Political status of Crimea

For the 1850s dispute on the peninsula between Russia and an international coalition, see Crimean War.

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of

Crimea
Autonomous Republic of Crimea
(within Ukraine, 1991–present)

* Constitution
* Presidential representative: Tamila Tasheva
* Verkhovna Rada (dissolved)

Chairman (vacant)
* Council of Ministers

Chairman: (vacant)
* Prosecutor
* Elections

* Parliamentary: 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010

* Presidential: 1994

* Referendums: 1991
* 1994
* 2014

Republic of Crimea
(territory occupied by Russia 2014–present)

* Constitution
* State Council
* Head: Sergey Aksyonov
* Prime Minister: Yury Gotsanyuk
* Recent elections

* Parliamentary: 2014
* 2019
* 2024

* Political parties

See also
Political status of Crimea
Politics of Russia • Politics of Ukraine

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The Crimean problem (Russian: Проблема Крыма, romanized: Problyema Kryma; Ukrainian: Кримська проблема, romanized: Krymska problema) or the Crimean question (Russian: Крымский вопрос, romanized: Krymskiy vopros; Ukrainian: питання Криму, romanized: pytannia Krymu) is a dispute over the status of Crimea between Ukraine and Russia.[1][2][3][4][5]

The dispute began during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but did not escalate into a conflict until the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, when Russian special forces were deployed to occupy Crimea and took over its government buildings.[6][7][8] The official results of an internationally unrecognized referendum held during the occupation allegedly indicated overwhelming support for Russian annexation.[9] The Crimean parliament and the autonomous city of Sevastopol unilaterally declared independence from Ukraine[10][11] to ideally form a country named Republic of Crimea. Russia then annexed the region and created two federal subjects, the Republic of Crimea (as a republic) and Sevastopol (as a federal city). Ukraine and the majority of the international community continue to regard Crimea as occupied Ukrainian territory; a United Nations General Assembly resolution declared the referendum invalid and affirmed the territorial integrity of Ukraine.[12] Despite international opinion however, the currency, tax, time zone and legal system are all operational under de facto Russian control. Ukraine has attempted to resolve the matter by filing litigation in multiple international criminal, environmental, political (European Union), and other courts.

## History

[edit]

In 1921, the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created as part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Throughout its time the Soviet Union, Crimea underwent a population change. As a result of alleged collaboration with the Germans by Crimean Tatars during World War II, all Crimean Tatars were deported by the Soviet regime and the peninsula was resettled with other peoples, mainly Russians and Ukrainians. Modern experts say that the deportation was part of the Soviet plan to gain access to the Dardanelles and acquire territory in Turkey, where the Tatars had Turkic ethnic kin, or to remove minorities from the Soviet Union's border regions.[13]

Nearly 8,000 Crimean Tatars died during the deportation, and tens of thousands perished subsequently due to the harsh exile conditions.[14] The Crimean Tatar deportation resulted in the abandonment of 80,000 households and 145,600 hectares of land.

The autonomous republic without its titled nationality was downgraded to an oblast within the Russian SFSR on 30 June 1945.

1954 Soviet propaganda stamp marking the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's reunification with Russia.

On 19 February 1954, the oblast was transferred from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR jurisdiction,[15] on the basis of "the integral character of the economy, the territorial proximity and the close economic and cultural ties between the Crimea Province and the Ukrainian SSR"[16] and to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Ukraine's union with Russia.[17][18]

From 1991, the territory was covered by the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol City within independent Ukraine. In 1994, Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, which states that it would "Respect Belarusian, Kazakh and Ukrainian independence, sovereignty, and the existing borders".

### The Black Sea Fleet and Sevastopol

[edit]

Main article: Black Sea Fleet dispute

Post-independence, the dispute over control of the Black Sea Fleet and Sevastopol, the Crimean port city where the fleet was based, was a source of tensions for Russia–Ukraine relations.[19] Until a final agreement was reached in 1997 with the signing of the Partition Treaty and Russian–Ukrainian Friendship Treaty, where Ukraine allowed Russia basing rights in Sevastopol and Crimea until 2017.

