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events on 23rd February as per The Guardian with attribution and re-written as per source itself
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#REDIRECT [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]]
{{About|the sovereignty crisis in Crimea|the ongoing Russian military intervention throughout Ukraine|2014–15 Russian military intervention in Ukraine|pro-Russian protests throughout Ukraine|2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|the ongoing territorial dispute|Political status of Crimea}}
{{R from merge}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2014 Crimean crisis
| partof = the [[Ukrainian crisis]]
| image = Crimea crisis map (alternate color for Russia).PNG
| image_size = 251px
| caption = {{hlist|{{Legend2|#000000|[[Crimea]]}} |{{Legend2|#4682B4|[[Russia]]}}| {{Legend2|#32bd52|[[Ukraine]]}} }}
| date = February 23, 2014&nbsp;– March 19, 2014<ref name=CNN>{{cite web | url= http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/politics/crimea-explainer/ | title=Is Crimea gone? Annexation no longer the focus of Ukraine crisis |work=CNN | accessdate= 12 July 2014}}</ref>({{Age in years, months and days|2014|02|23|2014|03|19}})
| place = Crimean Peninsula
| coordinates =
| causes =
* Russian invasion
* Opposition by Russia to the [[2014 Ukrainian revolution]]<ref name="Seccession calls in pro-Russian south" />
| status =
| result =
* Russia seizes control of Crimea; [[Republic of Crimea]] is declared with the [[Accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation|intention of joining Russia]] after a [[Crimean referendum, 2014|disputed referendum passes with 96% in support]].
* Head of Ukrainian Navy, Admiral Berezovsky defects to the Russian side, followed later by half of Ukrainian military stationed in the region<ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/multimedia/photo/ukrainian-soldiers-on-border-with-crimea-pray-for-peace-prepare-for-war-340963.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.coloradonewsday.com/news/regional/48327-besieged-ukrainian-soldiers-defect-to-russia-as-kiev-prepares-to-pull-25-000-troops-and-their-families-out-of-crimea.html]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26410431]</ref>
* Pro-Russian militias seize the [[Supreme Council of Crimea|Supreme Council (Crimean parliament)]] and other key establishments.<ref name=Beast>{{cite web | date = 1 March 2014 | url= http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/01/so-russia-invaded-crimea.html | title=Russia Stages a Coup in Crimea |work=The Daily Beast | accessdate= 2 March 2014}}</ref><ref name = "CNN1">{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-politics/ | title =Gunmen seize government buildings in Ukraine's Crimea, raise Russian flag|publisher= CNN | first1 = Marie-Louise | last1 = Gumuchian| first2 = Laura | last2 = Smith-Spark| first3 = Ingrid | last3 = Formanek|date=27 February 2014|accessdate= 27 February 2014}}</ref><ref name = "airport_seizure">{{Citation | url = http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/avakov_nazvav_zahoplennya_aeroportiv_v_krimu_ozbroe_nim_vtorgnennyam_i_okupatsie_yu_1912872 | title = Avakov named seizure of airports in Crimea armed invasion and occupation | agency = [[Ukrinform]] | date = 28 February 2014}}</ref>
* [[Council of Ministers of Crimea]] is dissolved, a new pro-Russian [[Prime Minister of Crimea|Prime Minister]] is installed, Supreme Council votes to join the Russian Federation, and holds a [[Crimean referendum, 2014|referendum on the status of Crimea]] on March 16.<ref name="march6bbc">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26465962|title=Ukraine crisis: Crimea MPs vote to join Russia|publisher=BBC News|date=6 March 2014}}</ref>
* [[Treaty on the Adoption of the Republic of Crimea to Russia|Treaty signed]] between Crimea and Russia at the [[Kremlin]] on March 18 to formally initiate [[Accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation|Crimea's accession to the Russian Federation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/politics/11209502-95/putin-signs-treaty-to-add-crimea-to-map-of-russia|title=Putin signs treaty to add Crimea to map of Russia|publisher=The Concord Monitor|date=2014-03-19|accessdate=2014-03-20}}</ref>
* The [[Ukrainian Armed Forces]] are evicted from their bases on March 19 by Crimean protesters and Russian troops. Ukraine subsequently announces withdrawal of its forces from Crimea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26656617|title=Ukraine 'preparing withdrawal of troops from Crimea'|publisher=BBC News|date=2014-03-19|accessdate=2014-03-20}}</ref>
| side1 =
{{flag|Russia}}
* {{Flagdeco|Russia|naval}} [[Black Sea Fleet]]
* {{Flagdeco|Russia|naval}} [[Baltic Fleet]]<ref name="more_ships">[http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/russia_redeploys_ships_of_baltic_and_northern_fleets_to_sevastopol_violates_agreement_with_ukraine_317983 Russia redeploys ships of Baltic and Northern fleets to Sevastopol, violates agreement with Ukraine]. [[Ukrinform]]. March 3, 2014</ref>
* {{Flagdeco|Russia|naval}} [[Northern Fleet]]<ref name="more_ships"/>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Russian Airborne Troops.svg}} [[31st Guards Airborne Brigade]]<ref name = sodurid>{{Citation | url = http://www.postimees.ee/2718018/ukraina-krimmis-on-tsetseeniast-ja-uljanovskist-parit-vene-sodurid | title = Ukraina: Krimmis on Tšetšeeniast ja Uljanovskist pärit Vene sõdurid | trans_title = Ukraine: Russian soldiers from Chechnya and Ulyanovsk in Crimea | newspaper = [[Postimees]] | place = EE | date = 5 March 2014}}</ref>
*[[Russian Naval Infantry]]
* [[Main Intelligence Directorate (Russia)|Military Intelligence]]<ref name=sodurid/>
* [[Main Intelligence Directorate (Russia)|22nd Independent Guards Spetsnaz Brigade]]<ref name=sodurid/>
* {{flagicon image|Flag of Crimea.svg}} [[Republic of Crimea]]
** Crimean militias
** [[Crimean National Guard]]
** Crimean ''Berkut''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netkafa.com/2014/03/22/829431/ragtag-camp-grows-on-russias-new-frontier|title=Ragtag camp grows on Russia's new frontier|date=March 22, 2014|work=Netkafa.com|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref>
** {{flagicon image|Flag of the St George Ribbon.png}} Pro-Russian militants<ref name="CNN1"/>
* {{Flag|Sevastopol}}
* {{Flag|Tatarstan}}<ref name=TartarFactor>{{cite web|last1=Gabidullin|first1=Ildar|last2=Edwards|first2=Maxim|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316215634/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/03/crimea-crisis-tatarstan-factor-2014314143349496558.html|date=15 March 2014|publisher=Aljazeera Satellite Network|title=The Tartarstan Factor: Why did politicians from Kazan pay frequent visits to Crimea recently?|work=Al Jazeera|quote=On March 5, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov signed an agreement on co-operation between Tatarstan and the new Crimean authorities, the actual contents of which were to be established over the coming month. The agreement implies significant collaboration between ten government institutions as well as significant financial aid to Crimea from Tatarstan businesses.|accessdate=16 March 2014}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon image|Flag of Kuban People's Republic.svg}} [[Kuban Cossacks]]<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10672417/Ukraine-live.html | newspaper = The Daily Telegraph | title = Ukraine Live | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Ukraine Crisis: On Crimea's new border the Russian Army waits|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10674305/Ukraine-crisis-On-Crimeas-new-border-the-Russian-Army-waits.html | accessdate = 4 March 2014|newspaper= The Daily Telegraph|date=3 March 2014}}</ref>
[[Night Wolves]]<ref name= frnz>{{cite web|last=Shuster |first=Simon |url= http://world.time.com/2014/02/28/crimea-russia-putin-night-wolves |title=Ukraine: Russia Ups the Ante in Crimea | work = Time |date= 8 February 2014}}</ref><br>
{{flagicon image |Flag of the Crimean Tatar people.svg}} [[Milliy Fırqa (NGO)|Milliy Fırqa]]<ref>[http://www.milli-firka.org/content/DBAGGJCD/title/Крымские-татары/ Крымские татары на референдум придут/Crimean Tatars come to a referendum]</ref>
| side2 =
{{flag|Ukraine}}
* Turchynov Presidency
** {{flagicon image|Flag of Crimea.svg}} Presidential Representative in the [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]]<br /><small>(until 26 March<ref name="Kunytsyn26March">[http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/342/2014 Про звільнення С. Куніцина з посади Постійного Представника... | від 26.03.2014 № 342/2014] {{uk icon}}</ref>)</small>
** [[Euromaidan]] movement
* [[First Yatsenyuk Government|Yatsenyuk Government]]
** [[File:Emblem of the National Guard of Ukraine.svg|20px]] [[National Guard of Ukraine]]
* {{flagicon image|Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg}} [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]]
** {{flagicon image|Ensign of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.svg}} [[Ukrainian Ground Forces]]
** {{flagicon image|Naval Ensign of Ukraine.svg}} [[Ukrainian Navy]]<ref name=ShipsBlocked>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/ukraine-navy-officers-defect-russian-crimea-berezovsky|title=Ukraine navy officers reject plea to defect to Russian-backed Crimea | newspaper = The Guardian | date = 3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10679433/Ukrainian-warships-blocked-from-leaving-port-by-Russian-ships.html | title = Ukrainian warships blocked from leaving port by Russian ships | newspaper = The Daily Telegraph | date = 6 March 2014}}</ref>
** {{flagicon image|Ensign of the Ukrainian Air Force.svg}} [[Ukrainian Air Force]]<ref name=ShipsBlocked/>
* Political parties
** [[Batkivshchyna]]
** [[Svoboda (political party)|Svoboda]]
** [[Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform|UDAR]]
** [[Right Sector]]
{{flagicon image |Flag of the Crimean Tatar people.svg}} [[Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People]]<ref name="bbx2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26354705 |publisher=BBC News | title = Ukraine Crimea: Rival rallies confront one another |date=1 January 1970 |accessdate = 1 March 2014}}</ref>
| leadfigures1 = {{flagicon |Russia}} [[Vladimir Putin]]<br />{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Dmitry Medvedev]]<br />{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Sergey Shoygu]]<br />{{flagicon |Russia}} [[Valery Gerasimov]]<br />{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Igor Sergun]]<br />{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Aleksandr Vitko]]<br />{{flagicon |Russia}} [[Oleg Belaventsev]]<ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/putin_priznachiv_u_krim_svoyu_lyudinu_1920738 Putin has appointed his person in Crimea]. [[Ukrinform]]. March 21, 2014</ref><br />{{Flagicon|Republic of Crimea}} [[Sergey Aksyonov]]<br />{{Flagicon|Republic of Crimea}} [[Vladimir Konstantinov (politician)|Vladimir Konstantinov]]<br />{{Flagicon|Republic of Crimea}} [[Rustam Temirgaliev]]<br />{{Flagicon|Republic of Crimea}} [[Natalia Poklonskaya]]<br />{{Flagicon|Republic of Crimea}} [[Denis Berezovsky]]<br />{{Flagicon|Sevastopol}} [[Aleksei Chalyi]]<br />{{Flagicon|Tatarstan}} [[Rustam Minnikhanov]]<ref name=TartarFactor/><br />{{flagicon image |Flag of the Crimean Tatar people.svg}} [[Milli Firka|Vasvi Abduraimov]]
| leadfigures2 = {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Oleksandr Turchynov]]<br />{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Arseniy Yatsenyuk]]<br />{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Andriy Parubiy]]<br />{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Arsen Avakov (politician)|Arsen Avakov]]<br />{{nowrap|{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Valentyn Nalyvaichenko]]}}<br />{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ihor Tenyukh]]<br />{{flagicon |Ukraine}} [[Mykhailo Kutsyn]]<br />{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Serhiy Hayduk]]<br />{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Yuliy Mamchur]]<br />{{Flagicon|Autonomous Republic of Crimea}} [[Serhiy Kunitsyn]]<br />{{flagicon|Autonomous Republic of Crimea|tatar}} [[Mustafa Dzhemilev]]<br />{{flagicon|Autonomous Republic of Crimea|tatar}} [[Refat Chubarov]]
| howmany1 = '''Protesters'''
* 20,000 ([[Sevastopol]])<ref name=MTS25214>{{cite news|url= http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-citizen-elected-sevastopol-mayor-amid-pro-moscow-protests-in-crimea/495113.html |title = Russian Citizen Elected Sevastopol Mayor Amid Pro-Moscow Protests in Crimea| work = The Moscow Times | date=25 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="EN25214">{{cite news|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/25/ukraine-leader-turchynov-warns-of-danger-of-separatism/ |title=Ukraine leader Turchynov warns of 'danger of separatism' |publisher=[[Euronews]] |date=25 February 2014}}</ref>
* 10,000 ([[Simferopol]])<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/russian-flags-flood-crimean-capital-thousands-back-takeover-russia-2014030 | title = Russian flags flood Crimean capital as thousands back takeover by Russia | work = [[The Straits Times]] |date= 9 March 2014 | accessdate = 9 March 2014}}</ref>

