaside-mafia-state.html Crimean Gangland: Putin's Seaside Mafia State Andrea Chalupa The Daily Beast 23 June 2015 In its 2016 annual report, the Council of Europe made no mention of human rights abuses in Crimea because Russia had not allowed its monitors to enter.http://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/ukraine-politics/ukrainian-lawmakers-fume-over-omission-of-ukraine-from-human-rights-report-416833.html Ukrainian lawmakers fume over omission of Ukraine from human rights report Veronika Melkozerova Kyiv Post 21 June 2016 In February 2016 human rights defender Emir-Usein Kuku from Crimea was arrested and accused of belonging to the Islamist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir although he denies any involvement in this organization. Amnesty International has called for his immediate release. http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1530645336 Jailed Crimean Tatar Human Rights Activist on Hunger Strike in Russian World Cup city 4 July 2018 Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group 18 October 2019https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2018/02/crimean-tatar-hrd-emir-usein-kuku/ CRIMEAN TATAR: NEVER SILENT IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE February 2018 Amnesty International 18 October 2019 thumb|Civilians from Crimea conscripted into the Russian army during the 2022 Russian mobilization On 24 May 2014, Ervin Ibragimov, a former member of the Bakhchysarai Town Council and a member of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars went missing. CCTV footage from a camera at a nearby shop documents that Ibragimov had been stopped by a group of men and that he is briefly speaking to the men before being forced in their van. https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/EUR5041212016ENGLISH.pdf URGENT ACTION: CRIMEAN TATAR ACTIVIST FORCIBLY DISAPPEARED 25 May 2016 Amnesty International According to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group Russian authorities refuse to investigate the disappearance of Ibragimov.http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1522112890 Russia refuses to investigate the abduction of prominent Crimean Tatar activist Ervin Ibragimov Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group In May 2018 Server Mustafayev, the founder and coordinator of the human rights movement Crimean Solidarity was imprisoned by Russian authorities and charged with "membership of a terrorist organisation". Amnesty International and Front Line Defenders demand his immediate release.https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur46/1470/2019/en/ Russian Federation/Ukraine: Further information: Rights defender facing trumped-up charges: Server Mustafayev Amnesty International 29 November 2019https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/arrest-server-mustafayev ARREST OF SERVER MUSTAFAYEV 23 September 2020 On 12 June 2018, Ukraine lodged a memorandum weighing about 90kg, consisting of 17,500 pages of text in 29 volumes to the UN's International Court of Justice about racial discrimination by Russian authorities in occupied Crimea and state financing of terrorism by Russian Federation in Donbas. https://uawire.org/ukraine-files-memorandum-with-un-court-containing-evidence-of-russia-involvement-in-financing-terrorism UAWire – Ukraine files memorandum with UN Court of Justice containing evidence of Russia's involvement in 'financing of terrorism' https://www.unian.info/politics/10149827-ukraine-submits-to-icj-evidence-of-russian-crimes-in-crimea-donbas.html Ukraine submits to ICJ evidence of Russian crimes in Crimea, Donbas 12 June 2018 Between 2015 and 2019 over 134,000 people living in Crimea applied for and were issued Ukrainian passports. https://newizv.ru/news/society/21-03-2019/bolee-sta-tysyach-krymchan-poluchili-ukrainskie-zagranpasporta Более ста тысяч крымчан получили украинские загранпаспорта Новые Известия More than a hundred thousand Crimeans received Ukrainian passports Novye Izvestia newizv.ru ru 21 March 2019 Crimean public opinion thumb|Concert to mark the fifth anniversary of annexation in Simferopol, Crimea, 18 March 2019 Prior to Russian occupation, support for joining Russia was 23% in a 2013 poll, down from 33% in 2011.Public Opinion Survey Residents of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea May 16 – 30, 2013 https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2013%20October%207%20Survey%20of%20Crimean%20Public%20Opinion,%20May%2016-30,%202013.pdf International Republican Institute 31 January 2022 17 https://web.archive.org/web/20220412004739/https://www.iri.org/wp-content/uploads/legacy/iri.org/2013%20October%207%20Survey%20of%20Crimean%20Public%20Opinion,%20May%2016-30,%202013.pdf 12 April 2022 live A joint survey by American government agency Broadcasting Board of Governors and polling firm Gallup was taken during April 2014. It polled 500 residents of Crimea. The survey found that 82.8% of those polled believed that the results of the Crimean status referendum reflected the views of most residents of Crimea, whereas 6.7% said that it did not. 73.9% of those polled said that they thought that the annexation would have a positive impact on their lives, whereas 5.5% said that it would not. 13.6% said that they did not know.http://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2014/06/Ukraine-slide-deck.pdf News-gathering and policy perceptions in Ukraine Broadcasting Board of Governors 3 June 2014 23 March 2015 A comprehensive poll released on 8 May 2014 by the Pew Research Centre surveyed local opinions on the annexation. http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2014/05/Pew-Global-Attitudes-Ukraine-Russia-Report-FINAL-May-8-2014.pdf Despite Concerns about Governance, Ukrainians Want to Remain One Country Pew Research Centre 8 May 2014 8 May 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140509001422/http://www.pewglobal.org/files/2014/05/Pew-Global-Attitudes-Ukraine-Russia-Report-FINAL-May-8-2014.pdf 9 May 2014 Despite international criticism of 16 March referendum on Crimean status, 91% of those Crimeans polled thought that the vote was free and fair, and 88% said that the Ukrainian government should recognise the results. In a survey completed in 2019 by a Russian company FOM 72% of surveyed Crimean residents said their lives have improved since annexation. At the same time only 39% Russians living in the mainland said the annexation was beneficial for the country as a whole which marks a significant drop from 67% in 2015. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/03/15/russians-conflicted-over-crimea-annexations-value-a64817 Russians Conflicted Over Crimea Annexation's Value The Moscow Times 15 March 2019 The Moscow Times 17 March 2019 Whilst the Russian government actively cited local opinion polls to argue that the annexation was legitimate (i.e. supported by the population of the territory in question),O'Loughlin John Toal Gerard 28 February 2019 The Crimea conundrum: legitimacy and public opinion after annexation Eurasian Geography and Economics 60 6–27 10.1080/15387216.2019.1593873 freeToal Gerard O'Loughlin John Bakke Kristin M. 18 March 2020 Analysis Six years and $20 billion in Russian investment later, Crimeans are happy with Russian annexation The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/18/six-years-20-billion-russian-investment-later-crimeans-are-happy-with-russian-annexation/ 29 December 2020 0190-8286 some authors have cautioned against using surveys concerning identities and support for the annexation conducted in "oppressive political environment" of Russian-held Crimea.Charron Austin 2016 Whose is Crimea? Contested Sovereignty and Regional Identity Region 5 2 225–256 2166-4307 24896628Knott Eleanor Kin majorities: identity and citizenship in Crimea and Moldova 2022 978-0-2280-1150-7 Montreal McGill-Queen's University Press 1280277016 Ukrainian response Do not buy Russian goods! Boycott Russian Films Putin khuylo! Day of Resistance to Occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol thumb|A rally in Kyiv against the Russian invasion of Crimea, 2 March 2014 Immediately after the treaty of accession was signed in March, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Provisional Principal of Russia in Ukraine to present note verbale of protest against Russia's recognition of the Republic of Crimea and its subsequent annexation.http://www.unn.com.ua/ru/news/1318642-mzs-viklikalo-timchasovogo-povirenogo-u-spravakh-rf-v-ukrayini-dlya-vruchennya-noti-protestu https://web.archive.org/web/20140319072412/http://www.unn.com.ua/ru/news/1318642-mzs-viklikalo-timchasovogo-povirenogo-u-spravakh-rf-v-ukrayini-dlya-vruchennya-noti-protestu 19 March 2014 ru:МИД вызвал Временного поверенного в делах РФ в Украине для вручения ноты-протеста The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Federation in Ukraine to present a protest note 18 March 2014 unn.com.ua ru Two days later, the Verkhovna Rada condemned the treatyhttp://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1139-18 uk:Декларація "Про боротьбу за звільнення України" Declaration "On the Struggle for the Liberation of Ukraine" Verkhovna Rada uk Законодавство України and called Russia's actions "a gross violation of international law". The Rada called on the international community to avoid recognition of the "so-called Republic of Crimea" or the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia as new federal subjects. On 15 April 2014, the Verkhovna Rada declared the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to be under "provisional occupation" by the Russian militaryhttp://iportal.rada.gov.ua/news/Novyny/Povidomlennya/91559.html uk:Верховна Рада України ухвалила Закон "Про забезпечення прав і свобод громадян та правовий режим на тимчасово окупованій території України" The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens and the Legal Regime in the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine" 15 April 2014 Verkhovna Rada uk 30 April 2014 24 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210924132545/https://iportal.rada.gov.ua/news/Novyny/Povidomlennya/91559.html and imposed travel restrictions on Ukrainians visiting Crimea.Ukraine Parliament declares Crimea temporarily occupied territory http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ukraine-parliament-declares-crimea-temporarily-occupied-territory/ Indo-Asian News Service news.biharprabha.com 15 April 2014 The territories were also deemed "inalienable parts of Ukraine" subject to Ukrainian law. Among other things, the special law