Crimea hosts Ukraine's largest ethnic Russian population, many of whom are retired military personnel or employees of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, especially in Sevastopol. Between 1992–1995, the dispute over the future of the fleet exacerbated internal frictions, with statements by Russian politicians encouraging separatist sentiments.[19][20]

### Sovereignty and geopolitics

[edit]

Despite being an independent country since 1991, the former Soviet republic Ukraine has been perceived by Russia as being part of its sphere of influence. Iulian Chifu and his co-authors claimed in a book that in regard to Ukraine, Russia pursued a modernized version of the Brezhnev Doctrine on "limited sovereignty", which dictates that the sovereignty of Ukraine cannot be larger than that of the Warsaw Pact prior to the demise of the Soviet sphere of influence.[21] This claim is based on statements of Russian leaders that possible integration of Ukraine into NATO would jeopardize Russia's national security.[21]

The issue resurfaced in late 2000s over Ukraine asserting its sovereignty and Russia's concern over its western orientation. In 2008, Russia used Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet in the Russo-Georgian War and ignored Ukraine regulations, leading to Ukrainian President Yushchenko's declaration that the lease deal would not be extended and that the fleet would have to leave Sevastopol by 2017.[22] However, in 2010 president Yanukovych signed the Kharkiv Pact amidst Russia–Ukraine gas disputes.[20]

In September 2013, Russia warned Ukraine that if it went ahead with a planned Association Agreement with EU, it would face consequences.[23] Sergey Glazyev, adviser to President Vladimir Putin, said that, "Ukrainian authorities make a huge mistake if they think that the Russian reaction will become neutral in a few years from now. This will not happen." Glazyev allowed for the possibility of separatist movements springing up in the Russian-speaking east and south of Ukraine.[23]

### Evolution of status of the Crimean Peninsula within independent Ukraine

[edit]

#### Crimean ASSR and Republic of Crimea

[edit]

After the Crimean referendum of 1991, which asked whether Crimea should be elevated to a signatory of the New Union Treaty (that is, become a union republic on its own), the Ukrainian SSR restored Crimea's autonomous status (Crimean Autonomous SSR), but confirmed that autonomy restored as a part of the Ukrainian SSR. The Crimean Oblast council became Supreme Council of Crimea and, on 4 September 1991, passed the Declaration of state sovereignty of Crimea.[24]

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the ASSR renamed itself the Republic of Crimea.[25] The Ukrainian government initially accepted its name, but not its claims to be a state. According to Ukrainian law "On status of the autonomous Republic of Crimea", passed on 29 April 1992, "Republic of Crimea is an autonomous part of Ukraine and independently decides on matters, of its application of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine" (art. 1).[26] The Regional Supreme Council, on the contrary, insisted that "Republic of Crimea is a legal democratic state", which "has supremacy in respect to natural, material, cultural and spiritual heritage" and "exercises its sovereign rights and full power" on its territory (art. 1 of the May 1992 Constitution), but also a "part of Ukraine and establishes relations in it on a basis of the treaty and agreements" (art. 9).[27] Both Ukrainian law on autonomy status[28] and the 1992 Constitution of Crimea[29] were amended later that year, putting the Republic's status in between what was proposed in the initial revision of the 1992 Constitution and what was proposed in April 1992 Ukrainian law on the status of the Republic.

On 21 May 1992 the Supreme Soviet of Russia declared 1954 transfer of Crimea as having "no legal force", because it was adopted "in violation of the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian SFSR and legislative process", but because subsequent legislation and the 1990 Russo-Ukrainian treaty constituted that fact, parliament considered it necessary to resolve the Crimean question in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia and on the basis of the popular will of the inhabitants of Crimea.[30] A similar resolution was adopted for Sevastopol a year later. Both moves were condemned by Ukraine[31][32][33] and resulted in no changes to the Russian Constitution (neither 1978 nor 1993 documents enumerated Crimea and Sevastopol as federal subjects).