'''Volunteer units'''<ref name="EN25214" /><ref name="WPC25214">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-no-new-government-before-thursday/2014/02/25/44355d1e-9e00-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html |title=Pro-Russian rally in Crimea decries Kiev 'bandits' |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=25 February 2014}}</ref>
* 5,000 (Sevastopol)
* 1,700 (Simferopol)

'''Russian military forces'''
* 20,000–30,000 troops<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/russia-closing-door-on-crimea-as-troops-build-up-20140313-hvi0c.html|title=Russia closing door on Crimea as troops build up|last=Pollard|first=Ruth|date=March 13, 2014|work=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=12 March 2014}}</ref>

'''Ukrainian Armed Forces defectors'''
* 12,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325194933/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-troops-leave-crimea-by-busload-defense-minister-resigns-after-russia-seizes-peninsula/|work=CBS News|title=Ukraine troops leave Crimea by busload: Defense minister resigns after Russia seizes peninsula|publisher=CBS Interactive, Inc.|date=25 March 2014|accessdate=25 March 2014}}</ref>

| howmany2 = '''Protesters'''
* 4,000–10,000 (Simferopol)<ref name="pRoCRU">{{cite news |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192882.html |title=Crimean Tatars, pro-Russia supporters approach Crimean parliament building | place = UA |agency= Interfax |date=20 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=guardian226>{{cite news|title=Russia puts military on high alert as Crimea protests leave one man dead|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/ukraine-new-leader-disbands-riot-police-crimea-separatism|publisher=The Guardian|date=26 February 2014|accessdate=27 February 2014}}</ref>