approved by the Rada restricted foreign citizens' movements to and from the Crimean Peninsula and forbade certain types of entrepreneurship.http://rada.gov.ua/ru/news/Novosty/Soobshchenyya/91573.html ru:Верховная Рада Украины приняла Закон "Об обеспечении прав и свобод граждан и правовом режиме на временно оккупированной территории Украины" The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens and the Legal Regime in the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine" 15 April 2014 Verkhovna Rada ru 30 April 2014 25 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150925100215/http://rada.gov.ua/ru/news/Novosty/Soobshchenyya/91573.html The law also forbade activity of government bodies formed in violation of Ukrainian law and designated their acts as null and void. http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/4/15/682175.html ru:Рада приняла закон о защите прав граждан "оккупированного Крыма" The Rada adopted a law on the protection of the rights of citizens of the "occupied Crimea" 15 April 2014 Vzglyad ruJune 2021 Vzglyad is unreliable in this page. See Wikipedia:New_page_patrol_source_guide#Russia right|thumb|Following Russia's annexation of Crimea, Ukraine blocked the North Crimean Canal, which provided 85% of Crimea's drinking water.Dam leaves Crimea population in chronic water shortage https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/1/4/dam-leaves-crimea-population-in-chronic-water-shortage Al-Jazeera 4 January 2017 Ukrainian authorities greatly reduced the volume of water flowing into Crimea via the North Crimean Canal due to huge debt for water supplied in the previous year, threatening the viability of the peninsula's agricultural crops, which are heavily dependent on irrigation.25 April 2014 26 April 2014 Russia fears Crimea water shortage as supply drops https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27155885 BBC NewsPray For Rain: Crimea's Dry-Up A Headache For Moscow, Dilemma For Kyiv https://www.rferl.org/a/pray-for-rain-crimea-s-dry-up-a-headache-for-moscow-dilemma-for-kyiv/30515986.html Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 29 March 2020 The Ukrainian National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting instructed all cable operators on 11 March 2014 to stop transmitting a number of Russian channels, including the international versions of the main state-controlled stations, Russia-1, Channel One and NTV, as well as news channel Russia-24.Ennis Stephen https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26546083 Ukraine hits back at Russian TV onslaught BBC 12 March 2014 20 April 2014 In March 2014, activists began organising flash mobs in supermarkets to urge customers not to buy Russian goods and to boycott Russian gas stations, banks, and concerts. In April 2014, some cinemas in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa began shunning Russian films.Цензор.НЕТ 11 April 2014 Некоторые кинотеатры Киева, Львова и Одессы объявили бойкот российской кинопродукции Some cinemas in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa announced a boycott of Russian film production https://censor.net/ru/news/280504/nekotorye_kinoteatry_kieva_lvova_i_odessy_obyavili_boyikot_rossiyiskoyi_kinoproduktsii 5 June 2023 Цензор.НЕТ ru-UA On 2 December 2014, Ukraine created a Ministry of Information Policy, with one of its goals being, according to first Minister of Information, Yuriy Stets, to counteract "Russian information aggression".http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv-post-plus/journalists-media-rights-activists-demand-abolishing-of-newly-formed-ministry-of-truth-374003.html Journalists, free speech activists demand abolishing of newly-formed 'Ministry of Truth' Kyiv Post 4 December 2014 1 January 2016 In December 2014, Ukraine halted all train and bus services to Crimea.8 January 2015 Ukraine conflict: Crimea hit by shortages https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30713665 BBC News On 16 September 2015, the Ukrainian parliament voted for the law that sets 20 February 2014 as the official date of the Russian temporary occupation of the Crimean Peninsula.Rada names 20 February 2014 as official date of Crimea, Sevastopol occupation by Russia. Interfax Ukraine. 16 September 2015Rada names 20 Feb. 2014 as official date of Crimea, Sevastopol occupation by Russia. Kyiv Post. 15 September 2015 On 7 October 2015, the president of Ukraine signed the law into force.President recognised 20 February as the official date of Crimean occupation. Ukrinform. 7 October 2015 The Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs was established by the Ukrainian government on 20 April 2016 to manage occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea regions affected by Russian military intervention of 2014.uk The Cabinet decided to create the Ministry of temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons, Ukrayinska Pravda (20 April 2016) By 2015, the number of IDPs registered in Ukraine who had fled from Russian-occupied Crimea was 50,000.Years After Crimea's Annexation, Integration of Ukraine's Internally Displaced Population Remains Uneven – Ukraine https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/years-after-crimea-s-annexation-integration-ukraine-s-internally-displaced-population 14 March 2022 ReliefWeb 19 September 2019 Russian response Crimean speech of Vladimir Putin 2022 Moscow rally thumb|At least 30,000 people at 15 March protests, named March of Peace, which took place in Moscow a day before the Crimean referendum|248x248px In a poll published on 24 February 2014 by the state-owned Russian Public Opinion Research Center, only 15% of those Russians polled said 'yes' to the question: "Should Russia react to the overthrow of the legally elected authorities in Ukraine?" https://time.com/11952/putin-ukraine-crimea-russia/ 4 Reasons Putin Is Already Losing in Ukraine Time 3 March 2014 The State Duma Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, headed by Leonid Slutsky, visited Simferopol on 25 February 2014 and said: "If the parliament of the Crimean autonomy or its residents express the wish to join the Russian Federation, Russia will be prepared to consider this sort of application. We will be examining the situation and doing so fast".Rothkopf David https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/02/25/all-not-quiet-on-ukraines-eastern-front/ All (Not) Quiet on Ukraine's Eastern Front Foreign policy 25 February 2014 They also stated that in the event of a referendum for the Crimea region joining the Russian Federation, they would consider its results "very fast".Российские паспорта и присоединение к РФ: Депутаты Госдумы прибыли в Крым (Rossiyskiye pasporta i prisoyedineniye k RF: Deputaty Gosdumy pribyli v Krym) Russian passports and joining Russia: State Duma deputies arrived in Crimea http://gordonua.com/news/politics/Rossiyskie-pasporta-i-prisoedinenie-k-RF-Deputaty-Gosdumy-pribyli-v-Krym-11430.html uk Gordonua 25 February 2014 Later Slutsky announced that he was misunderstood by the Crimean press, and no decision regarding simplifying the process of acquiring Russian citizenship for people in Crimea had been made yet. В Госдуме опровергли данные о выдаче паспортов РФ жителям Крыма (V Gosdume oprovergli dannyye o vydache pasportov RF zhitelyam Kryma) The State Duma has denied information about issuing passports to residents of Crimea RF http://www.aif.ru/euromaidan/uanews/1112843 uk Argumenty i Fakty 25 February 2014 He also added that if "fellow Russian citizens are in jeopardy, you understand that we do not stay away".uk http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016276/ Росія обіцяє втрутитися, якщо росіянам в Україні буде загроза (Rosiya obitsyaye vtrutytysya, yakshcho rosiyanam v Ukrayini bude zahroza) Russia promises to intervene if the Russians in Ukraine threatened Українська правда (Ukrayins'ka pravda) [Ukrainian Pravda] UA 25 February 2014 On 25 February, in a meeting with Crimean politicians, he stated that Viktor Yanukovych was still the legitimate president of Ukraine. http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016292/ У Росії Януковича все ще вважають президентом – Слуцький (U Rosiyi Yanukovycha vse shche vvazhayut' prezydentom – Sluts'kyy) In Russia Yanukovych's still the president – Slutsky Українська правда (Ukrayins'ka pravda) [Ukrainian Pravda] UA 25 February 2014 That same day, the Russian Duma announced it was determining measures so that Russians in Ukraine who "did not want to break from the Russian world" could acquire Russian citizenship.http://www.interfax.ru/world/361055 Госдума России обсуждает меры по защите крымчан (Gosduma Rossii obsuzhdayet mery po zashchite krymchan) 25 February 2014 Russian State Duma discusses measures to protect the Crimean Интерфакс (Interfax) RU On 27 February, the Russian governing agencies presented the new law project on granting citizenship.28 February 2014 Ukraine crisis: Russia mulls new land-grab law BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26381454 19 June 2021 The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the West and particularly NATO to "abandon the provocative statements and respect the neutral status of Ukraine". http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016548/ MID of Russia made another statement on Ukraine: militants, NATO, provocations Ukrayinska Pravda 27 February 2014 In its statement, the ministry claims that the agreement on settlement of the crisis, which was signed on 21 February and was witnessed by foreign ministries from Germany, Poland and France had to this date, not been implemented (Vladimir Lukin from Russia had not signed it https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/tensions-high-at-kyiv-protest-camp-despite-ground-breaking-deal/ Tensions high at Kiev protest camp despite ground-breaking deal CTV News 21 February 2014 live https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/tensions-high-at-kyiv-protest-camp-despite-ground-breaking-deal-1.1697154 1 December 2008). On 28 February, according to ITAR-TASS, the Russian Ministry of Transport discontinued further talks with Ukraine in regards to the Crimean Bridge project. http://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-abroad/1625012-rosiya_pripinila_peregovori_z_ukraiinoyu_za_proektom_kerchenskogo_mostu_1912965.html Russia has suspended negotiations with Ukraine on the project of Kerch bridge Ukrinform 28 February 2014 However, on 3 March Dmitry Medvedev, then Prime Minister of Russia, signed a decree creating a subsidiary of Russian Highways (Avtodor) to build a bridge at an unspecified