In 1994, after parliamentary and presidential elections in the Republic, the Supreme Council and the executive became dominated by the Russian Bloc (which had won 57 seats in the Supreme Council of Crimea and Presidency for its member, Yuri Meshkov).[34] Following a referendum, held in the same year, the Supreme Council of Crimea restored the 1992 Constitution to its original revision.[35]

#### Autonomous Republic of Crimea

[edit]

A year later, the 1992 Crimean constitution, along with the presidency and regional citizenship, was declared null and void by the Ukrainian Parliament, which by that time, had renamed the area from "Republic of Crimea" to Autonomous Republic of Crimea.[36] Another Constitution was passed by Crimean parliament in 1995,[37] but many parts of it were rejected by the Ukrainian parliament; among them were the republic's name (which was to remain "Republic of Crimea") and citizenship.[38] Meanwhile, during drafting of the new Ukrainian Constitution, the question of autonomy was much debated: some legislators proposed abolishing it altogether (downgrading back to oblast status or to autonomy but not autonomous republic),[39][40] while other legislators proposed legalising the 1992 Constitution of Crimea provisions (original May revision) in the new Ukrainian Constitution.[39] Ultimately, the new Constitution of Ukraine adopted neither extreme and reiterated the autonomous status of the republic, while downgrading some of its powers (such as the regional Supreme Council's powers to enact legislation in form of laws ("zakoni")). The Republic was declared to be the "Autonomous Republic of Crimea", but also an "inseparable constituent part of Ukraine".[41] A new Crimean constitution, complying with provisions of the Ukrainian one, was adopted in 1998.

#### Status of Sevastopol

[edit]

Before the 1954 transfer of Crimea, Sevastopol was elevated into a "city of republican subordination" of the Russian SFSR – a predecessor[42] of the modern status of "city of federal importance". Nevertheless, in practice it was still governed as a part of the Crimean Oblast; for example, inhabitants of Sevastopol elected deputies into the Crimean Oblast Council,[43][44] and all its structures, such as local militsiya departments, etc., were subordinated to oblast structures,[45] and therefore de facto transferred, too. The Ukrainian Constitution of 1978 listed Sevastopol as one of its "cities of republican subordination" (along with Kyiv),[46] whilst the Russian constitution of the same year didn't list Sevastopol as such.[47]

In 1993, the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation issued a resolution, which "confirms Russian federal status of Sevastopol" and requested a parliamentary commission to prepare and present to Congress of People's Deputies of Russia corresponding constitutional amendments, but 1993 Russian constitutional crisis prevented that from happening and initial revisions of the Constitution of Russia, adopted on 12 December 1993, did not list Sevastopol as a federal subject. Three years later, the State Duma declared that Russia has a right to exercise sovereignty over Sevastopol,[48] but this resolution went without any actual effect. An agreement was concluded in 1997 by the Russian and Ukrainian governments, allowing the Black Sea Fleet to stay in Sevastopol until 2017. Later this was extended by another 25 years until 2042, with a possible option to extend this period until 2047.

### 2014 annexation and subsequent developments

[edit]

Further information: Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and International reactions to the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

After the events of Euromaidan, the referendum and the decision holding it was held during and after Russia's implementation of a military presence in Crimea.[6] Igor Girkin, one of the major Russian commanders of the action, explained that the "overwhelming national support for the self-defence" as portrayed by the Russian media was fiction, and a majority of the law enforcement, administration and army were opposed to it.[49][50] Girkin stated that under his command, the rebels "collected" deputies into the chambers, and had to "forcibly drive the deputies to vote [to join Russia]".[50][51]