'''Ukrainian military forces'''
* 5,000–22,000 troops<ref>{{cite web|author=Ewen MacAskill, defence correspondent |url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/28/ukraine-military-russia-crimea |title=Ukraine military still a formidable force despite being dwarfed by neighbour |work= The Guardian | date= 28 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=285549287 |title=Putin Talks Tough But Cools Tensions Over Ukraine |work= [[National Public Radio]] | date= 4 March 2014 | accessdate= 19 March 2014}}</ref>
* 40,000 reservists, partly mobilized (outside Crimea)<ref>{{cite news|last=Faiola|first=Anthony|title=Ukraine mobilizes reservists but relies on diplomacy|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-activates-reserves-pledges-military-build-up-after-crimea-vote/2014/03/17/aa707502-adc1-11e3-96dc-d6ea14c099f9_story.html|accessdate=24 March 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=17 March 2014}}</ref>
| casualties1 = 1 Crimean SDF trooper killed<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-prorussian-troops-storm-naval-base-as-clinton-warns-of-aggression-from-putin-9201317.html Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian troops storm naval base as Clinton warns of 'aggression' from Putin] [[The Independent]], 19 March 2014</ref>
| casualties2 = 2 soldiers killed,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/07/us-ukraine-crisis-military-idUSBREA360GB20140407|title=Russian marine kills Ukraine navy officer in Crimea, says ministry|work=Reuters|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref><br>
60–80 detained<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine military to pull out from Crimea|url=http://www.thesudburystar.com/2014/03/24/russian-troops-seize-ukraine-marine-base-in-crimea|accessdate=24 March 2014|newspaper=The Sudbury Star|date=24 March 2014|author=Aleksander Vasovic|author2=Gabriela Baczynska|agency=Reuters}}</ref>
| casualties3 = 3 protesters killed (2 pro-Russian and 1 pro-Ukrainian)<ref name = RallyDeaths>{{cite news| url = http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/two-die-in-rallies-outside-crimean-parliament-says-ex-head-of-mejlis-337708.html |title= Two die in rallies outside Crimean parliament, says ex-head of Mejlis|work= [[Kyiv Post]]| accessdate= 27 February 2014 | date = 26 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Unrest in Crimea leaves 2 dead; government buildings seized|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/27/Unrest-in-Crimea-leaves-2-dead-government-buildings-seized/6371393516263/|author=JC Finley|publisher=[[United Press International]]|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=9 March 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://society.lb.ua/life/2014/03/17/259752_pogibshiy_krimskiy_tatarin_shel.html Perished Crimean Tatar on the way to military enlistment office was captured "vigilantes"]. LB. March 17, 2014</ref><ref name="censor">{{cite web|url=http://censor.net.ua/news/276351/zverski_ubitogo_krymskogo_tatarina_zvali_reshat_ametov_troe_maloletnih_deteyi_osiroteli_foto|title=Зверски убитого крымского татарина звали Решат Аметов. Трое малолетних детей осиротели. ФОТО – Крым, Россия, татары, Украина, Агрессия России против Украины (18.03.14 01:57) « Политика Украины « Новости &#124; Цензор.НЕТ|publisher=censor.net.ua|accessdate=2014-04-03}}</ref>

| fatalities =
| injuries =
| arrests =
| detentions =
| charged =
| fined =
| casualties_label =
| notes =
}}
{{Campaignbox 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine}}
{{Campaignbox Post-Soviet conflicts}}

The '''Crimean crisis''' was an [[international crisis]] in 2014 that instigated the [[Political status of Crimea|ongoing dispute]] involving [[Russia]] and [[Ukraine]] over the control of the [[Crimean Peninsula]], culminating in its [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation]] by the Russian Federation and incorporation as two separate federal subjects. The crisis was part of the wider [[2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine]] which also includes the [[Donbass]] region of Ukraine. The [[Political status of Crimea|current international status of Crimea]] and [[Sevastopol]] as federal subjects of the Russian Federation is only explicitly recognized by five UN member states, other than Russia. All other countries recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine.

The crisis unfolded in the aftermath of the [[2014 Ukrainian revolution|Ukrainian Revolution]]. On 21 February 2014, pro-Russian [[President of Ukraine|President]] [[Viktor Yanukovych]] fled the Ukrainian capital [[Kiev]]. The [[Verkhovna Rada|Ukrainian parliament]] officially removed him from power the next day, and appointed an interim President, [[Oleksandr Turchynov]], who formed an [[First Yatsenyuk Government|interim government]]. The new Ukrainian government was recognized by the United States and European Union but was rejected by Russia, who condemned the Turchynov government as illegitimate and the result of a [[coup d'etat]]. Russian President, [[Vladimir Putin]], convened an all-night meeting with security services chiefs to discuss how to extricate deposed President, Viktor Yanukovych, and where, at the end of that meeting, Putin had made the remark, "We must start working on returning Crimea to Russia."<ref>Yahoo News, retrieved 8 March 2015, article entitled: ''Putin Describes Secret Operation to Seize Crimea.'' [http://news.yahoo.com/putin-describes-secret-operation-seize-crimea-212858356.html]</ref> On 23 February [[2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|pro-Russian]] protests were held in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. Beginning on February 26, pro-Russian forces began to swiftly occupy strategic positions and infrastructure across the Crimean peninsula. Media sources reported the presence of military personnel equipped with Russian weapons and in Russian-made uniform without insignia.<ref>"[http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/03/the-putin-way-of-lying.html Putin's crisis spreads]"</ref><ref name="Al Jazeera English">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/03/warning-shots-end-osce-crimea-entry-bid-20143815135639790.html |title=Warning shots end OSCE Crimea entry bid – Europe |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=March 11, 2014}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26414600|title=Ukraine crisis: Russia vows troops will stay|date=March 3, 2014|accessdate=March 3, 2014|publisher=BBC}}</ref> With unmarked, pro-Russian forces rapidly occupying strategic sites across the Crimean peninsula a rump session of the Crimean Parliament voted to dismiss the [[Council of Ministers of Crimea|Crimean government]], replace its [[Prime Minister of Crimea|Prime Minister]], and call a referendum on Crimea's autonomy.<ref name=interfax27feb>http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193292.html Number of Crimean deputies present at referendum resolution vote could not be independently confirmed but the parliament's website indicated that 53 lawmakers had voted to replace the prime minister, and 61 had voted to hold the referendum. [[Interfax-Ukraine]], February 27, 2014.</ref><ref name=reuters13mar>[http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/13/ukraine-crisis-russia-aksyonov-idINL6N0M93AH20140313 RPT-INSIGHT: How the separatists delivered Crimea to Moscow]. [[Reuters]], March 13, 2014.</ref><ref>Crimea's parliament votes to join Russia – http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/crimeas-parliament-votes-to-join-russia/2014/03/17/5c3b96ca-adba-11e3-9627-c65021d6d572_story.html</ref>