location along the Kerch Strait.3 March 2014 Medvedev Signs Decree Creating Contractor for Kerch Strait Bridge Project https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/03/03/medvedev-signs-decree-creating-contractor-for-kerch-strait-bridge-project-a32624 The Moscow Times3 March 2014 Медведев распорядился создать компанию для строительства моста через Керченский пролив ru Medvedev ordered to create a company to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait TV Rain Russia https://tvrain.tv/teleshow/novosti_sajta/medvedev_rasporjadilsja_sozdat_kompaniju_dlja_stroitelstva_mosta_cherez_kerchenskij_proliv-364255/29 March 2022 Kerch Dam https://www.uawarexplained.com/kerch-dam/?version=sixty-minutes/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com On Russian social networks, there was a movement to gather volunteers who served in the Russian army to go to Ukraine. http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/28/7016603/ In Russia there are gathering "tourists" to Ukraine who served in the military Ukrayinska Pravda 28 February 2014 Many political researchers consider that after the annexation a social period in Russia coined as "Crimean consensus" begun, during which the "Rally 'round the flag" effect was observed in the population.30 November 2022 After the Crimean Consensus – The American Interest https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/01/02/after-the-crimean-consensus/ 20 November 2024 30 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221130172251/https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/01/02/after-the-crimean-consensus/ bot: unknown On 28 February, President Putin stated in telephone calls with key EU leaders that it was of "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence and the necessity of a rapid normalisation of the situation in Ukraine".Ukraine crisis live: Russia admits its troops are moving in Crimea https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666893/Ukraine-crisis-live-President-Barack-Obama-warns-of-costs-for-any-violation-of-Ukraine.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666893/Ukraine-crisis-live-President-Barack-Obama-warns-of-costs-for-any-violation-of-Ukraine.html 11 January 2022 subscription live 28 February 2014 The Daily Telegraph Already on 19 February the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had referred to the Euromaidan revolution as the "Brown revolution".http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/19/brown/ Russian Foreign Ministry called the Ukrainian revolution "brown" lenta.ru RU 19 February 2014 http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/02/19/7014748/ Russian Foreign Ministry: In Ukraine the "brown" revolution, we will apply all the influence Ukrayinska Pravda UA 19 February 2014 In Moscow, on 2 March, an estimated 27,000 rallied in support of the Russian government's decision to intervene in Ukraine.https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0302/Vladimir-Putin-sees-small-protests-mass-support-for-troops-in-Ukraine-video Vladimir Putin sees small protests, mass support for troops in Ukraine (+video) The Christian Science Monitor 2 March 2014 The rallies received considerable attention on Russian state TV and were officially approved by the government. Meanwhile, on 1 March, five people who were picketing next to the Federation Council building against the invasion of Ukraine were arrested.http://www.unian.ua/politics/891669-u-rosiji-zatrimali-aktivistiv-yaki-protestuvali-proti-viyni-z-ukrajinoyu.html In Russia were detained activists who protested against the war with Ukraine Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 1 March 2014 The next day about 200 people protested at the building of the Russian Ministry of Defence in Moscow against Russian military involvement. http://www.utro.ru/articles/2014/03/02/1179378.shtml На антивоенных акциях в Москве задержаны 300 человек (Na antivoyennykh aktsiyakh v Moskve zaderzhany 300 chelovek) 2 March 2014 At the anti-war actions in Moscow detained 300 people Utro RU ru 2 March 2014 About 500 people also gathered to protest on the Manezhnaya Square in Moscow, and the same number of people on the Saint Isaac's Square in Saint Petersburg.http://investigator.org.ua/news/120579/ В Москве и Перебурге проходят митинги против российской оккупации Крыма. Уже есть задержанные (V Moskve i Peterburge prokhodyat mitingi protiv rossiyskoy okkupatsii Kryma. Uzhe yest' zaderzhannyye) Центр журналистских расследований 2 March 2014 In Moscow and St. Petersburg rallies against the Russian occupation of the Crimea. Already have detained ru Центр журналистских расследований (Tsentr zhurnalistskikh rassledovaniy) [Center for Investigative Journalism] 2 March 2014 On 2 March, about eleven protesters demonstrated in Yekaterinburg against Russian involvement, with some wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.http://www.kp.ru/online/news/1674924/ Жители Екатеринбурга провели пикеты против ввода российских войск в Крым (Zhiteli Yekaterinburga proveli pikety protiv vvoda rossiyskikh voysk v Krym) Inhabitants of Ekaterinburg picketed against Russian troops in the Crimea Komsomolskaya Pravda 2 March 2014 RU ru 2 March 2014 Protests were also held in Chelyabinsk on the same day. http://ura.ru/news/1052176002 "Сколько детей ты готов похоронить, чтобы Крым стал частью России?" Первые антивоенные пикеты прошли на Урале ("Skol'ko detey ty gotov pokhoronit', chtoby Krym stal chast'yu Rossii?" Pervyye antivoyennyye pikety proshli na Urale) 2 March 2014 "How many children are you willing to bury to Crimea became part of Russia?" First anti-war pickets were held in the Urals Ura RU ru 2 March 2014 Opposition to the military intervention was also expressed by rock musician Andrey Makarevich, who wrote in particular: "You want war with Ukraine? It will not be the way it was with Abkhazia: the folks on the Maidan have been hardened and know what they are fighting for – for their country, their independence. ... We have to live with them. Still neighborly. And preferably in friendship. But it's up to them how they want to live".4 March 2014 Не стреляй! Антивоенные реплики Юрия Шевчука, Бориса Гребенщикова, Андрея Макаревича Do not shoot! Antiwar remarks by Yuri Shevchuk, Boris Grebenshchikov, Andrey Makarevich https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2014/03/04/58605-ne-strelyay-antivoennye-repliki-yuriya-shevchuka-borisa-grebenschikova-andreya-makarevicha 4 March 2014 Novaya Gazeta ru The Professor of the Department of Philosophy at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations Andrey Zubov was fired for his article in Vedomosti, criticising Russian military intervention.Bershidsky Leonid Leonid Bershidsky 25 March 2014 Comparing Putin to Hitler Will Get You Fired Bloomberg News Bloomberg L.P. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-03-25/comparing-putin-to-hitler-will-get-you-fired 25 March 2014 On 2 March, one Moscow resident protested against Russian intervention by holding a "Stop the war" banner, but he was immediately harassed by passers-by. Police then proceeded to arrest him. A woman came forward with a fabricated charge against him, of beating up a child; however, her claim, due to lack of a victim and obviously false, was ignored by the police.https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26531310 Ukraine crisis: Russians opposed to Putin BBC News Magazine 12 March 2014 Andrei Zubov, a professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, who compared Russian actions in Crimea to the 1938 Annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, was threatened. Alexander Chuyev, the leader of the pro-Kremlin Spravedlivaya Rossiya party, also objected to Russian intervention in Ukraine. Boris Akunin, a popular Russian writer, predicted that Russia's moves would lead to political and economic isolation. thumb|upright=1.3|Russian president Vladimir Putin (seated, middle) speaks to the press on 4 March 2014, denouncing the Revolution of Dignity as an "unconstitutional coup", and insisting that Moscow has a right to protect Russians in Ukraine.https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-reserves-the-right-to-use-force-in-ukraine/2014/03/04/92d4ca70-a389-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html Putin defends Ukraine stance, cites lawlessness The Washington Post 4 March 2014 President Putin's approval rating among the Russian public increased by nearly 10% since the crisis began, up to 71.6%, the highest in three years, according to a poll conducted by the All-Russian Center for Public Opinion Research, released on 19 March.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/18/crimea-ukraine-putin-russia/6564263/ Putin's move on Crimea bolsters popularity back home USA Today 19 March 2014 20 March 2014Alec Luhn https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/18/red-square-rally-vladimir-putin-crimea Red Square rally hails Vladimir Putin after Crimea accession The Guardian Moscow 18 March 2014 14 April 2016 Additionally, the same poll showed that more than 90% of Russians supported unification with the Crimean Republic. According to a 2021 study in the American Political Science Review, "three quarters of those who rallied to Putin after Russia annexed Crimea were engaging in at least some form of dissembling and that this rallying developed as a rapid cascade, with social media joining television in fueling perceptions this was socially desirable".Hale Henry E. 2021 Authoritarian Rallying as Reputational Cascade? Evidence from Putin's Popularity Surge after Crimea American Political Science Review 116 2 580–594 10.1017/S0003055421001052 239196888 0003-0554 free On 4 March, at a press conference in Novo-Ogaryovo, President Putin expressed his view on the situation that if a revolution took place in Ukraine, it would be a new country with which Russia had not concluded any treaties.http://dt.ua/POLITICS/putin-podilyaye-dumku-scho-yakscho-v-ukrayini-revolyuciya-to-na-yiyi-teritoriyi-vzhe-nova-derzhava-138899_.html Putin shares the view that if in Ukraine "revolution" – then on its territory is a new state Mirror Weekly 4 March 2014 He offered an analogy with the events of 1917 in Russia, when as a result of the revolution the Russian Empire fell apart and a new state was created. However, he stated Ukraine would still have to honour its debts. thumb|upright=1.3|Around 100,000 people gathered in Crimean Sevastopol at Victory Day parade. Russian politicians speculated that there were already 143,000 Ukrainian refugees in