On 14 March, the Crimean status referendum was deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine,[52] and a day later, the Verkhovna Rada formally dissolved the Crimean parliament.[53] On March 16, a Crimean referendum on the status of the peninsula was held, which, despite opposition from the Ukrainian government, was held after a decision by the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The day before, on March 15, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a resolution to early terminate the powers of the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC, and on March 14, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine declared the referendum unconstitutional. According to the official results released by the Crimean authorities, 97% of voters voted in favor of secession from Ukraine and joining the Russian Federation. However, the referendum was held in the absence of international observers, which raised doubts about its legitimacy and transparency. A number of states and international organizations did not recognize the results of the vote, pointing to numerous reports of fraud and violations during the voting process, as well as the presence of Russian troops in Crimea, which could have influenced the will of the citizens.[54]

The peninsula then was annexed by Russia where it was converted into a federal district under the name of Crimean Federal District. However, the annexation divided the Autonomous Republic and the city of Sevastopol once again into two separate entities: the Autonomous Republic became the Republic of Crimea as a Russian republic while Sevastopol became a Russian federal city.

Regardless of all this, Ukraine and the vast majority of the international community have not recognized the validity of the referendum, and have not recognized the accession of this region into Russia.

Only Russia and a few other nations have recognized all these events. The lack of recognition from Ukraine and the international community is based primarily on the fact that the referendum included an option to join Russia while the region was under military occupation by Russia itself. The European Union, United States, Canada and several other nations condemned the decision to hold a referendum. In addition, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People—the unofficial political association of the Crimean Tatars—called for a boycott of the referendum.[55]

Results of the UN General Assembly vote about the territorial integrity of Ukraine in 2014.
In favor   Against   Abstentions   Absent

In 2014, UN General Assembly adopted a non-binding resolution declaring the referendum invalid and reaffirming Ukraine's territorial integrity by a vote of 100 to 11 with 58 abstentions and 24 absent.[56][57] Since 2014, the UN General Assembly has voted several times, most recently in December 2019,[58] to affirm Ukraine's territorial integrity, condemn the 'temporary occupation' of Crimea, and reaffirm nonrecognition of its annexation.[58]

The Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally displaced persons (Ukrainian: Міністерство з питань тимчасово окупованих територій та внутрішньо переміщених осіб України) is a Ukrainian government ministry officially established on 20 April 2016[59] to manage occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea regions affected by Russian military intervention of 2014.

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.[60]

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the strategic importance of Crimea increased significantly,[61] serving as a key military base for Russian operations in southern Ukraine. Ukraine has since launched multiple operations aimed at challenging Russian control over the peninsula, including targeted strikes on military infrastructure in Crimea.[62]

## See also

[edit]