The ensuing 16 March 2014 [[Crimean status referendum, 2014|referendum on whether to join Russia]]<ref name="wp_putin_changes">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-changes-course-admits-russian-troops-were-in-crimea-before-vote/2014/04/17/b3300a54-c617-11e3-bf7a-be01a9b69cf1_story.html |title=Putin's remarks raise fears of future moves against Ukraine |work=Washington Post|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref> had an official turnout of 83% and officially resulted in a 96.77% (Crimea) and 95.6% (Sevastopol) affirmative vote,<ref name="voanews1">{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/voting-under-way-in-crimea-referendum-to-join-russia/1872380.html |title=Crimea Applies to Join Russia |publisher=Voanews.com |date= |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> but the referendum was condemned by the EU, the US, Ukraine and the representatives of the [[Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People|Crimean Tatars]] for violating Ukraine's constitution and international law.<ref name="voanews1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Richard Galpin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26595776 |title=BBC News – Ukraine crisis: Russia isolated in UN Crimea vote |publisher=Bbc.com |date=March 15, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/voter_turnout_at_pseudo_referendum_in_crimea_was_maximum_30_40_percent___mejlis_318657 Voter turnout at pseudo-referendum in Crimea was maximum 30–40 percent – Mejlis]. [[Ukrinform]]</ref> The following day, on March 17, the Crimean Parliament declared independence from Ukraine and asked to join the Russian Federation.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gavin Hewitt |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26609667 |title=BBC News – Crimean parliament formally applies to join Russia |publisher=Bbc.com |date=March 17, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> On March 18, Russia and the separatist government of Crimea signed a [[Treaty on the Adoption of the Republic of Crimea to Russia|treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol into the Russian Federation]].<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://news.yahoo.com/excerpts-putins-speech-crimea-170614514.html |title=Excerpts from Putin's speech on Crimea – Yahoo News |publisher=News.yahoo.com |date=March 18, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058 |title=BBC News – Crimea crisis: Russian President Putin's speech annotated |publisher=Bbc.com |date=March 19, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> On March 27, the [[United Nations General Assembly|UN General Assembly]] passed a non-binding [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262|Resolution 68/262]] that declared the Crimean referendum invalid and the incorporation of Crimea into Russia illegal.<ref>{{cite news|last=Charbboneau|first=Louis|title=U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327|accessdate=March 30, 2014|newspaper=Reuters|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/725802 |title=ITAR-TASS: Russia – Lavrov: West 'twisted arms' of 50 countries to get support for Ukraine resolution in UN |publisher=En.itar-tass.com |date= |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> On April 15, the Ukrainian parliament declared Crimea a territory temporarily occupied by Russia.<ref name="apr15" />

On 17 April 2014 Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] confirmed Russian involvement in Crimea, remarking that "of course, Russian servicemen backed the Crimean self-defense forces".<ref name="wp_putin_changes" /> Later in a 2015 state-produced documentary, Putin admitted that following facilitating the flight of Viktor Yanukovych from the country via Crimea, in the early hours of February 23 he began organizing discussions "to start work to bring Crimea back into Russia."<ref>http://www.unian.info/politics/1053203-putin-admits-kremlins-orchestration-of-annexation-of-crimea.html</ref><ref>http://news.yahoo.com/putin-describes-secret-operation-seize-crimea-212858356.html</ref> In an interview on 22 January 2015 [[Igor Girkin]], one of the major "Russian self-defence" commanders in Crimea at that time, stated that the majority of the law enforcement, administration and army were hesitant to support the pro-Russian "self-defence" (one notable exception being [[Berkut (special police force)|Berkut]]). He also confirmed how his Russian forces had to "forcibly drive the deputies to vote [to secede from Ukraine]", and that only the presence of the regular Russian army in Crimea "made the whole thing work".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G04tXnvKx8Y | title=И. Стрелков vs Н. Стариков "ЦЕНТРСИЛЫ / СИЛАЦЕНТРА" | publisher=Neuromir TV | date=2015-01-22 | accessdate=2015-01-25 |trans_title=I. Strelkov vs N. Starikov debate}}</ref>

==Background==
{{2013–2014 unrest in Ukraine}}
{{main|Historical background of the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine#Crimea}}
{{see also|History of Crimea|Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances|2010 Kharkiv Pact}}
[[File:Артимарка Микита Хрущов 2009.jpg|thumb|left|Soviet leader [[Nikita Khrushchev]] transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine]]
[[File:Smetlivyy2007Sevastopol.jpg|thumb|280px|Russian [[Black Sea Fleet]] in Sevastopol, Crimea, August 2007]]
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Crimea republic map 2.png
| caption1 = Map of the Crimean peninsula. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea is colored yellow while Sevastopol is colored red.
| image2 = Distribution of ethnic groups in Crimea 2001.png
| caption2 = Distribution of ethnicities in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea according to [[Ukrainian Census (2001)|the local 2001 census]]. Ethnic Russians comprise a majority at 58%.<ref name="online.wsj.com">http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304185104579439232215134884 Fear and Loathing Builds in Crimea Ahead of Vote</ref>}}

Crimea is populated by an [[Russians|ethnic Russian]] majority and a minority of both ethnic [[Ukrainians]] and [[Crimean Tatars]], and thus [[Demographics of Ukraine|demographically]] possessed one of the Ukraine's largest Russian populations. Prior to the crisis, Crimea comprised Ukraine's [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]] and the administratively separate municipality of [[Sevastopol]].

In 1954, under the oversight of Soviet Premier [[Nikita Krushchev]], the Crimea was [[1954 transfer of Crimea|transferred]] from the [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]] to the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]]. In February 1991, the [[Crimean sovereignty referendum, 1991]] resulted in an overwhelming vote to re-establish the [[Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]]. Following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], several countries including the [[Russian Federation]], the [[United States of America]] and the [[United Kingdom]] signed the 1994 [[Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] that provided security assurances for the territorial integrity of the entire Ukraine, including Crimea. In 1997 the Russian and Ukrainian governments [[Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet|reached an agreement]] for the continued basing of the Russian [[Black Sea Fleet]] at Sevastopol.

Under Ukrainian governance the Crimea was allowed a degree of autonomy, although Crimean [[Political status of Crimea|expressions of interest and intent]] to redefine the political status of Crimea were rejected by the Ukrainian Government. The Ukrainian Government decided not to implement the results of the [[Crimean referendum, 1994]] which provided greater autonomy for Crimea as a part of the Ukraine.

In 2008 the pro-Western Ukrainian government [[Ukraine–NATO relations|attempted to join NATO]] but was blocked by some NATO member states. According to the [[Tallinn]]-based think tank "International Centre for Defense Studies", since the [[Orange Revolution]] in 2004, Russia pressured Ukraine against closely associating itself with the West.<ref name="icds" /> It has been stated that the information campaign in Crimea has become especially proficient and systematic, becoming particularly intense during the 2006–08 [[Ukraine–NATO relations|Ukraine bid for NATO membership]]. Each of Ukraine's attempts to achieve [[Ukraine–European Union relations|European integration]] has led to increased Russian hostility to the idea via its use of information campaign.<ref name="icds">{{cite web |url=http://www.icds.ee/fileadmin/failid/Merle%20Maigre%20-%20Crimea%20the%20Achilles%20Heel%20of%20Ukraine.pdf |title=Crimea – The Achilles' Heel of Ukraine |publisher=International Centre for Defense Studies |date=November 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="psi.ulaval.ca">{{cite web|url=http://www.psi.ulaval.ca/fileadmin/psi/documents/Documents/Travaux_et_recherches/Crimee.pdf|title=Russian 'separatism' in Crimea and NATO: Ukraine's big hope, Russia's grand gamble|work=psi.ulaval.ca|format=PDF|first=Elena|last=Mizrokhi|date=August 2009}}</ref> Russia opposes Ukrainian integration with the West for various reasons, including a fear of [[NATO]] expanding to Russia's Western borders<ref name=Koren>{{cite news|last=Koren|first=Marina|title=What Putin Fears Will Happen in Ukraine|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/what-putin-fears-will-happen-in-ukraine-20140305|accessdate=March 6, 2014|newspaper=National Journal|date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> and Russia's claimed desire to include Ukraine in a [[Eurasian Union]].<ref name=Englund>{{cite news|last=Englund|first=Will|title=Despite its problems, Ukraine is a prize for Russia, Europe|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/despite-its-problems-ukraine-is-a-prize-for-russia-europe/2014/03/02/f009459e-a263-11e3-84d4-e59b1709222c_story.html|accessdate=March 3, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 2, 2014}}</ref>

