For the first time about unidentified armed people in Crimea, they started talking on February 26, 2014, when two groups of them occupied the buildings of the Supreme Council of Crimea and the Council of Ministers of the republic, then still part of Ukraine. After that, the "little green men" took control of almost all the strategic facilities of the peninsula and blocked a number of Ukrainian military units. The military were dressed in the latest Russian pixel camouflage without insignia, and also used the types of weapons and armored vehicles that are in service with the Russian army.
On the evening of March 1, the Federation Council unanimously approved the appeal of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the use of the Russian armed forces in Crimea. It was planned to use the Russian army "until the normalization of the socio-political situation" in Ukraine.
On March 4, the presence of Russian troops in Crimea was denied by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and on March 5, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called photos of Russian military equipment that appeared on the Internet a "provocation."
However, at the beginning of the month, army trucks, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, communication vehicles, fuel tanks, etc. marched along the highway to Novorossiysk in columns under Russian flags. It was also reported about platforms with tanks that proceeded through the Krasnodar-I railway station.
Pro-Russian activists try to unfurl the flag of the Russian Federation in the courtyard of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea during clashes with Crimean Tatars. February 26, 2014, Simferopol.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovPeople carry a seriously wounded man who was injured during clashes near the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea. February 26, 2014, Simferopol.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovServicemen of the Ukrainian Navy are standing outside the headquarters door and watching how the military unit is being seized. March 19, 2014, Sevastopol.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovOne of the participants in the seizure of the headquarters of the naval forces of Ukraine enters the building through a broken wall. March 19, 2014, Sevastopol.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovParticipants in the seizure of the headquarters of the naval forces of Ukraine in Sevastopol remove state symbols in one of the offices of the headquarters. March 19, 2014.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovA Ukrainian naval officer collects his personal belongings from the captured headquarters. March 19, 2014.
Photo: Andrey Lyubimov"Green men" at the entrance to the military unit No. 2382 (State Border Guard Service of Ukraine). Balaclava.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovSailors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine lie face down on the deck of the corvette "Khmelnitsky" during the seizure of the vessel by Sevastopol people's combatants.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovMembers of the Sevastopol people's squad lead the captain of the captured Khmelnitsky corvette of the Armed Forces of Ukraine onto the deck.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovOne of the participants in the seizure of the headquarters of the naval forces of Ukraine in Sevastopol cuts the Ukrainian flag from the flagpole. March 19, 2014.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovMembers of the Sevastopol people's squad and self-defense of the Crimea seize the Belbek military base in Kacha. March 22, 2014, Sevastopol.
Photo: Andrey Lyubimov The team of the reconnaissance ship of the Ukrainian Naval Forces "Slavutich" after a long resistance leaves the ship. March 22, 2014, Sevastopol.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovA Ukrainian soldier sits on his belongings near the Belbek military base, waiting for a truck to leave the territory of Crimea.
A woman walks along the street of the city of Balaklava past the so-called "little green men" located near the entrance to military unit No. 2382 (State Border Guard Service of Ukraine).
Photo: Andrey LyubimovAn employee of the Naval Forces of Ukraine looks out of the window of the checkpoint of the Headquarters of the Naval Forces of Ukraine at the "little green men". March 03, 2014, Sevastopol.
Photo: Andrey Lyubimov Photo: Andrey LyubimovResidents of Sevastopol rejoice at the announcement of the President of the Russian Federation on the annexation of Crimea to Russia. March 18, 2014.
Photo: Andrey LyubimovThe fence of the headquarters of the naval forces of Ukraine in Sevastopol 5 months after the annexation of Crimea to Russia. August 29, 2014.
A lot of changes happened in the world in 2014. For some, they passed unnoticed, others simply began to read the news more often, for others, the world became a war.
A lot has changed for this year. “The Crimean peninsula and the city of Sevastopol became part of the Russian Federation,” this is how the outcome of the 2014 referendum will sound for many descendants. It will be in 20, 30, maybe 40 years. And now some will say: “Crimea has returned home,” others will say: “Russia has occupied Crimea.”
Before we take a closer look at the events of early 2014 and understand what the Crimeans breathe after a year of annexation of Crimea to Russia, it is worth taking a short excursion into the past and finding out how the history of the peninsula and Russia is connected.
The transition of Crimea under the rule of the Russian Empire
In July 1774, the war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire ended. As a result, a number of Black Sea cities went to the winners, and they received the right to have merchant and warships in the Black Sea. An independent state appeared on the Crimean peninsula.