* Russia–Ukraine relations
* Russia–Ukraine border and Russia–Ukraine barrier
* International reactions to the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation
* International sanctions during the Russo-Ukrainian War
* Temporarily occupied and uncontrolled territories of Ukraine (2014–present)
* Crimea Platform
* International recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Marples, David R.; Duke, David F. (1995). "Ukraine, Russia, and the Question of Crimea". Nationalities Papers. 23 (2): 261–289\. doi:10.1080/00905999508408377. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
2. ^ Fediw, Bohdan (2000). "The Crimean Problem: Post-Independence Ukraine's Regional Instability". World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues. 4 (2): 76–88\. JSTOR 45064704. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
3. ^ Sasse, Gwendolyn (2007). The Crimea Question: Identity, Transition, and Conflict. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-1-932650-01-3. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
4. ^ Markedonov, Sergei (16 January 2015). "The Crimean 'question'". openDemocracy. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
5. ^ Bremmer, Ian (23 January 2023). "The Crimea problem". GZERO Media. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
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8. ^ De Carbonnel, Alissa (13 March 2014). "RPT-INSIGHT-How the separatists delivered Crimea to Moscow". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 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"
9. ^ "Crimea Overwhelmingly Supports Split From Ukraine To Join Russia". NPR. 16 March 2014.
10. ^ "Crimean Parliament Votes to Join Russia". Voice of America. 6 March 2014.
11. ^ "Crimean Parliament Votes to Join Russia, Sets Referendum Date". NBC News. 6 March 2014.
12. ^ UN (2014). Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 27 March 2014. United Nations Press. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
13. ^ Bezverkha 2017, p. 127. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBezverkha2017 (help)
14. ^ Rywkin 1994, p. 67. sfn error: no target: CITEREFRywkin1994 (help)
15. ^ "Chronology for Crimean Russians in Ukraine". Retrieved 10 September 2021.
16. ^ Calamur, Krishnadev (27 February 2014). "Crimea: A Gift To Ukraine Becomes A Political Flash Point". NPR. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
17. ^ Ragozin, Leonid (16 March 2019). "Annexation of Crimea: A masterclass in political manipulation". Al Jazeera.
18. ^ Crimea profile – Overview BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2015
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21. ^ a b Iulian Chifu; Oazu Nantoi; Oleksandr Sushko (2009). "Russia–Georgia War of August 2008: Ukrainian Approach" (PDF). The Russian Georgian War: A trilateral cognitive institutional approach of the crisis decision-making process. Bucharest: Editura Curtea Veche. p. 181\. ISBN 978-973-1983-19-6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
22. ^ "No Russian fleet in Ukraine beyond 2017 -Ukrainian PM". 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
23. ^ a b Walker, Shaun (22 September 2013). "Ukraine's EU trade deal will be catastrophic, says Russia". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
24. ^ Parliament of Ukraine (17 November 1994). Декларация о государственном суверенитете Крыма (in Russian). Government of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
25. ^ Parliament of Ukraine (20 October 1999). О Республике Крым как официальном названии демократического государства Крым (in Russian). Government of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
26. ^ Про статус автономної Республіки Крим. Закон від 29.04.1992 № 2299-XII Archived 3 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
27. ^ Конституция Республики Крым Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
28. ^ Про внесення змін і доповнень до Закону України "Про статус автономної Республіки Крим" Верховна Рада України; Закон від 30.06.1992 № 2523-XII Archived 3 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
29. ^ О внесении изменений и дополнений в Конституцию Республики Крым. Верховная Рада АРК; Закон от 25.09.1992 № 155–1 Archived 4 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
30. ^ Постановление ВС России "О правовой оценке решений высших органов государственной власти РСФСР по изменению статуса Крыма, принятых в 1954 году" (in Russian). May 1992. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
31. ^ "Letter dated 25 May 1992 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, addressed to the Secretary-General". un.org. 25 May 1992. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
32. ^ "Letter dated 13 July 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, addressed to the President of the Security Council". Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
33. ^ "Letter dated 16 July 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations addressed to the Security Council". Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
34. ^ Полунов, Александр Юрьевич. Общественные организации русского Крыма: политическая деятельность, стратегии взаимоотношений с властью Archived 2 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Государственное управление. Выпуск № 21. Декабрь 2009 года. (in Russian)