According to [[Taras Kuzio]], during the [[Viktor Yushchenko]] presidency (2005–2010), [[Russia–Ukraine relations|Russia's relations with Ukraine]] deteriorated, prompting the Russian security service ([[Federal Security Service|FSB]]) and Russian military intelligence ([[Main Intelligence Directorate (Russia)|GRU]]) to expand their covert support for pro-Russian forces in Southern Ukraine and Russian separatists in Crimea.<ref name="opendemocracy.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/taras-kuzio/crimea-%E2%80%93-from-playground-to-battleground|title=Crimea – from playground to battleground|work=opendemocracy.net|date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> Following the [[Orange Revolution]] and the 2008 [[Russo-Georgian War]], American [[diplomatic cable]]s [[United States diplomatic cables leak|leaked]] to the public noted that Russian military action against Ukraine was "no longer unthinkable."<ref name="Unthinkable">{{cite news|last=Keating|first=Joshua|title=Crimean Foreshadowing|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2014/03/01/the_wikileaks_cables_that_anticipated_the_russian_invasion_of_crimea.html|accessdate=March 1, 2014|newspaper=Slate|date=March 1, 2014}}</ref> In 2008, some analysts also suggested that Russia's attack on Georgia was a warning for Ukraine and Moldova, and NATO's refusal to stop further Eastern expansions might force Moscow to promote secession in the two areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dw.de/analysis-after-georgia-will-there-be-other-separatist-hotspots/a-3567781 |title=Analysis: After Georgia, Will There Be Other Separatist Hotspots? |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=17 August 2008}}</ref>

In a September 2014 article for ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'', [[John Mearsheimer]] argued that the Russian annexation of Crimea was motivated by Russian fears of NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe. According to Mearsheimer, Russia had concerns that it would lose access to its Black Sea Fleet naval base at Sevastopol if Ukraine continued to move towards NATO and European integration. Mearsheimer concluded that policy should shift towards recognising Ukraine as a [[buffer state]] between NATO and Russia, rather than attempting to absorb Ukraine into NATO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/141769/john-j-mearsheimer/why-the-ukraine-crisis-is-the-wests-fault|title=John J. Mearsheimer – How the West Caused the Ukraine Crisis – Foreign Affairs|publisher=}}</ref>

===Revolution in Kiev===
{{main |Euromaidan|2014 Ukrainian revolution}}

At the end of 2013, [[Euromaidan]] protests<ref name=atlantic800k>{{cite news|last=Whitmore|first=Brian|title=Putin's Growing Threat Next Door|url=http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/12/putins-growing-threat-next-door/282103/|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=December 6, 2013}}</ref> began after President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] postponed the signing of [[Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement]] under severe economic pressure from Russia, even though previously he had considered this agreement one of his key objectives and stated it on multiple occasions.<ref name="economist.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21590977-viktor-yanukovych-hijacking-ukrainians-european-future-stealing-their-dream|title=Ukraine and the EU: Stealing their dream|work=economist.com}}</ref><ref name="kyivpost.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/yanukovych-sees-association-agreement-with-eu-as-p-125325.html|title=https://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/yanukovych-sees-association-agreement-with-eu-as-p-125325.html|work=kyivpost.com}}</ref> Instead, Yanukovych struck a deal with Putin.<ref name="businessweek.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-17/ukraine-cuts-a-deal-it-could-soon-regret|title=Ukraine Cuts a Deal It Could Soon Regret|work=businessweek.com}}</ref> Opposition leaders were suspicious of the true cost to Ukraine for Russian support.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/17/viktor-yanukovych-vladimir-putin_n_4458806.html|title=Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych Meets With Putin in Moscow Amid Mass Protests|work=huffingtonpost.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/ukrainian-opposition-wants-to-know-what-agreements-yanukovych-reached-with-putin-in-sochi-333210.html|title=Ukrainian opposition wants to know what agreements Yanukovych reached with Putin in Sochi|work=kyivpost.com}}</ref> The majority of protesters held liberal [[Pro-Europeanism|pro-European values]] ([[Batkivshchyna]], [[Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform]], and other forces). Much less popular, but still influential [[Ukrainian nationalism|nationalist]] parties and movements were also represented and, to a certain extent, supported the idea of [[European integration]], too.