Russia.http://www.9news.com.au/world/2014/03/02/07/46/russia-claims-thousands-fleeing-ukraine Russia claims thousands fleeing Ukraine Nine MSN AU 2 March 2014 The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted those claims of refugee increases in Russia.http://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/1627698-mzs_ukraiini_sprostuvalo_zrostannya_kilkosti_bigentsiv_do_rosiii_1914722.html мзс україні спростувало зростання кількості бігентсив до росії (MZS Ukrayini sprostuvalo zrostannya kil'kosti bihent·syv do rosiyi) Ukraine Foreign Ministry refuted the growing number of refugees in Russia Ukrinform 4 March 2014 At a briefing on 4 March 2014, the director of the department of information policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Yevhen Perebyinis said that Russia was misinforming its own citizens as well as the entire international community to justify its own actions in the Crimea.http://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-abroad/1627705-mzs_putin_prodovgue__dezinformuvati_uves_svit_zaradi_vipravdannya_svoiih_diy_1914726.html UA мзс путін продовґуе дезінформувати весь світ заради виправдання своїх дії (MZS Putin prodovgue dezinformuvaty ves' svit zarady vypravdannya svoyikh diyi) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Putin continues to mislead the whole world for justification of own actions Ukrinform 4 March 2014 On 5 March, an anchor of the Russian-controlled TV channel RT America, Abby Martin, criticized her employer's biased coverage of the military invervention.5 March 2014 Russia Today presenter hits out at Moscow over Ukraine http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/05/russia-today-abby-martin-crimea-ukraine 19 June 2021 The GuardianAbby Martin: Russia Today supports me https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2014/03/05/pmt-intv-martin-russia-critique.cnn CNN 5 March 2014 Also on 5 March 2014, another RT America anchor, Liz Wahl, of the network's Washington, DC bureau, resigned on air, explaining that she could not be "part of a network that whitewashes the actions of Putin" and citing her Hungarian ancestry and the memory of the Soviet repression of the Hungarian Uprising as a factor in her decision.Kirchick James Exclusive: RT Anchor Liz Wahl Explains Why She Quit The Daily Beast 6 March 2014 5 March 2014 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/05/exclusive-rt-today-anchor-liz-wahl-explains-why-she-quit.html In early March, Igor Andreyev, a 75-year-old survivor of the Siege of Leningrad, attended an anti-war rally against the Russian intervention in Crimea and was holding a sign that read "Peace to the World". The riot police arrested him, and a local pro-government lawyer then accused him of being a supporter of "fascism". The retiree, who lived on a 6,500-ruble monthly pension, was fined 10,000 rubles.Dolgov Anna 7 March 2014 Leningrad Blockade Survivor Arrested, Fined For Anti-War Protest https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/03/07/leningrad-blockade-survivor-arrested-fined-for-anti-war-protest-a32780 The Moscow Times Prominent dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky said that Crimea should stay within Ukraine with broader autonomy.http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=487296 Khodorkovsky: Crimea should stay within Ukraine with broad autonomous status Interfax 10 March 2014 10 March 2015 2 April 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145602/http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=487296 Tatarstan, a republic within Russia populated by Volga Tatars, has sought to alleviate concerns about the treatment of Tatars by Russia, as Tatarstan is an oil-rich and economically successful republic in Russia.http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/03/crimea-crisis-tatarstan-factor-2014314143349496558.html Crimea crisis: The Tatarstan factor Al Jazeera 20 April 2014 On 5 March, President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov signed an agreement on co-operation between Tatarstan and the Aksyonov government in Crimea that implied collaboration between ten government institutions as well as significant financial aid to Crimea from Tatarstan businesses. On 11 March, Minnikhanov was in Crimea on his second visit and attended as a guest in the Crimean parliament chamber during the vote on the declaration of sovereignty pending 16 March referendum. The Tatarstan's Mufti Kamil Samigullin invited Crimean Tatars to study in madrasas in Kazan, and declared support for their "brothers in faith and blood". Mustafa Dzhemilev, a former leader of the Crimean Tatar Majlis, believed that forces that were suspected to be Russian forces should leave the Crimean Peninsula, and asked the UN Security Council to send peacekeepers into the region.https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-crimean-tatar-un-peacekeepers/25317014.html Crimean Tatar Leader Calls For UN Peacekeeping Troops Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 1 April 2014 3 January 2016 thumb|Hotel in Kerch, Crimea, 2015 On 15 March, thousands of protesters (estimates varying from 3,000 by official sources up to 50,000 claimed by the opposition) in Moscow marched against Russian involvement in Ukraine, many waving Ukrainian flags.Huw Griffith Anna Malpas https://news.yahoo.com/thousands-moscow-protest-russias-action-crimea-003037662.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140315144618/http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-moscow-protest-russias-action-crimea-003037662.html 50,000 rally in Moscow against Crimea intervention 15 March 2014 15 March 2014 Yahoo News Agence France-Presse At the same time, a pro-government (and pro-referendum) rally occurred across the street, counting in the thousands as well (officials claiming 27,000 with the opposition claiming about 10,000). In June 2015 Mikhail Kasyanov stated that all Russian Duma decisions on Crimea annexation were illegal from the international point of view and the annexation was provoked by false accusations of discrimination of Russian nationals in Ukraine.Mikhail Sokolov Радио Свобода http://www.svoboda.org/content/transcript/27066473.html ru:Михаил Касьянов: "Все решения по Крыму незаконны" Mikhail Kasyanov: "All decisions about Crimea are unlawful" ru Radio Svoboda 12 June 2015 3 January 2016 As of January 2019, Arkady Rotenberg through his Stroygazmontazh LLC and his companies building the Crimean Bridge along with Nikolai Shamalov and Yuri Kovalchuk through their Rossiya Bank have become the most important investors in Russia's development of the annexed Crimea.Vasiliev Andrey 25 January 2019 После Ротенберга хоть камни с неба. Как Крым стал прибыльным бизнесом для друзей Путина ru After Rotenberg, even stones from the sky. How Crimea became a profitable business for Putin's friends The Insider https://theins.ru/korrupciya/137605 live 20 November 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201128210413/https://theins.ru/korrupciya/137605 28 November 2020 International response International reactions to the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation Political status of Crimea United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262 Crimea Platform thumb|International reaction to the 2014 Crimean crisis according to official governmental statements.If an official position can be sorted in more than one category, the "strongest" position was marked (from the "call for a peaceful resolution" to "interpretation as a military intervention" consecutively). For the sources see the image description. #1b6565 Condemnation of Russian actions as a military intervention or invasion#289797 Condemnation of Russian actions#57d2d2 Support for Ukrainian territorial integrity#efef8f Statements only voicing concern or hope for peaceful resolution to the conflict#f08080 Recognition of Russian interests#d93cd9 Support for Russian actions and/or condemnation of the Ukrainian interim government #497bd7 Ukraine#6a1f1f Russia#CDCDCD No official statements / No data available There has been a range of international reactions to the annexation. In March 2014, the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution 100 in favour, 11 against and 58 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly that declared Crimea's Moscow-backed referendum invalid. Charbonneau Donath Mirjam Louis U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327 Reuters 27 March 2014 30 June 2017 1 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151001105549/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327 live In a move supported by the Lithuanian president,20 March 2014 Russia sanctions 9 US officials in response to US sanctions on Russian officials CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2014/03/20/obama-authorizes-new-sanctions-on-russia-over-crimea.html the United States government imposed sanctions against persons they deem to have violated or assisted in the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/06/executive-order-blocking-property-certain-persons-contributing-situation Executive Order 13660 – Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine White House Office of the Press Secretary 6 March 2014 6 March 2014 The European Union suspended talks with Russia on economic and visa-related matters, and is considering more stringent sanctions against Russia in the near future, including asset freezes. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eu-leaders-weighing-sanctions-russia-22795279 https://web.archive.org/web/20140306170908/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eu-leaders-weighing-sanctions-russia-22795279 6 March 2014 EU Slaps Initial Sanctions on Russia Associated Press 6 March 2014 ABC News 7 March 2014 http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140304p2g00m0in014000c.html Sanctions threat grows as Ukraine tensions rise Japan Mainichi Shimbun 4 March 2014February 2016 while Japan announced sanctions which include suspension of talks relating to military, space, investment, and visa requirements.https://www.foxnews.com/world/japan-imposes-sanctions-against-russia-over-crimea-independence/ Japan imposes sanctions against Russia over Crimea independence Fox News Channel 18 March 2014 20 April 2014 The United Kingdom qualified the referendum vote in Crimea of being "farcical", "illegal" and "illegitimate".https://www.bloomberg.com/infographics/2014-03-14/countries-react-to-russian-intervention-in-crimea.html Position of the United Kindown about the Crimean referendum Bloomberg News Bloomberg 14 March 2014 26 July 2014 Ukraine and other countries said that Russia signed several treaties guaranteeing Ukrainian territorial integrity. These include the 1991 Belavezha Accords that established the Commonwealth of Independent States, the 1975 Helsinki Accords, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances29 March 2022 Budapest Memorandum https://www.uawarexplained.com/budapest-memorandum/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com and the 1997 Treaty on friendship, cooperation and partnership between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.https://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1139-18 Oleksandr Turchynov 20 March 2014 Parliament of Ukraine uk uk:Декларація "Про боротьбу за звільнення України" Declaration "On the struggle for the liberation of Ukraine" 24 April 2014https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2014/03/19/nato-secretary-general-russias-annexation-of-crimea-is-illegal-and-illegitimate/ NATO Secretary-General: Russia's Annexation of Crimea Is Illegal and Illegitimate Fred Dews 19 March 2014 8 March 2015 Brookings29 March 2022 Treaty of Friendship https://www.uawarexplained.com/russian-ukrainian-friendship-treaty/?version=tenMin/ 29 March 2022 UaWarExplained.com The European Commission decided on 11 March 2014 to enter into a full free-trade agreement with Ukraine within the year.Baker Luke https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-ukraine-trade-idUSBREA2A10D20140311 EU to offer 500 million euros of trade benefits to Ukraine Reuters 11 March 2014 11 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140311195024/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/us-eu-ukraine-trade-idUSBREA2A10D20140311 live On 12 March, the European Parliament rejected the upcoming referendum on independence in Crimea, which they saw as manipulated and contrary to international and Ukrainian law. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140312STO38705/html/Ukraine-MEPs-call-for-firm-action-on-Russia-to-prevent-further-escalation Ukraine: MEPs call for firm action on Russia to prevent further escalation European Parliament 12 March 2014 24 March 2015 The G7 bloc of developed nations (the G8 minus Russia) made a joint statement condemning Russia and announced that they would suspend preparations for the planned G8 summit in Sochi in June.Political ticker CNN http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/02/lawmakers-call-for-suspension-of-russia-from-g8-swift-action-against-putin/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140303140910/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/02/lawmakers-call-for-suspension-of-russia-from-g8-swift-action-against-putin/ 3 March 2014 Lawmakers call for suspension of Russia from G8, swift action against Putin World Wide Web log 2 March 2014 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/02/john-kerry-russia-putin-crimea-ukraine Russia G8 status at risk over 'incredible act of aggression' in Crimea, says Kerry The Guardian 2 March 2014 UK NATO condemned Russia's occupation of Crimea and stated that it was a breach of international law http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_107681.htm North Atlantic Council statement on the situation in Ukraine Nato.int 3 March 2014 while the Council of Europe expressed its full support for the territorial integrity and national unity of Ukraine. http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=4908&lang=2&cat=17 PACE: News Assembly.coe.int 22 November 2013 20 April 2014 19 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150219072453/http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=4908&lang=2&cat=17 The Visegrád Group has issued a joint statement urging Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and for Ukraine to take into account its minority groups to not further break fragile relations. It has urged for Russia to respect Ukrainian and international law and in line with the provisions of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. http://www.kormany.hu/en/prime-minister-s-office/news/statement-of-the-prime-ministers-of-the-visegrad-countries-on-ukraine https://web.archive.org/web/20140305035324/http://www.kormany.hu/en/prime-minister-s-office/news/statement-of-the-prime-ministers-of-the-visegrad-countries-on-ukraine 5 March 2014 Hungary Prime Minister's Office Statement of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrád Countries on Ukraine NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a speech on 19 March 2014:The annexation of Crimea through a so-called referendum held at gunpoint is illegal and illegitimate. ... it undermines our security. Not just NATO's or Ukraine's security, but also Russia's. If the rules don't apply, if agreements are not honored, certainly Russia also stands to suffer the consequences. ... Russia was among those who committed in 1994 to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Russia pledged not to threaten or use force against Ukraine. By turning its back on that agreement, Russia has called into question its credibility and reliability ... No one wants to turn away from our cooperation with Russia. But no one can ignore that Russia has violated the very principles upon which that cooperation is built.NATO Secretary-General: Russia's Annexation of Crimea Is Illegal and Illegitimate https://www.brookings.edu/articles/nato-secretary-general-russias-annexation-of-crimea-is-illegal-and-illegitimate/ Brookings Institution 19 March 2014 On 1 April 2014, NATO foreign ministers issued a joint statement condemning "Russia's illegal and illegitimate attempt to annex Crimea" and announcing, "We have decided to suspend all practical civilian and military cooperation between NATO and Russia. Our political dialogue in the NATO-Russia Council can continue, as necessary".https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_108501.htm Statement by NATO Foreign Ministers - 1 April 2014 NATO China said "We respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine". A spokesman restated China's belief of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations and urged dialogue.FlorCruz Jaime Russia may find ally in China – albeit a passive one for now http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/asia/china-russia-ukraine-analysis/ 5 March 2014 CNN 6 March 2014Economy Elizabeth China's Soft 'Nyet' To Russia's Ukraine Intervention https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabetheconomy/2014/03/05/chinas-soft-nyet-to-russias-ukraine-intervention/ 5 March 2014 Forbes 6 March 2014 The Indian government called for a peaceful resolution of the situation.Bhattacherjee Kallol 27 January 2017 Ukraine lauds India for support over Crimea The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/Ukraine-lauds-India-for-support-over-Crimea/article17098891.ece 19 June 2021 0971-751X Both Syria and Venezuela openly supported Russian military action. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad said that he supports Putin's efforts to "restore security and stability in the friendly country of Ukraine", while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned Ukraine's "ultra-nationalist" coup. http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/06/bashar-al-assad-letter-of-support-to-putin/ Syria's Assad expresses support to Putin on Ukraine euronews 18 May 2013 http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Putin-on-Ukraine-Supported-by-5311093.php https://web.archive.org/web/20140313004027/http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Putin-on-Ukraine-Supported-by-5311093.php 13 March 2014 Putin on Ukraine Supported by China-Syria-Venezuela Minority SFGate Bloomberg News 12 March 2014 12 March 2014 Sri Lanka described Yanukovych's removal as unconstitutional and considered Russia's concerns in Crimea as justified.http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/sri-lanka-regrets-removal-of-ukrainian-president-114031300031_1.html Sri Lanka regrets removal of Ukrainian president 13 March 2014 Business Standard 24 March 2015 Polish prime minister Donald Tusk called for a change in EU energy policy as Germany's dependence on Russian gas poses risks for Europe.Tusk warns Merkel against Russian gas addiction www.euractiv.com 11 March 2014 https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/tusk-warns-merkel-against-russian-gas-addiction/ 25 February 2023 On 13 March 2014, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned the Russian government it risks massive damage to Russia, economically and politically, if it refuses to change course on Ukraine, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/13/russia-political-economic-damage-ukraine-merkel https://web.archive.org/web/20140411094020/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/13/russia-political-economic-damage-ukraine-merkel 11 April 2014 Russia risks political and economic damage over Ukraine, says Merkel The Guardian 13 March 2014 though close economic links between Germany and Russia significantly reduce the scope for any sanctions.Bryant Chris 27 March 2014 German business concerns grow over Russia ties https://www.ft.com/content/ccc5cfd8-b449-11e3-bac4-00144feabdc0 Financial Times 27 March 2014 German entities have invested roughly €20bn in Russia and some 6,200 companies – mostly small and medium-sized Mittelstand businesses – are active there. Last year trade between the two countries totalled more than €76bn. ... Russia supplies 35 per cent of German gas and 30 per cent of its oil. After Russia moved to formally incorporate Crimea, some worried whether it may do the same in other regions.Freeman Colin Russian troops poised to 'run' into Moldova, Nato commander warns https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/moldova/10717260/Russian-troops-poised-to-run-into-Moldova-Nato-commander-warns.