35. ^ О восстановлении конституционных основ государственности Республики Крым. Верховная Рада АРК; Закон от 20.05.1994 № 32–1 Archived 7 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
36. ^ Про внесення змін і доповнень до Конституції (Основного Закону) України. Верховна Рада України; Закон від 21.09.1994 № 171/94-ВР Archived 6 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
37. ^ Конституция Автономной Республики Крым. Верховная Рада АРК; Закон, Конституция от 01.11.1995 № 611k-1 Archived 1 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
38. ^ Про Конституцію Автономної Республіки Крим. Верховна Рада України; Закон від 04.04.1996 № 117/96-ВР Archived 17 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
39. ^ a b Table of amendments to the 11 March 1996 draft Ukrainian Constitution Archived 28 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
40. ^ "Офіційний портал Верховної Ради України" [Official portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine]. static.rada.gov.ua. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
41. ^ Constitution of Ukraine, 1996  – via Wikisource.
42. ^ Закон РФ от 9 декабря 1992 г. N 4061-I "Об изменениях и дополнениях Конституции (Основного Закона) Российской Федерации – России" (принят седьмым Съездом народных депутатов РФ) Archived 26 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine: "В статье 71<...>в части второй слова "республиканского подчинения" заменить словами "федерального значения"" (in Russian)
43. ^ "Анализ документов: Севастополь – украинский город" [Document analysis: Sevastopol is a Ukrainian city]. Sd.net.ua. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
44. ^ "Город республиканского подчинения" [City of republican subordination]. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
45. ^ «Сверхнаглость» сработает? Севастополь: псевдоюридические аргументы Ю. М. Лужкова [Will "super insolence" work? Sevastopol: pseudo-legal arguments of Yu. M. Luzhkov] (in Russian). day.kyiv.ua. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
46. ^ Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Archived 7 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Ukrainian)
47. ^ "Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
48. ^ "Постановление Государственной Думы Федерального Собрания РФ от 24 октября 1996 г. N 747-II ГД "Об обращении Государственной Думы Федерального Собрания Российской Федерации "К …" [Decree of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of October 24, 1996 N 747-II GD "On the appeal of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation" To ...]. Bazazakonov.ru. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
49. ^ "Я не увидел, к сожалению, никакой поддержки органов государственной власти в Симферополе. Не было ее. Депутатов собирали ополченцы, чтобы загнать их в зал, чтобы они приняли решения. И я был одним из командиров этих ополченцев", Excerpt from "И.Стрелков vs Н.Стариков "ЦЕНТРСИЛЫ / СИЛАЦЕНТРА"" [I. Strelkov vs N. Starikov debate], retrieved 15 July 2015
50. ^ a b "И.Стрелков vs Н.Стариков "ЦЕНТРСИЛЫ / СИЛАЦЕНТРА"" [I. Strelkov vs N. Starikov debate]. Neuromir TV. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
51. ^ Russian FSB colonel Igor Girkin (alias Strelkov): "The Crimea referendum was a fake". I. Strelkov vs N. Starikov debate. Neuromir TV. 2015-01-22.
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53. ^ Про дострокове припинення повноважень Верховної Ради Автономної Республіки Крим [On the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea]. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 15 March 2014. Archived from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
54. ^ "6 Countries OK With Russia Annexation of Crimea - Business Insider". www.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
55. ^ "Tatar leader: referendum's results 'predetermined'". DW.DE. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
56. ^ United Nations News Centre – Backing Ukraine's territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid Archived 13 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Un.org (1 March 2014). Retrieved on 28 March 2014.
57. ^ U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid Archived 18 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Reuters. 27 March 2014.
58. ^ a b Resolution adopted by the General Assembly Archived 15 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine on 18 December 2019], UN General Assembly
59. ^ (in Ukrainian) The Cabinet decided to create the Ministry of temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons Archived 28 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrayinska Pravda (20 April 2016)
60. ^ "'Crimea is Ukraine': Zelenskyy opens inaugural Crimea summit". euronews. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
61. ^ "Why is Crimea strategically important for both Russia and Ukraine?". India today. 18 March 2025.
62. ^ https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/special-edition-campaign-assessment-ukraine’s-strike-campaign-against-crimea. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)

