On 20 February 2014, unmarked Russian troops began their occupation of Crimea. Within a month, Russia had taken control of the peninsula and staged an illegal referendum under military pressure.
Today, 20 February, marks one of the most tragic days of the Revolution of Dignity, as it also signifies the start of Crimea’s occupation by the Russian Federation. This date has since been officially recognised in Ukrainian legislation as “the beginning of the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,” according to UNN.
Details
The occupation of Crimea by Russian forces, referred to as “green men” by Russian propagandists, had actually begun earlier in February.
- 4 February 2014 – Alexei Zhuravlev, leader of the Russian Rodina party, arrived in Simferopol. He signed an agreement with Serhiy Aksenov, head of the Russian Unity party, to establish an “Anti Fascist Slavic Front” aimed at preventing the influence of the Maidan movement in southern and eastern Ukraine.
- Mid February – Vladislav Surkov, an advisor to the Russian President on occupied territories, arrived in Simferopol for meetings with the Crimean leadership.
- 24 February – Russian special forces without insignia began deploying across Crimea.
- 25 February – A pro Russian demonstration was held near the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, calling for the peninsula to break away from Ukraine.
In response, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people urged all supporters of Ukraine’s territorial integrity to gather outside the Crimean parliament.
- 26 February – Around ten thousand people rallied in central Simferopol in support of Crimea remaining part of Ukraine. Due to inaction from law enforcement, clashes erupted following provocations by pro Russian groups, resulting in the deaths of two people.
- 27 February – Russian special forces seized the Crimean Parliament building.
- 28 February – The Verkhovna Rada of Crimea, acting under Russian military pressure, announced plans to hold a referendum on the peninsula’s status.
On 16 March, the occupying authorities held an illegal referendum under the watch of armed Russian forces. This referendum violated the Ukrainian Constitution and international law. It was a clear attempt by Russia to create a false sense of legitimacy for its annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol.
On 17 March 2014, the Crimean parliament, now stripped of legitimacy, passed a resolution declaring the “Independence of Crimea” and the establishment of the so called “Republic of Crimea.”
The following day, on 18 March 2014, the so called “Agreement on the Accession of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation” was signed. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin formalised this agreement alongside representatives of the occupation administration – Sergey Aksenov, Vladimir Konstantinov, and Alexei Chaly.
Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea remains a violation of international law, and Ukraine continues to fight for the liberation of its sovereign territory.