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/moldova/10717260/Russian-troops-poised-to-run-into-Moldova-Nato-commander-warns.html 11 January 2022 subscription live 24 March 2014 The Telegraph 24 March 2014 US deputy national security advisor Tony Blinken said that the Russian troops massed on the eastern Ukrainian border may be preparing to enter the country's eastern regions. Russian officials stated that Russian troops would not enter other areas. US Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, warned that the same troops were in a position to take over the separatist Russian-speaking Moldovan province of Transnistria. President of Moldova Nicolae Timofti warned Russia with not attempting to do this to avoid damaging its international status further.https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/25301569.html Președintele Nicolae Timofti avertizează Rusia să nu încerce să anexeze regiunea transnistreană President Nicolae Timofti warns Russia not to try to annex the Transnistrian region Radio Europa Liberă Moldova 18 March 2014 rohttps://www.dw.com/ro/chi%C5%9Fin%C4%83ul-vrea-s%C4%83-%C5%9Ftie-unde-se-va-opri-rusia/a-17506283 Chișinăul vrea să știe unde se va opri Rusia Chisinau wants to know where Russia will stop Vitalie Călugăreanu Deutsche Welle 19 March 2014 ro On 9 April, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe deprived Russia of voting rights.Rfe/Rl https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-pace-/25327665.html PACE Deprives Russia of Voting Rights Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 10 April 2014 20 April 2014 On 14 August, while visiting Crimea, Vladimir Putin ruled out pushing beyond Crimea. He undertook to do everything he could to end the conflict in Ukraine, saying Russia needed to build calmly and with dignity, not by confrontation and war which isolated it from the rest of the world.Putin talks of peace in annexed Crimea http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/vladimir-putin-delivers-speech-in-crimea/5672208 14 August 2014 15 August 2014 ABC (AU)April 2025 United Nations resolutions vertical 300 2014 UN Security Council vote to condemn Crimean referendum.png UN Security Council vote on a draft resolution condemning the 2014 Crimean referendum. #287cfe Voted in favour of the resolution #007f00 Abstained #ff0000 Vetoed the resolution UN Resolution regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine.svg UN General Assembly vote on the resolution condemning the 2014 Crimean referendum. #74C365 In favour of considering the referendum illegal #FADA5E Abstained #89CFF0 Absent when the vote took place #ab4e52 Against adopting the resolution List of vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions On 15 March 2014, a US-sponsored resolution that went to a vote in the UN Security Council to reaffirm that council's commitment to Ukraine's "sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity" was not approved. Though a total of 13 council members voted in favour of the resolution and China abstained, Russia vetoed the resolution. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/15/russia-vetoes-un-resolution-crimea/6456495/ Russia vetoes U.N. resolution on Crimea's future Associated Press 15 March 2014 USA Today 28 March 2014 On 27 March 2014, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution describing the referendum leading to annexation of Crimea by Russia as illegal.https://www.un.org/press/en/2014/ga11493.doc.htm General Assembly Adopts Resolution Calling upon States Not to Recognize Changes in Status of Crimea Region 27 March 2014 United Nations 28 March 2014 The draft resolution, which was titled "Territorial integrity of Ukraine", was co-sponsored by Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and the US. It affirmed the council's commitment to the "sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders". The resolution tried to underscore that 16 March referendum held in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol has no validity and cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea or of the city of Sevastopol. The resolution got 100 votes in its favour, while 11 nations voted against and 58 countries abstained from the vote. The resolution was non-binding and the vote was largely symbolic. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26776416 Ukraine: UN condemns Crimea vote as IMF and US back loans 27 March 2014 BBC News 28 March 2014 Since 2014, the UN General Assembly has voted several times, most recently in December 2019, to affirm Ukraine's territorial integrity, condemn the 'temporary occupation' of Crimea, and reaffirm nonrecognition of its annexation.Resolution adopted by the General Assembly https://web.archive.org/web/20220215105911/https://undocs.org/pdf?symbol=en%2FA%2FRES%2F74%2F168 15 February 2022 on 18 December 2019], UN General Assembly International recognition Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe have recognised the result of the 2014 referendum in Crimea.Afghan president Hamid Karzai backs Russia's annexation of Crimea https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/24/afghan-president-hamid-karzai-backs-russia-annexation-crimea 30 November 2014 The Guardian 24 March 2014https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/03/31/visiting-russia-fidel-castros-son-scoffs-at-us-sanctions-over-crimea-a33481 Visiting Russia, Fidel Castro's Son Scoffs at U.S. Sanctions Over Crimea The Moscow Times 31 March 2014Kyrgyzstan Says Crimea Referendum 'Legitimate' https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-recognition-crimea-referendum-ukraine-russia/25304439.html Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 20 March 2014 2 June 2016http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/nicaragua-recognizes-crimea-as-part-of-russia-341102.html Nicaragua recognizes Crimea as part of Russia Kyiv Post 27 March 2014 http://tass.ru/politika/4641164 В КНДР издали атлас мира, где Крым находится в составе России:Как пояснили посольству РФ в МИД республики, Пхеньян "уважает результаты состоявшегося в Крыму референдума о вхождении полуострова в состав Российской Федерации" North Korea published an atlas of the world, where Crimea is part of Russia: As the Russian Foreign Ministry explained to the Russian Embassy, Pyongyang "respects the results of the referendum held in Crimea on the peninsula joining the Russian Federation" TASS 12 October 2017 Four non-UN member states recognised the results of the referendum: Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Artsakh and Transnistria. The Transnistrian foreign minister, Nina Shtanski, recognized Crimea's annexation by Russia.https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/rusia/nina-stanski-ministrul-de-externe-de-la-1523321.html Nina Ştanski, "ministrul de Externe" de la Tiraspol, îi cere lui Vladimir Putin să anexeze Transnistria 24 March 2014 Transnistria sent a request on 18 March 2014 to join the Russian Federation following the Crimean example and in compliance with the Admission Law provisions.http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/52743.html Transnistria wants to merge with Russia Vestnik Kavkaza 18 March 2014 18 March 2014https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26627236 Moldova's Trans-Dniester region pleads to join Russia BBC 18 March 2014 18 March 2014http://tass.ru/en/world/724121 Dniester public organizations ask Russia to consider possibility of Transnistria accession Information Telegraph Agency of Russia 18 March 2014 18 March 2014 The regional councils of Italy's northern regions Lombardy, Liguria and Veneto adopted a non-binding resolution on recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, but they revoked it in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.6 July 2016 Italian Region of Lombardy Joins Liguria and Veneto in Recognizing Crimea as Part of Russia http://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2016/07/6/7113849/ 19 June 2021 Ukrayinska PravdaLombardia revoca mozione su annessione Crimea. Astuti: "C'è voluta una guerra per far ravvedere la Lega" https://www.varesenoi.it/2022/03/30/leggi-notizia/argomenti/politica-20/articolo/lombardia-revoca-mozione-su-annessione-crimea-astuti-ce-voluta-una-guerra-per-far-ravvedere-la.html 13 September 2022 Varese Noi 30 March 2022 it-IT Sanctions International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War List of people and organizations sanctioned during the Russo-Ukrainian War thumb|Ukrainian checkpoint at Kalanchak, entering Kherson Oblast from Russian-occupied Crimea Sanctions were imposed to prevent officials and politicians from travelling to Canada, the United States, or the European Union. They were the most wide-ranging applied to Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.Rakteem Katakey 25 March 2014 Russian Oil Seen Heading East Not West in Crimea Spat https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-25/russian-oil-seen-heading-east-not-west-in-crimea-spat Bloomberg 2 January 2016 http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20140320_33.aspx Ukraine-related Designations: Specially Designated Nationals List Update US Department of the Treasury 20 March 2014 27 February 2016 https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN) US Department of the Treasury 16 February 2016 27 February 2016 Treasury Sanctions Russian Officials, Members of the Russian Leadership's Inner Circle, And An Entity For Involvement in the Situation in Ukraine http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl23331.aspx United States Treasury Department 20 March 2014 20 March 2014Peter Shuklinov ru:Ближний круг Путина: кто попал в новый список санкций США Putin's inner circle: who's in the new list of US sanctions https://news.liga.net/articles/politics/1066761-blizhniy_krug_putina_kto_popal_v_novyy_spisok_sanktsiy_ssha.htm liga.net ru 21 March 2014 20 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20150207152258/http://news.liga.net/articles/politics/1066761-blizhniy_krug_putina_kto_popal_v_novyy_spisok_sanktsiy_ssha.htm 7 February 2015 Japan announced milder sanctions than the US and EU. These include suspension of talks relating to military, space, investment, and visa requirements.https://www.foxnews.com/world/japan-imposes-sanctions-against-russia-over-crimea-independence/ Japan imposes sanctions against Russia over Crimea independence Fox News Channel Associated Press 18 March 2014 2 January 2016 In response to the sanctions introduced by the US and EU, the Russian Duma unanimously passed a resolution asking for all members of the Duma to be included on the sanctions list.Gutterman Steve Grove Thomas Tsvetkova Maria Piper Elizabeth Soldatkin Vladimir 18 March 2014 Russia scoffs at Western sanctions over Crimea Reuters Moscow Boulton Ralph https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-crisis-russia-sanctions-idUKBREA2H1FE20140318 Head of the Just Russia party Sergei Mironov said he was proud of being included on the sanctions list: "It is with pride that I have found myself on the black list, this means they have noticed my stance on Crimea".18 March 2014 'I don't need a visa to hear Tupac': Russians mock sanctions https://www.channel4.com/news/russia-sanctions-ukraine-usa-eu-mocked-tupac-obama Channel 4 Russian companies started pulling billions of dollars out of Western banks to avoid having