* v
* t
* e

Crimea articles

* Political status
* Sevastopol
* Republic of Crimea (Russia)
* Autonomous Republic of Crimea

History|

* Greek Crimea
* Crimea in the Roman era
* Cherson (theme)
* Bosporan Kingdom
* Akatziri
* Khazars
* Crimean Goths
* Kipchaks
* Empire of Trebizond
* Genoese Crimea
* Genoese–Mongol Wars
* Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689
* Crimean Khanate
* 1783 annexation by Russia
* Crimean War
* Soviet period
* Crimea in World War II
* 1944 Crimean Tatar deportation
* Renaming of Crimean toponyms
* 1954 transfer to Ukraine
* Crimean Tatar repatriation
* Autonomous Republic of Crimea
* President of Crimea (historical)
* 2003 Tuzla Island conflict
* 2014 status referendum
* 2014 annexation by Russia
* Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People

Geography|

* Arabat Spit
* Arabat Bay
* Azov Sea
* Black Sea
* Caves
* Marble
* Vyalova
* Crimean Mountains
* Kerch Strait
* Perekop Isthmus
* Pontic–Caspian steppe
* Southern Coast
* Syvash

Subdivisions|

* Cities
* Raions
* Urban-type settlements
* administrative divisions

Politics|

| De jure
(Ukrainian)|

* Autonomous Republic of Crimea
* Supreme Council
* Chairman
* Prime Minister
* Council of Ministers
* Sevastopol
* City Council
* State administration
* Mayor

|

De facto
(Russian)|

* Republic of Crimea
* Constitution
* Head
* State Council
* 2014 parliamentary election
* Sevastopol
* Legislative Assembly
* Governor
* 2017 election
* Crimean Federal District
* Black Sea Fleet

Economy|

* Tourism
* Crimean Bridge
* Crimean Trolleybus

Society|

| Sports|

* Crimean Premier League

|

Demographics|

| Peoples|

* Russians
* Ukrainians
* Crimean Tatars
* Armenians
* Karaites
* Pontic Greeks
* Krymchaks
* Crimea Germans

|

Languages|

* Crimean Tatar
* Krymchak
* Russian
* Ukrainian

Religion|

* Christianity
* Roman Catholicism
* Ukrainian Catholicism
* Judaism
* Islam

Category

* v
* t
* e

Russo-Ukrainian War

Background|

* Dissolution of the Soviet Union
* Black Sea Fleet dispute
* Budapest Memorandum
* 2003 Tuzla Island conflict
* Orange Revolution
* 2007 Munich speech of Vladimir Putin
* Russia–Ukraine gas disputes
* Euromaidan
* Revolution of Dignity
* Putinism
* Foundations of Geopolitics
* Ruscism
* Russian irredentism
* Russian imperialism

Main events|

* Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation
* timeline
* 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine
* timeline
* 2014 Odesa clashes
* War in Donbas
* timeline
* List of Russian units which invaded the territory of Ukraine
* Kerch Strait incident
* Wagnergate
* Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
* reactions
* Russian invasion of Ukraine
* timeline
* 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
* 2022 Russian annexation referendums
* 2023 Belgorod Oblast incursions
* destruction of the Kakhovka Dam

Impact and
reactions|

* International sanctions
* sanctioned people and organisations
* 2022–2023 Russia–European Union gas dispute
* Military aid to Ukraine
* OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine
* Act of 2014
* China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
* North Korea and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
* Iran and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
* United States and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
* ICJ case
* ORDLO
* ATO
* International reactions to the war in Donbas
* Casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian War
* journalists killed
* Foreign fighters in the Russo-Ukrainian War
* 2014 Crimean status referendum
* Political status of Crimea
* 2021 Black Sea incident
* 2021–2023 global supply chain crisis
* Economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
* Eurointegration of Ukraine
* Soviet imagery
* Lend-Lease (2022)
* Diplomatic expulsions
* Russian spies
* ICC arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin
* Wagner Group rebellion
* LGBT people
* Lukoil oil transit dispute
* Ukrainian energy crisis

Cyberwarfare|

* 2015 Ukraine power grid hack
* 2016 Kyiv cyberattack
* 2016 Surkov leaks
* 2017 Ukraine ransomware attacks
* 2022 Ukraine cyberattacks
* IT Army of Ukraine
* 2022 activities of Anonymous against Russia
* 2024 Ukrainian cyberattacks against Russia

Media|

* Little green men
* Social media
* Media portrayal
* Disinformation in the 2022 invasion
* Propaganda in Russia
* Films