After the [[30 November 2013 attack on protesters|attack on protesters on November 30]] and the adoption of [[Anti-protest laws in Ukraine|Anti-protest laws]] the protests escalated and eventually led to deaths of both protesters and police on January 22.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-25843988|title=Two protesters killed in Kiev clashes|work=bbc.com}}</ref> Between February 18 and 20, 103 people were killed and 1419 injured.<ref name="en.ria.ru">{{cite web|url=http://en.ria.ru/world/20140321/188603177/Death-Toll-From-Unrest-in-Ukraine-Rises-to-103.html|title=Death Toll From Unrest in Ukraine Rises to 103|work=en.ria.ru}}</ref> According to most reports in Ukraine, violence was used mostly by the police.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/ukraine-protesters-force-riot-police-independence-square-kiev-battle-control|title=Ukraine violence: dozens killed as protesters clash with armed police|work=theguardian.com}}</ref> Numerous snipers killed dozens of protesters. The snipers' identities are still disputed. According to the official investigation,<ref>"[http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/yanukovych_headed_organization_of_killing_maidan_activists___sbu_319642 Yanukovych headed organization of killing Maidan activists – SBU]"</ref><ref>"[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26868119 Special police shot Kiev protesters, inquiry says]"</ref><ref>"[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/03/ukraine-fingers-russian-advisors-and-ex-president-yanukovych-in-february-massacre.html New Evidence: Russian Spies Backed Kiev's Killers]"</ref> the pro-European opposition and the majority of Ukrainian and Western media, they were hired by Yanukovych and his circle and/or the Russian secret services,<ref name="tymoshenko.ua">{{cite web|url=http://www.tymoshenko.ua/uk/press/yulia_tymoshenko_19_03_2014_1|title=Yulia Tymoshenko: Putin's aggression against Ukraine isn't a local conflict – it threatens the democratic world|work=tymoshenko.ua}}</ref> which had also planned a large military operation to 'cleanse' protesters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/russia-ukraine-feud-over-sniper-carnage-203319580.html|title=Russia, Ukraine feud over sniper carnage|work=news.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref name="businessinsider.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/thibauld-malterre-dmytro-gorshkov-yanukovych-had-plans-to-crush-protests-2014-2|title=Documents Show Ukraine's Ousted President Planned To 'Cleanse' Protesters|work=businessinsider.com}}</ref><ref name="theguardian.com">"[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/viktor-yanukovych-troops-to-crush-protests]"</ref> On February 20, acting Interior Minister [[Vitaliy Zakharchenko]] announced in a video address to the nation that combat weapons had been provided to the police and announced the beginning of an operation to disperse the protesters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukrainian-police-have-been-provided-with-combat-weapons-interior-minister-337238.html|title=Ukrainian police have been provided with combat weapons – interior minister|work=Kyiv Post |accessdate=February 21, 2014|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukrainian-police-have-been-provided-with-combat-weapons-interior-minister-337238.html|archivedate=February 21, 2014}}</ref> [[Radio Liberty]] published video footage of police special forces shooting protesters with [[Kalashnikov rifle|Kalashnikov]] and sniper rifles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25270798.html|script-title=uk:ВІДЕОФАКТ: силовики, втікаючи, стріляли з автоматів Калашникова|year=2014|publisher=Radio Svoboda|language=uk|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/25270798.html|archivedate=February 21, 2014}}</ref> Several pro-Yanukovych politicians openly called for 'cleansing' protesters.<ref>"[http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/02/18/7014525/ http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/02/18/7014525/]</ref> Despite these facts, Yanukovych denied his regime's involvement in the massacre.<ref>"[http://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-yanukovych-hopes-crimeas-return-125042682.html]"</ref> Some allegations that the snipers were hired by the revolutionaries appeared.<ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news|author=Kashmira Gander |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ukraine-kiev-snipers-reportedly-hired-by-opposition-leaders-not-yanukovich-according-to-bugged-call-9171328.html |title=Ukraine: Kiev snipers reportedly hired by opposition leaders not Yanukovich according to 'bugged call' – World – News |publisher=The Independent |date=March 5, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> On February 21, President Yanukovych and the opposition leaders signed a compromise deal that was brokered by the foreign ministers of France, Poland and Germany,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.debka.com/article/23700/Yanukovych-refuses-to-resign---and-goes-missing-in-E-Ukraine-Tymoshenko-seizes-opposition-center-stage-in-Kiev|title=Yanukovych refuses to resign – and goes missing in E. Ukraine. Tymoshenko seizes opposition center stage in Kiev<!-- Bot generated title -->|work=debka.com}}</ref><ref name="auswaertiges-amt.de">{{cite web|url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/cae/servlet/contentblob/671350/publicationFile/190051/140221-UKR_Erklaerung.pdf|title=Agreement on the Settlement of Crisis in Ukraine|work=auswaertiges-amt.de|format=PDF}}</ref> but it soon became redundant as Yanukovych left the capital, [[Verkhovna Rada|the Verkhovna Rada]] voted to withdraw the police and the military from Kiev,<ref name="ukrinform.ua">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/317603|title=Rada votes to withdraw troops from Kyiv|work=ukrinform.ua}}</ref> and the protesters took control of the city without resistance.<ref name="BBCTimeline">{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 |title=Ukraine protests timeline |publisher=BBC News |date=February 23, 2014}}</ref> According to the deal, [[Verkhovna Rada|the Verkhovna Rada]] was obliged to adopt a bill about the constitutional reform and Yanukovych was obliged to sign it within 48 hours.<ref name="auswaertiges-amt.de"/> The bill was adopted, but Yanukovych didn't sign it.<ref name="msz.gov.pl">{{cite web|url=http://www.msz.gov.pl/en/news/they_wrote_about_us/sikorski__yanukovych_has_only_himself_to_blame___he_broke_the_agreement__pap_28_february_2014;jsessionid=8E6D054E3614258045EDD6BDCEFDA19F.cmsap2p|title=Sikorski: Yanukovych has only himself to blame – he broke the agreement, PAP |date=February 28, 2014|work=msz.gov.pl}}</ref>

On February 22, Yanukovych fled Kiev.<ref name="WP Yanukovych missing">{{cite news|last=Booth|first=William|title=Ukraine's Yanukovych missing as protesters take control of presidential residence in Kiev|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraines-president-open-to-early-vote-polish-leader-says-scores-reported-killed-in-clashes/2014/02/21/05d3de46-9a82-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html|accessdate=March 23, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> Evidence shows that Yanukovych had started to prepare his leave on February 19, removing goods and valuables. The guards of Yanukovych's residence opened it to the protesters, who found vast evidence of Yanukovych's unprecedented corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/03/12/what-did-yanukovych-take-with-him-as-he-fled-his-mansion-paintings-guns-and-a-small-dog-according-to-new-video/|title=What did Yanukovych take with him as he fled his mansion? Paintings, guns and a small dog, according to new video|work=washingtonpost.com}}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/world/europe/ukraine.html|title=Archrival Is Freed as Ukraine Leader Flees|work=nytimes.com}}</ref> The Rada impeached Yanukovych,<ref name="forbes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2014/02/22/what-are-the-chances-for-peace-and-stability-in-ukraine/|title="Update: The Ukrainian Parliament declared that President Yanukovych has failed to perform his duties hence he is relieved from the post of president" Forbes What Does The Future Hold For Ukraine|work=forbes.com}}</ref> but not according to the constitutional procedure. The action did not follow the impeachment process as specified by [[Constitution of Ukraine|the Constitution of Ukraine]] (which would have involved formally charging the president with a crime, a review of the charge by [[Constitutional Court of Ukraine|the Constitutional Court of Ukraine]], and a three-fourths majority vote – i.e. at least 338 votes in favor – by the Rada); instead, [[Verkhovna Rada|the Verkhovna Rada]] declared that Yanukovych "withdrew from his duties in an unconstitutional manner" and cited "circumstances of extreme urgency" as the reason for early elections.<ref name="ReferenceA">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-feffer/who-are-these-people-anyw_b_4964526.html Who Are These 'People,' Anyway?</ref><ref name=RadioFreeEurope>{{cite web|last=Sindelar |first=Daisy |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/was-yanukovychs-ouster-constitutional/25274346.html |title=Was Yanukovych's Ouster Constitutional? |publisher=Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (Rferl.org) |date=February 23, 2014 |accessdate=February 25, 2014}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite web|last=Sindelar |first=Daisy |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/was-yanukovychs-ouster-constitutional/25274346.html |title=Was Yanukovych's Ouster Constitutional? |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] (Rferl.org) |date=February 23, 2014 |accessdate=February 25, 2014 |quote=[I]t is not clear that the hasty February 22 vote upholds constitutional guidelines, which call for a review of the case by Ukraine's Constitutional Court and a three-fourths majority vote by the Verkhovna Rada – i.e., 338 lawmakers.}}</ref> The vote was supported by all present<ref name="Feb 2014">Parliament votes 328–0 to impeach Yanukovych on Feb. 22; sets May 25 for new election; Tymoshenko free (VIDEO) Feb 23, 2014, 2:39 a.m. https://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-feb-21-live-updates-337287.html</ref> in the Ukrainian parliament, 328:0 (of the 447 deputies). The Rada set May 25 for [[Ukrainian presidential election, 2014|a new presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/22/ukraine-crisis-uncertainty-after-yanukovych-signs-deal-live-updates|title=Ukraine: Tymoshenko freed as president denounces 'coup' – 22 February as it happened|work=theguardian.com}}</ref><ref name="rferl.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/was-yanukovychs-ouster-constitutional/25274346.html|title=http://www.rferl.org/content/was-yanukovychs-ouster-constitutional/25274346.html|work=rferl.org}}</ref> According to the opposition leaders, they had no other choice, because, as they see it, Yanukovych was involved in mass murder and large-scale corruption,<ref name="theguardian.com"/> had usurped power, including the judicial system, and disregarded and violated the Constitution and other laws many times.<ref name="concorde.ua">{{cite web|url=http://concorde.ua/en/research/daily/ukraine-government-files-charges-against-yanukovych-for-usurping-power-12080/|title=Ukraine government files charges against Yanukovych for usurping power |work=concorde.ua}}</ref> Members of the opposition appointed [[Oleksandr Turchinov]] as the new speaker of [[Verkhovna Rada|the Verkhovna Rada]] and also as the interim President. A new Council of Ministers, known as the [[First Yatsenyuk Government|Yatsenyuk Government]], was elected by [[Verkhovna Rada|the Verkhovna Rada]] on February 27.<ref name="thehindu.com">"[http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/opposition-leader-yatsenyuk-elected-as-ukraine-pm/article5732959.ece]"</ref> Russia refused to recognize the new authorities in Kiev, saying that they had come to power through armed insurrection by extreme-right political forces and unconstitutional methods. The United States and European Union immediately recognized the government in Kiev.<ref name="themoscowtimes.com">[http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/new-ukraine-government-has-white-houses-support-us-vice-president-says/495403.html New Ukraine Government Has White House's Support, U.S. Vice President Says], [[The Moscow Times]] (February 28, 2014)</ref><ref name="Stabilising Ukraine's economy">{{cite web|url=http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2014/03/2014-02-28-lage-ukraine_en.html?nn=393830|title=Stabilising Ukraine's economy|work=bundesregierung.de, Official website of the [[Cabinet of Germany]]|date=February 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="leta.lv">{{cite web|url=http://www.leta.lv/eng/home/important/96F935E6-B3C2-4B3D-ADB2-E9B0E1750842/|title=PM Straujuma offers her congratulations to new government in Ukraine|work=leta.lv|publisher=[[LETA]]|date=February 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="lithuaniatribune.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/64288/pm-butkevicius-congratulates-ukraines-new-prime-minister-201464288/|title=PM Butkevičius congratulates Ukraine's new Prime Minister|work=lithuaniatribune.com|publisher=[[Lithuania Tribune]]|date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

