Crimea (Crimean Tatar, Qırım; Ukrainian: Крим, Krym; Russian: Крым, Krym) is a peninsula in eastern Europe, on the north side of the Black Sea. Previously an autonomous republic within the state of Ukraine, Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 but its new status lacks international recognition. It has around 1 973 000 inhabitants in an area of 26 100 km².[1] The capital is Simferopol.
In 2015 the New York Times published an op-ed from Dimiter Kenarov, about the occupation of Crimea.[1] He described the difficulties Russia had in normalizing every day life in Crimea. Crimea relies on Ukraine for electric power, and citizens went a month without power when political activists wrecked the power lines.