Already in 1774, it became clear that the annexation of Crimea to Russia is, as they say, a matter of time. But it was resolved not by military, but by political means.
With the help of Russia, he came to power in Crimea, and the previous ruler with his supporters was forced to flee to Turkey. The accession of Crimea to Russia in 1783 was secured by the manifesto of Empress Catherine II on April 8. Since then, the history of the peninsula has been inextricably linked with Russia.
Brief history of Crimea from 1921 to 1954
Crimea, after joining Russia in 1783, began to change dramatically, infrastructure and production developed, the national composition of the population changed.
When the Bolsheviks came to power and the Civil War ended, the Crimean ASSR was created. At the beginning of the 20th century, the peninsula was inhabited by: Russians, who made up almost half of the population (49.6%), Crimean Tatars (19.4%), Ukrainians (13.7%), Jews (5.8%), Germans (4 .5%) and other nationalities (7%).
During the Great Patriotic War, fierce battles took place in the Crimea, a long occupation unrecognizably changed the appearance of the peninsula and the character of its inhabitants. In the spring of 1944, an operation began to liberate the Crimea from the invaders.
In 1944-1946, the Crimean Tatars were deported from the peninsula for supporting Nazi Germany, and the Crimean region was formed as part of Russia.
Crimea and Ukraine
In 1954, Crimea was included in the composition. This was logical and dictated by close economic and cultural ties, as well as the unity of the territories. Many communications, railway and road routes were connected with the mainland of Ukraine.
In 1989, the attitude of the government of the Union towards the Crimean Tatars changed and their return migration to the peninsula began.
In early 1991, the first referendum was held, as a result of which Crimea again received the rights of autonomy within the Ukrainian SSR. After the collapse of Crimea, it remained part of the now independent state of Ukraine. From 1994 to 2014, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea existed. At the beginning of 2014, a new annexation of Crimea to Russia took place.
How it all started
In November 2013, protests began. President of the country V. Yanukovych postponed the signing of the association agreement with the European Union. This was the reason for people to take to the streets.
The action, which began with a student rally, grew into a powerful movement. Tens of thousands of people organized a tent city in the center of Kyiv, began to occupy administrative buildings, burn tires.
Gradually, the peaceful rally turned into a tough confrontation between the demonstrators and the police. There were first casualties on both sides. At the same time, in the western regions of Ukraine, actions began against the existing government, their own heads of city and regional councils were appointed, and monuments to the Soviet regime collapsed.
Coup d'état in Ukraine
In February 2014, the action in Kyiv, which became known as Euromaidan, reached its peak. Dozens of protesters and law enforcement officers were killed by unknown snipers. The opposition and the leaders of the protest movement staged a coup, President Yanukovych and his family fled the country.
Pro-Western leaders came to power, aggressively disposed against the Russians, Russia, and the Soviet Union. Illegal armed formations began to move from Kyiv to the regions. Mass response actions against the new regime began.
Crimea: from demonstrations to a referendum
The crisis of Ukrainian power in February 2014 led Crimea to the need to determine its future fate. The adoption of new power in Ukraine meant a break in the historical, cultural, and social ties between the peninsula and Russia. The forces that carried out the coup in Kyiv were unequivocally hostile and aggressive about Russians, including those living in Crimea.
Protests began in Kerch and other cities against the new government in Kyiv, the oppression of the Russian language, the imposition of their history, the arrival of armed aggressive supporters of Euromaidan, and the destruction of Soviet-era monuments. However, it must be said that part of the Crimean population supported the leaders who came to power and, in general, the action in the center of the capital of Ukraine. Basically, agreement with the new government was expressed by the Crimean Tatars.
Defending their values, culture, way of life and security, the inhabitants of Crimea announced their desire to hold a referendum to determine the will of the majority of the citizens of the peninsula: to remain under the rule of Ukraine or join Russia.
Preparation, implementation and results of the 2014 referendum
The date for the referendum on the fate of Crimea was set for May 25. While active preparations were being made on the peninsula, the question of the illegality of such a referendum was discussed in Ukraine, the United States and European countries, and they spoke in advance about the non-recognition of its results.
Later, against the backdrop of a growing voting date, it was postponed to March 16. The people in Crimea showed great activity and turnout, exceeding 80% of the population. Crimeans were aware of the fatefulness of the referendum. It was not yet the date of the annexation of Crimea to Russia, but now it is the day of March 16 that is proposed to be made a holiday on the peninsula.