their asset frozen.Patrick Jenkins Daniel Schäfer Courtney Weaver Jack Farchy 14 March 2014 Russian companies withdraw billions from west, say Moscow bankers https://www.ft.com/content/ffea2660-ab9e-11e3-aad9-00144feab7de Financial Times 27 March 2014 subscription Three days after the lists were published, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a reciprocal sanctions list of US citizens, which consisted of 10 names, including House Speaker John Boehner, Senator John McCain, and two advisers to President Obama. The ministry said: "We have repeatedly warned that sanctions are a double-edged instrument and would hit the United States like a boomerang". Several of those sanctioned responded with pride at their inclusion on the list, including John Boehner,Wesley Lowery Ed O'Keefe Reacting to sanctions, Russians ban Reid, Boehner and four other lawmakers https://www.washingtonpost.com/news`wmakers/ The Washington Post 20 March 2014 2 January 2016 John McCain, Bob Menendez,Darryl Isherwood Bob Menendez is banned from Russia http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/bob_menendez_is_banned_from_russia.html NJ 20 March 2014 2 January 2016 Dan Coats, Mary Landrieu, and Harry Reid.David Weigel Senators Celebrate Being Sanctioned by Russia http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/03/20/senators_celebrate_being_sanctioned_by_russia.html Slate 20 March 2014 2 January 2016 On 24 March, Russia imposed retaliatory sanctions on 13 Canadian officials including members of the Parliament of Canada,Steven Chase https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/russia-bans-entry-to-13-canadians-in-retaliation-for-ottawas-sanctions/article17635115/ Russia imposes sanctions on 13 Canadians, including MPs The Globe and Mail 24 March 2014 2 January 2016 banning them from entering Russia. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, said the sanctions were "a badge of honour".Susana Mas http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russian-sanctions-against-canadians-a-badge-of-honour-1.2584137 Russian sanctions against Canadians a 'badge of honour' 24 March 2014 2 January 2016 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Former Minister of Justice Irwin Cotler also said that he considered the sanctions a badge of honour, not a mark of exclusion. "The good news is that so far, Russia has shown no inclination to use the Northern Distribution Network as leverage in the wake of US retaliation for its troop movements in Crimea".Anna Mulrine https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/2014/0304/Punish-Russia-Why-some-Pentagon-officials-would-prefer-restraint.-video Punish Russia? Why some Pentagon officials would prefer restraint The Christian Science Monitor 4 March 2014 2 January 2016 Expanded Western sanctions in mid-March coursed through financial markets, hitting the business interests of some of Russia's richest people.Jack Farchy Neil Hume 21 March 2014 Russian share prices drop as sanctions bite https://www.ft.com/content/9ffba124-b0d6-11e3-9f6f-00144feab7de Financial Times 21 March 2014 subscription The Americans centred on the heart of Moscow's leadership,Neil Buckley 21 March 2014 Putin feels the heat as sanctions target president's inner circle https://www.ft.com/content/c8859528-b11c-11e3-bbd4-00144feab7de Financial Times 21 March 2014 subscription though the EU's initial list shied from targeting Putin's inner circle.Ian Traynor 22 March 2014 European Union prepares for trade war with Russia over Crimea https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/21/eu-mobilises-trade-war-russia-crimea-ukraine The Guardian 2 January 2016 As ratings agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor's downgraded Russia's credit outlook,Olga Tanas 21 March 2014 Russia's Credit Outlook Cut as U.S., EU Widen Sanction Lists https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-20/russia-outlook-cut-to-negative-by-s-p-as-obama-widens-sanctions Bloomberg L.P. 2 January 2016 Russian banks warned of a sanctions-induced recession,Andra Timu Henry Meyer Olga Tanas Russia Staring at Recession on Sanctions That Could Get Tougher https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/russia-staring-at-recession-on-sanctions-that-could-get-tougher.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140323231710/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/russia-staring-at-recession-on-sanctions-that-could-get-tougher.html 23 March 2014 Bloomberg 23 March 2014 the country braced for capital outflows for the first three months of 2014 to reach $70billion,Kathrin Hille Richard McGregor 24 March 2014 Russia braced for $70bn in outflows https://www.ft.com/content/19b9ad88-b37c-11e3-bc21-00144feabdc0 Financial Times 24 March 2014 subscription more than the entirety of outflows for 2013,Courtney Weaver Jack Farchy 25 March 2014 Funds cut Russian holdings after sanctions https://www.ft.com/content/b67f8da4-b3f4-11e3-a102-00144feabdc0 Financial Times 27 March 2014 subscription Deputy economy minister Andrei Klepach estimates that Russian capital outflows will total up to $70bn in the first quarter, more than the $63bn that left the country during the whole of 2013. and Russian government-bond issues plummeted by three-quarters compared with the same period the previous year.Jack Farchy Martin Arnold 18 April 2014 Banks retreat from Moscow deals https://www.ft.com/content/36e988ea-c576-11e3-89a9-00144feabdc0 Financial Times 19 April 2014 subscription Novatek, Russia's second-largest gas producer, saw $2.5bn in market value wiped out when its shares sank by nearly 10%, rendering Putin's close friend Gennady Timchenko, who has a 23% stake in the company, $575m poorer. "I do hope that there is some serious diplomatic activity going on behind the scenes," said one Russian banker,Jack Farchy Kathrin Hille Courtney Weaver 21 March 2014 Russian executives quake as US sanctions rattle markets https://www.ft.com/content/3f35068a-b119-11e3-9548-00144feab7de Financial Times 21 March 2014 subscription though others were more sanguine on the question of whether the sanctions would have any enduring effect,Halia Pavliva 23 March 2014 EU's Muted Crimea Response Triggers Russian Stock Rebound https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/eu-s-muted-crimea-response-triggers-russian-stock-rebound.html https://web.archive.org/web/20140323230622/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/eu-s-muted-crimea-response-triggers-russian-stock-rebound.html 23 March 2014 Bloomberg L.P. 23 March 2014Eric Matzen Michelle Martin 21 March 2014 Russian sanctions ripple through corporate boardrooms http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-sanctions-idUKBREA2K1VD20140321 https://web.archive.org/web/20160204201723/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-sanctions-idUKBREA2K1VD20140321 4 February 2016 Reuters 21 March 2014 and Russians, top and bottom, seemed defiant.Kathrin Hille 21 March 2014 Putin boosted by defiant tone at top and among people https://www.ft.com/content/1dca5172-b122-11e3-9548-00144feab7de Financial Times 21 March 2014 subscription The official Russian response was mixed.Paul Sonne Sarah Kent 21 March 2014 Russia Sends Mixed Signals in Response to U.S. Sanctions https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303802104579452751446729822 The Wall Street Journal 21 March 2014 subscription The then Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Alexey Ulyukaev said that introduction of sectoral sanctions will lead to a serious decline of the Russian economy: economic growth of Russia will become seriously negative, the growth of volumes of investment will be even more negative, inflation will rise, and government revenues and reserves will go down.Mishchenko Olga 28 June 2014 Минэкономразвития РФ опасается негативного влияния западных санкций ru Ministry for Economic Development of the Russian Federation fears the negative impact of Western sanctions Deutsche Welle http://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8D%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%80%D1%84-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85-%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B9/a-17743705 2 January 2016 As well as differences between the United States and Europe as a whole as to how to respond to the Russian-backed incursion, those same differences have played out among Eastern European countries.John Fraher Energy Needs Curb Eastern EU Hunger for Russian Sanctions https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-18/putin-gas-splits-eastern-eu-over-russia-sanctions Bloomberg 18 April 2014 2 January 2016 A number of Russian citizens reported that they have been denied European visas after they visited Crimea after annexation.https://www.rbc.ru/politics/22/06/2015/558804e59a7947af523f6180 Maria Bondarenko 22 June 2015 3 January 2016 rbc.ru ru ru:Правозащитники рассказали об отказах в выдаче виз после поездок в Крым Human rights activists have reported visa denials after trips to Crimea A Russian consumer protection watchdog OZPP published a warning for Russian tourists about this risk, explaining that from the international law point of view, Crimea is an occupied territory, after which Roskomnadzor blocked the OZPP website "for threatening territorial integrity of Russian Federation".https://tvrain.tv/news/roskomnadzor_rasporjadilsja_zablokirovat_sajt_obsc-389724/ ru:Роскомнадзор распорядился заблокировать сайт Общества защиты прав потребителей\ Roskomnadzor ordered the blocking of the Consumer Rights Protection Society site ru tvrain.ru 22 June 2015 3 January 2016 In response to having its voting rights revoked, Russia in June 2017 suspended its budget payments to the Council of Europe, with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov stating payments would not resume until all rights of Russia's delegation were fully restored.https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-council-of-europe-payments/russia-suspends-payments-to-council-of-europe-over-crimea-row-idUKKBN19L220 Russia suspends payments to Council of Europe over Crimea row uk.reuters.com 19 September 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20171226023147/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-council-of-europe-payments/russia-suspends-payments-to-council-of-europe-over-crimea-row-idUKKBN19L220 26 December 2017 Council Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland has suggested lifting the sanctions to avoid the impact of mounting budgetary restraints. However, Council members such as Ukraine and its supporters have