Some residents of the Eastern and Southern parts of the country, which are primarily Russian-speaking and previously constituted President Yanukovych's support base, felt disenfranchised by these developments and protested against the government in [[Kiev]].<ref name="bbx2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26354705 |publisher=BBC News | title = Ukraine Crimea: Rival rallies confront one another |date=1 January 1970 |accessdate = 1 March 2014}}</ref> The [[Parliament of Crimea]] called for an extraordinary session on February 21. The leader of the [[Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People]] [[Refat Chubarov]] stated that he suspected that the session might ask for Russian military intervention.<ref name="Big Mir">{{cite web|url=http://news.bigmir.net/ukraine/788004-V-Ukraine-zahvatyvajut-oblastnye-gosadministracii--OBNOVLJaETSJa- |script-title=uk:В Украине захватывают областные госадминистрации |trans_title=In Ukraine, the regional state administration grab |publisher=Big Mir|accessdate=February 21, 2014|archiveurl=
http://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://news.bigmir.net/ukraine/788004-V-Ukraine-zahvatyvajut-oblastnye-gosadministracii--OBNOVLJaETSJa- |archivedate=February 21, 2014|language=Ukrainian}}</ref>

On February 21, the [[Security Service of Ukraine]] (SBU) issued a statement which promised that "it will use severe measures to prevent any action taken against diminishing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."{{efn|It also noted that "certain politicians, local government officials, leaders of civil society organizations, and radically inclined individuals have attempted to create grounds for escalating the civil conflict, and have spread autonomous and separatist attitudes among the people, which could lead to the demise of our as a united nation and loss of its national sovereignty." In addition, the statement said that certain lawmakers of every level have begun separatist negotiations with representatives of foreign nations. "Open consultations are being held on the possible division of the country into separate parts in violation of the Ukrainian constitution," read the statement. "This could lead to an escalation of conflict between different sectors of society, inciting ethnic or religious hatred and military conflict."<ref name=kp21live>{{cite news|title=EuroMaidan rallies in Ukraine |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-feb-21-live-updates-337287.html |newspaper=Kyiv Post|date=February 21, 2014|archiveurl=
http://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/kyiv/euromaidan-rallies-in-ukraine-feb-21-live-updates-337287.html |archivedate=February 21, 2014}}</ref>}} The same day the pro-Russian [[Party of Regions]] who held 80 of the 100 seats in the Crimean Parliament,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/52929/|title=Regions Party gets 80 of 100 seats on Crimean parliament|agency=[[Interfax-Ukraine]]|date=November 11, 2010|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/52929/ |archivedate=June 6, 2012}}</ref> did not discuss issues relating to the separation of Crimea from Ukraine and appeared to support the deal struck between President Yanukovich and the opposition to end the crises signed the same day.<ref name="en.interfax.com.ua">{{cite news |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/191667.html|title=Regions of Crimea meeting didn't address separation of Crimea from Ukraine – deputy prime minister of Crimea|agency=Interfax-Ukraine|date=February 21, 2014|archiveurl=
http://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/191667.html |archivedate=February 21, 2014}}</ref>

On February 23, 2014, the second day after the flight of [[Viktor Yanukovich]], while in session of the [[Ukrainian parliament]] a deputy from "[[Batkivshchina]]" party, [[Vyacheslav Kyrylenko]] moved to include in the agenda a draft that would repeal the 2012 Law "On the principles of the state language policy". The motion was carried with 232 deputies voting in favor, the draft was included into the agenda, immediately put to a vote with no debate and approved with the same 232 voting in favor, making Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels.<ref name=lenta223>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/23/language/ |title=На Украине отменили закон о региональном статусе русского языка |publisher=Lenta.ru |date= |accessdate=February 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name=BBCRLLout>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26312008 Ukraine: Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov named interim president], [[BBC News]] (February 23, 2014)</ref>
Repeal of the 2012 Law "On the principles of the state language policy" was met with great disdain in [[Crimea]], populated by a Russian-speaking majority<ref name="Traynor">{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-western-nations-eu-russia |title=Western nations scramble to contain fallout from Ukraine crisis |date=February 24, 2014 |work=The Guardian |first=Ian |last=Traynor}}</ref> and [[Southern Ukraine|Southern]] and [[Eastern Ukraine]] provoking waves of anti-government protests,<ref>[http://www.newsru.com/world/26feb2014/ukr_russian.html Новости NEWSru.com :: На Украине протестуют против начатой новыми властями борьбы с русским языком<!-- Заголовок добавлен ботом -->]</ref> ultimately culminating with the Crimean crisis. ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' reported: "The [adoption of this bill] only served to infuriate Russian-speaking regions, [who] saw the move as more evidence that the antigovernment protests in Kiev that toppled Yanukovich's government were intent on pressing for a [[Ukrainian nationalism|nationalistic agenda]]."<ref name="Ayres">{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0228/Is-it-too-late-for-Kiev-to-woo-Russian-speaking-Ukraine |title=Is it too late for Kiev to woo Russian-speaking Ukraine? |date=February 28, 2014 |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor|CSM]] |first=Sabra |last=Ayres}}</ref>

A few days later, on March 1, 2014, the acting President of Ukraine, [[Oleksandr Turchynov]], [[veto]]ed the bill effectively stopping its [[enactment]].<ref name="lenta.ru">{{cite news|script-title=ru:На отмену закона о региональных языках на Украине наложат вето |trans_title=The abolition of the law on regional languages in Ukraine veto |url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/01/language/|newspaper=[[Lenta.ru|Lenta]] |place=RU |date=March 1, 2014|language=Russian }}</ref> The veto did little to address the unfolding crisis, perhaps because it came too late.