Already on March 17, the results were summed up. The population of Crimea voted for unification with Russia. And the law was approved and signed, according to which Crimea and Sevastopol were officially annexed to Russia.
Russian military in Crimea
At the end of the winter of 2014, active movements of people in military uniform were noticed on the Crimean peninsula. Politicians who illegally gained power in Kyiv immediately accused Russia of military aggression. In turn, Russia denied the presence of its military contingent on the peninsula, except for the units based in accordance with the agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Later, the military, who redeployed on the territory of the peninsula, began to be called "little green men" and "polite people."
It must be said that Ukraine refused the leadership of the Autonomous Republic to create conditions for the will of the people. And, thanks to the presence of the Russian military contingent, which had the right to be on the peninsula, the annexation of Crimea to Russia took place peacefully.
Issues of the legality of the detachment of Crimea from Ukraine
Ukraine and its allies immediately announced the illegal actions of the government of Crimea and Russia. The results of the referendum and the very fact of its holding, according to the leaders of many countries, are illegal. The EU countries and the United States did not recognize the annexation of Crimea to Russia and continue to assert that the peninsula is under occupation.
At the same time, they supported the unconstitutional coup in Kyiv, and, moreover, representatives of the United States and European countries met with Euromaidan activists and even advised its leaders.
The announcement of a referendum in Crimea was accepted by the legitimate government of the autonomous republic. The turnout at the polling stations showed the interest of the population in resolving the issue of the future life of the peninsula in the context of the growing crisis in Ukraine and the world. The absolute majority, more than 90% of those who voted, supported the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
International law implies the possibility of a people living in a certain territory to independently decide their own destiny. And the population of Crimea did it. The autonomy of a republic within Ukraine allowed the government to call for a referendum, and that is exactly what happened.
The first months after the referendum
The transitional period is difficult for the inhabitants of the peninsula. The accession of Crimea to Russia in 2014 is undoubtedly the most important historical event in the life of the whole country. But what has become and will be the life of the Crimeans in the near future?
In March-April 2014, enterprises and banks began to close on the peninsula, payments by cards and at the box office stopped. Ukrainian businessmen were withdrawing their assets.
Interruptions with water and electricity began, unemployment increased, and queues for reissuing documents did not add joy to the everyday life of Crimeans. In April-May, the first wave of refugees poured into the peninsula from the southeast of Ukraine, where an armed confrontation between the Kiev authorities and the militia of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions began.
How, after a few months, did local residents begin to perceive the annexation of Crimea to Russia? The reviews were very different. Someone succumbed to longing and panic due to the deteriorating economic situation. Others showed a willingness to follow the chosen path through any obstacles. The life of the peninsula has changed and not in all areas for the better, but the Crimeans live and enjoy the changes.
Cell phone numbers have not yet been changed, the hryvnia has not been withdrawn from circulation, new license plates have not been received for cars, but tricolor flags are already flying everywhere.
How the Crimeans met the New Year 2015
The annexation of Crimea to Russia in 2014 added trouble and worries to the life of the indigenous population. Behind these worries, someone did not notice the approach of the New Year. In cities, electricity and water are increasingly being cut off, prices are rising just like traffic jams, new jobs have not yet been created, so many will celebrate the holidays modestly: no work - no money.
It will be almost a year since the annexation of Crimea to Russia took place. Opinions are still different. But here and there you can hear the call: "Don't whine, we'll survive."
In 2015, the Crimeans are waiting for a lot of changes, but they have already learned patience. The main thing that many of them note is calmness, which allows them to look into the future without fear.
Russia after the annexation of Crimea
Many political scientists, economists, entrepreneurs believe that joining Crimea to Russia costs the country so much that it was cheaper to buy the peninsula from Ukraine. By the summer of 2014, the sanctions initiated by the United States began to be felt in the work of Russian enterprises. The financial system of the country also destabilized.
Even large enterprises are forced to reduce the number of products produced, in connection with which layoffs are expected, which means an increase in unemployment throughout the country.
The United States was supported by most of the EU countries. Sanctions are getting tougher, Russia is accused of occupying Crimea and actively helping the militias of the South-East of Ukraine. The Kyiv authorities constantly make statements about the presence of regular Russian troops on their sovereign territory.
Europe and the United States seek to isolate the Russian economy, bring down the financial markets, force it to play by its own rules. But the situation has not gotten out of control, the country has serious allies, the economy is beginning to reorient itself to new markets.
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