argued that readmitting Russia without demanding concessions in return would amount to "caving to Russian 'blackmail'". https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fears-council-of-europe-caving-russian-blackmail/28882603.html Ukraine 'Extremely Concerned' Council of Europe Caving To Russian 'Blackmail' Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 27 November 2017 19 September 2018 Miller Christopher https://www.ft.com/content/3cccaf92-d12c-11e7-b781-794ce08b24dc Russia tests Council of Europe in push to regain vote Buckley Neil 26 November 2017 Financial Times Mapping thumb|Location of the Crimea Federal District within Russia in 2014 The United Nations maps Crimea as belonging to Ukraine.March 2014 Map of Ukraine https://www.un.org/geospatial/content/ukraine 27 May 2024 United Nations National Geographic Society stated that their policy is "to portray current reality" and "Crimea, if it is formally annexed by Russia, would be shaded gray", but also further remarked that this step does not suggest recognising the legitimacy of such.http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/19/statement-regarding-the-mapping-of-crimea/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140320222357/http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/19/statement-regarding-the-mapping-of-crimea/ 20 March 2014 Statement Regarding the Mapping of Crimea National Geographic Society 19 March 2014 2 January 2016 As of April 2014, Crimea was still displayed as part of Ukraine.https://hi-tech.mail.ru/news/new-krym-maps/ ru:Крым на картах мира: ситуация поменялась Crimea on maps of the world: the situation has changed ru hi-tech.mail.ru 11 April 2014 2 January 2016 April 2014, Google Maps displays Crimea as a disputed territory to most viewers. For the Russian and Ukrainian versions of the website, Crimea is marked as belonging to the corresponding country (Russia or Ukraine respectively). Google stated that it "work(s) with sources to get the best interpretation of the border or claim lines".J. Kyle O'Donnell Julie Johnsson https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-21/russian-cartographers-add-crimea-to-maps-amid-sanctions Russian Cartographers Add Crimea to Maps Amid Sanctions Bloomberg L.P. 22 March 2014 2 January 2016 Yandex displays Crimea as part of Russia for .ru and .com domains since the end of March 2014.BMW обозначила на своих картах Крым российским. Как поступают другие производители? BMW marked Crimea as Russian on its maps. How are other manufacturers doing? ru BBC News Русская служба https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-54886561 20 June 2021 According to the official statement, the company works with users from different countries and "displays reality that surrounds them".Daniil Aleksandrov Republic.ru http://slon.ru/fast/world/yandeks-pokazyvaet-raznye-karty-v-rossii-i-na-ukraine-1074691.xhtml ru:"Яндекс" показывает разные карты в России и на Украине "Yandex" displays different maps in Russia and in Ukraine ru slon.ru 22 March 2014 2 January 2016 March 2014, Bing Maps, http://tass.ru/en/russia/725342 Parliament challenges mapmakers to mark Crimea Russian territory en.itar-tass.com 26 March 2014 2 January 2016 OpenStreetMap and HERE displayed Crimea as belonging to Ukraine. In particular, OpenStreetMap requested its users to refrain from editing borders and administrative relations of subdivisions located in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol until 31 May 2014. On 5 June 2014, OpenStreetMap switched to a territorial dispute option, displaying Crimea as a disputed territory belonging to both countries. https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Working_Group_Minutes/DWG_2014-06-05_Special_Crimea Statement by the DWG on edit conflicts in Crimea 5 June 2014 OpenStreetMap Foundation 2 January 2016 In the short-term Crimea shall remain in both the Ukraine and Russia administrative relations, and be indicated as disputed. We recognize that being in two administrative relations is not a good long-term solution, although the region is likely to be indicated as disputed for some time. In 2015, on the PepsiCo website, a Russian-language map was visible for a few days that depicted Crimea as a part of Russia.https://fortune.com/2016/01/21/ukraine-investigates-coca-cola-and-pepsi-over-crimea-map-row/ Ukraine investigates Coca Cola and Pepsi 2016 Fortune 7 July 2016 The 2016 edition of a French atlas published by Larousse shows Crimea as part of Russian territory: Oleh Shamshur, Ukrainian Ambassador to France, expressed shock. https://news.yahoo.com/ukraines-france-ambassador-slams-atlas-placing-crimea-russia-193953372.html Ukraine's France ambassador slams atlas for placing Crimea in Russia Yahoo! News 13 October 2016 9 January 2016 Shortly after, Larousse changed the map to reflect Crimea as part of Ukraine on the Atlas on their internet version. http://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/autre-region/Crim%C3%A9e/115181 Larousse official Internet website Larousse 7 July 2016http://geopolis.francetvinfo.fr/quand-le-larousse-place-la-crimee-en-russie-83775 Official position of Larousse on Crimea 2015 7 July 2016 The Italian-language magazine of geopolitics Limes maps Crimea as a part of Russia since December 2015.L'attivismo militare della Russia nel 2015, Russia's military activism in 2015, Limes Following protests from the Ukrainian embassy in Italy, the magazine editor Lucio Caracciolo wrote that "the map reflects reality. When Crimea and Sevastopol will be back under effective Ukrainian sovereignty, we will produce a map that reflects such reality".Perché Limes rappresenta la Crimea sotto la sovranità della Russia, Because Limes represents Crimea under the sovereignty of Russia 11 January 2016 Limes, accessed 28 February 2022 The Russian version of Apple's App Store began to show Crimea as part of Russia on 27 November 2019.27 November 2019 Apple changes Crimea map to meet Russian demands BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50573069 19 June 2021 Analysis Researchers consider the annexation of Crimea to be a coup, because the Russian military seized Crimea's parliament and government buildings and instigated the replacement of its government with Russian proxies. In particular, political scientist Olga Burlyuk defines Crimea events as "a coup d'état of a regional scale".Hamid Linda https://books.google.com/books?id=7LMTEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22a+coup+d%E2%80%99%C3%A9tat+of+a+regional+scale%22&pg=PA73 Rule of Law and Areas of Limited Statehood: Domestic and International Dimensions Wouters Jan 29 January 2021 Edward Elgar Publishing 978-1-78897-904-7 73 Crimea's annexation has been described as an instance of modern Russian imperialism.What Started in Crimea Should End in Crimea https://cepa.org/article/what-started-in-crimea-should-end-in-crimea/ Center for European Policy Analysis 15 May 2023 It was the first time since World War II that a European country had annexed part of another.Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia Council on Foreign Relations 5 February 2020 Some analysts see the annexation as the beginning of a Second Cold War between Russia and the West.Chivvis Christopher Alcaro Riccardo West-Russia Relations in Light of the Ukraine Crisis 2015 Edizioni Nuova Cultura 33 Deterrence in the new European security context The United States (US), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Russia are now clearly headed toward a new phase in their relationship ... Some would thus argue that we are either facing or at risk of a new Cold War (Levgold 2014, Kashin 2014, Arbatov 2014). See also Russian invasion of Ukraine Russian annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts (2022) Outline of the Russo-Ukrainian War Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine 1783 Russian annexation of Crimea Proposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia Proposed Russian annexation of Transnistria Russian-occupied territories Occupied territories of Georgia Occupied territories of Moldova Occupied territories of Ukraine Russian imperialism Russian irredentism Notes References Further reading Bibliography of Ukrainian history List of Slavic studies journals Pynnöniemi Katri Rácz András Fog of Falsehood: Russian Strategy of Deception and the Conflict in Ukraine Fiia Report Helsinki Finnish Institute of International Affairs 2016 978-951-769-485-8 FIIA Report, 45 2323-5454 http://www.fiia.fi/fi/publication/588/fog_of_falsehood/ 1 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20171109024305/http://www.fiia.fi/fi/publication/588/fog_of_falsehood/ 9 November 2017 Myths and misconceptions in the debate on Russia https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/05/myths-and-misconceptions-debate-russia/ Chatham House 13 May 2021 25 June 2022 External links no Category:Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation yes no no no yes Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Crimea to Russia no no no A treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation. Unofficial English translation with commentaryMarch 2025 Russia & Me: Former Post-Soviet Leaders' Views On Crimea's Annexation (video 11:21), REF/RL, 26 February 2016 (in Russian, subtitles in English) Crimea Category:2014 controversies Category:2014 in Russia Category:2014 in Ukraine Category:2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine Category:2014 conflicts Category:Conflicts in Ukraine Category:Political history of Crimea Crimea Category:Territorial disputes of Ukraine Category:Territorial evolution of Russia Category:21st-century military history of Russia Category:Modern history of Ukraine Category:Political scandals in Ukraine Category:Riots and civil disorder in Ukraine Category:Russian irredentism Category:Russian nationalism in Ukraine Category:Russia–Ukraine relations Category:Russification Category:Separatism in Ukraine Category:Treaties concluded in 2014 Category:Treaties entered into force in 2014 Category:Treaties of Russia Category:Articles containing video clips Category:February 2014 in Europe Category:March 2014 in Europe Category:February 2014 in Russia Category:March 2014 in Russia Category:February 2014 in Ukraine Category:March 2014 in Ukraine Category:Military operations involving Russia Category:Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine * Category:Russian intelligence operations Category:Human shield incidents Category:21st-century military history of Ukraine Category:Military history of Crimea Category:Counter-revolution Category:2010s in Crimea