Related|

* Russia–Ukraine relations
* Russian language in Ukraine
* Demolition of monuments to Vladimir Lenin in Ukraine
* 2014 anti-war protests in Russia
* Ruscism
* 2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism
* Control of cities
* Aircraft losses during the Russo-Ukrainian War
* Ship losses during the Russo-Ukrainian War
* Moldova and the Russo-Ukrainian War
* Ukraine and electronic warfare
* Ukrainian conscription crisis
* Forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

Part of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Main topics|

* Timeline
* International reaction
* List of military units
* International sanctions
* List of sanctioned individuals
* List of companies that applied sanctions
* 2014 anti-war protests in Russia
* Reaction of Russian intelligentsia
* 2014 Crimean status referendum
* UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262
* Declaration of Independence
* Republic of Crimea
* 2014 Constitution of Crimea
* Political status
* Crimean Federal District
* Environmental impact
* Crimean speech of Vladimir Putin
* Medal "For the Return of Crimea"
* Capture of the Crimean Parliament
* Capture of Southern Naval Base
* 2014 Simferopol incident

Background|

* History of Crimea
* 1783 annexation by Russian Empire
* Crimean People's Republic
* 1921–1945 Crimean ASSR
* 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars
* 1945–1991 Crimean Oblast
* 1954 transfer of Crimea
* 1991–1992 Crimean ASSR
* Republic of Crimea (1992 to 1995)
* 1992 constitution of Crimea
* Black Sea Fleet dispute
* Autonomous Republic of Crimea (since 1995)
* 1994–1995 President of Crimea
* Yuriy Meshkov
* 1994 Budapest Memorandum
* 1997 Partition Treaty
* 1998 Constitution of Crimea
* 2003 Tuzla Island conflict
* 2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosia
* 2010 Kharkiv Pact
* 2012 law on languages
* 2013–2014 Euromaidan
* Revolution of Dignity
* 40th G7 summit

Main places|

* Simferopol
* Simferopol Airport
* Building of the Supreme Council of Crimea
* Sevastopol
* Belbek Airport
* Crimean Bridge
* Donuzlav
* Ochakov scuttling
* Perevalne
* Armiansk
* Dzhankoi
* Chonhar
* Port Krym
* Strilkove
* Arabat Spit
* Novofedorivka

Pro-Russian|

| Organizations|

* Supreme Council of Crimea
* Council of Ministers of Crimea
* Sevastopol City Council
* Russian Armed Forces
* Black Sea Fleet
* Russian Airborne Troops
* Little green men
* Crimean Berkut
* Russian Unity
* Night Wolves
* Kuban Cossacks
* Ukrainian Choice

|

Lead figures (Russia)|

* Vladimir Putin
* Dmitry Medvedev
* Sergey Shoigu
* Vladislav Surkov
* Sergey Lavrov
* Valery Gerasimov
* Igor Sergun
* Aleksandr Vitko
* Oleg Belaventsev
* Rustam Minnikhanov

Lead figures (Crimea)|

* Sergey Aksyonov
* Vladimir Konstantinov
* Natalia Poklonskaya
* Rustam Temirgaliev
* Denis Berezovsky
* Sergei Yeliseyev
* Aleksei Chaly
* Igor Besler

Pro-Ukrainian|

| Organizations|

* Yatsenyuk government
* Parliamentary parties
* Batkivshchyna
* Svoboda
* UDAR
* Armed Forces of Ukraine
* Ukrainian Ground Forces
* Ukrainian Navy
* National Guard of Ukraine
* Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People
* Right Sector

|

Lead figures (Ukraine)|

* Oleksandr Turchynov
* Arseniy Yatsenyuk
* Andriy Parubiy
* Arsen Avakov
* Valentyn Nalyvaichenko
* Ihor Tenyukh
* Mykhailo Kutsyn
* Serhiy Hayduk

Lead figures (Crimea)|

* Mustafa Dzhemilev
* Refat Chubarov
* İlmi Ümerov
* Ahtem Chiygoz
* Serhiy Kunitsyn
* Yuliy Mamchur

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