Russia’s swift and largely bloodless seizure of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 not only strained Moscow’s ties with the West to levels unseen since the Cold War but also paved the way for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The annexation followed Ukraine’s 2013-14 uprising, which forced pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych from office. Taking advantage of the chaos, Russian forces without insignia occupied Crimea, and a referendum later organized by Moscow—deemed illegal by Ukraine and Western nations—led to its annexation. Only a few countries, including North Korea and Sudan, recognized the move. In Russia, it sparked a surge of patriotism, with “Krym nash!” (“Crimea is ours!”) becoming a rallying cry and boosting President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating from 65% in January 2014 to 86% by June. The annexation was fiercely opposed by Crimean Tatars, and dissenting voices faced prosecution.

Following the annexation, fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine between pro-Kremlin militias and Kyiv’s forces, with Moscow providing covert support. Evidence included the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 by a Russia-supplied missile. Russian hard-liners later criticized Putin for not taking full control of Ukraine during its vulnerable period. The conflict simmered until February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion.

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Strategically located on the Black Sea, Crimea has long been contested. Originally home to Tatars, it was annexed by Russia in the 18th century, later became part of the Soviet Union, and was transferred to Ukraine in 1954. Following the Soviet collapse in 1991, Crimea remained Ukrainian territory, though Russia maintained its Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol. Ukraine considers Crimea central to its national identity, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to reclaim it.

In the 2022 war, Russian forces used Crimea as a launch point to seize southern Ukraine and establish a land corridor linking Russia to the peninsula via Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Crimea, including the Black Sea Fleet and the Kerch Bridge, to weaken Russian control.

Crimea also remains central to peace negotiations. In 2024, Putin demanded Ukraine recognize Crimea as Russian territory as part of any settlement, alongside concessions over four other illegally annexed regions, NATO membership, military restrictions, and protections for Russian-speaking populations. Kyiv has rejected all territorial concessions. Any deal freezing frontlines would largely favor Moscow, which currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea.

Source: Agency