The [[Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group]] and the [[Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union]] have both denied any human rights violations against Russian speakers in Ukraine that would justify Russia's actions.<ref name="helsinki.org.ua">{{cite web|url=http://www.helsinki.org.ua/en/index.php?id=1393934582|title=The OSCE Should Act Decisively and Swiftly to Stop Intervention into Ukraine and Prevent a Major Security Crisis in Europe|work=helsinki.org.ua}}</ref><ref name="khpg.org">{{cite web|url=http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1393586383|title=Mr Putin: We ethnic Russians and Russian speakers don't need protection|work=khpg.org}}</ref>

===Legal aspects===
The Russian-Ukrainian [[Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet]]{{efn|Dilanian (2014) "CIA director John Brennan told a senior lawmaker Monday that a 1997 treaty between Russia and Ukraine allows up to 25,000 Russia troops in the vital Crimea region, so Russia may not consider its recent troop movements to be an invasion, U.S. officials said."<ref name="Dilanian">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-us-intelligence-russia-ukraine-20140303,0,4657644.story |title=CIA reportedly says Russia sees treaty as justifying Ukraine moves |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 3, 2014 |accessdate=March 12, 2014 |first=Ken |last=Dilanian }}</ref>}} signed in 1997 and prolonged in 2010, determined the status of the military bases and vessels in Crimea prior to the current crisis. Russia was allowed to maintain up to 25,000 troops, 24 artillery systems (with a caliber smaller than 100&nbsp;mm), 132 armored vehicles, and 22 military planes, on military base in Sevastopol and related infrastructure on the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian [[Black Sea fleet]] had basing rights in [[Crimea]] until 2042. Usage of navigation stations and troop movements were improperly covered by the treaty and were violated many times as well as related court decisions. February troop movements were 'complete disregard' of the treaty.<ref name="Yeroshko">{{cite news|last=Yeroshko|first=Iryna|title=Ukraine: Russia shows 'complete disregard' for Black Sea Fleet agreement in Crimea|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/what-parts-of-the-black-sea-fleet-agreement-is-russia-violating-338358.html|newspaper=Kyiv Post|date=March 4, 2014}}</ref>

Both Russia and Ukraine are signatories to the [[Charter of the United Nations]]. The ratification of said charter has several ramifications in terms of [[international law]], particularly those that cover the subjects of [[International Court of Justice advisory opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence|declarations of independence]], [[sovereignty]], [[self-determination]], [[acts of aggression]], and [[humanitarian aid|humanitarian emergencies]]. [[Vladimir Putin]] has claimed that Russian troops in the Crimean peninsula were aimed "to ensure proper conditions for the people of Crimea to be able to freely express their will",<ref>{{cite web |url= http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/7034 |title= Direct Line with Vladimir Putin |date= April 17, 2014 |website= |publisher= kremlin.ru|accessdate= April 17, 2014 }}</ref> whilst Ukraine and other nations argue that such intervention is a violation of [[independence of Ukraine|Ukraine's sovereignty]].<ref name="blogs.telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/charlescrawford/100262865/vladimir-putins-illegal-occupation-of-crimea-is-an-attempt-to-put-europes-borders-up-for-grabs/|title=telegraph.co.uk: "Vladimir Putin's illegal occupation of Crimea is an attempt to put Europe's borders up for grabs" (Crawford) 10 Mar 2014|work=blogs.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>
The Russian President also noted that the United Nations [[International Court of Justice]] handed down an advisory opinion in 2010 saying unambiguously that the unilateral declaration of independence in Kosovo (for which there was no referendum nor agreement from Belgrade) was not prohibited by international law.<ref>"{{cite web| url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/6889|title= Address by President of the Russian Federation| quote = Moreover, the Crimean authorities referred to the well-known Kosovo precedent – a precedent our western colleagues created with their own hands in a very similar situation, when they agreed that the unilateral separation of [[Kosovo]] from [[Serbia]], exactly what Crimea is doing now, was legitimate and did not require any permission from the country's central authorities. Pursuant to Article 2, Chapter 1 of the United Nations Charter, the UN International Court agreed with this approach and made the following comment in its ruling of July 22, 2010, and I quote: "No general prohibition may be inferred from the practice of the Security Council with regard to declarations of independence," and "General international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence." Crystal clear, as they say. |date= March 18, 2014|website=[[kremlin.ru]]|accessdate=March 18, 2014}}</ref> On the other hand, [[United States]] and [[Ukraine]] point out that by [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexing<!-- as in the Joint statement --> Crimea]] Russia violated terms of the [[Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]], by which Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their obligation to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine (including Crimea) and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the [[territorial integrity]] or political independence of Ukraine.<ref>[http://mfa.gov.ua/en/news-feeds/foreign-offices-news/20572-spilyna-zajava-ukrajini-ta-spoluchenih-shtativ-ameriki Joint Statement by the United States and Ukraine]. [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine]]</ref>
The United States does not consider the Memorandum binding.<ref>{{Internetquelle | url=http://minsk.usembassy.gov/budapest_memorandum.html | titel=Belarus: Budapest Memorandum | hrsg=Botschaft der Vereinigten Staaten in Minsk (Weißrussland) | datum=2013-04-12 | zugriff=2014-04-19 | kommentar=Pressemitteilung}}</ref>

==History of the 2014 crisis==
{{main|Timeline of the 2014 Crimean crisis}}
{{multiple issues|section=yes|
{{summarize|section=yes|from|Timeline of the 2014 Crimean crisis|date=March 2014}}
{{prose|section|date=March 2014}}
{{outdated|section}}
}}
According to [[The Guardian]] on February 23 in [[Sevastopol]],thousnds protested against the new authorities and voted to establish a parallel administration and civil defense squads. Speakers stated that in Simferopol about 5,000 people had joined such squads. Protesters waved Russian flags and chanted "Putin is our president" and claimed they would refuse to pay further taxes to the state. The Berkut police were given a heroes welcome in the city by the locals<ref name="Seccession calls in pro-Russian south">{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-secession-russian-crimea|title=Ukraine crisis fuels secession calls in pro-Russian south|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 24, 2014|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/ukraine-crisis-secession-russian-crimea|archivedate=February 24, 2014}}</ref>

On February 26, pro-Russian forces gradually [[2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine|took control of the Crimean peninsula]]. Russia initially claimed that the uniformed men were [[self-defense force|local self-defense forces]] but later admitted they were in fact Russian military personnel without insignia,<ref name='np'>{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/04/17/vladimir-putin-admits-for-first-time-russian-troops-took-over-crimea-refuses-to-rule-out-intervention-in-donetsk/|title=Vladimir Putin admits for first time Russian troops took over Crimea, refuses to rule out intervention in Donetsk|last=Karmanau|first=Yuras|author2=Vladimir Isachenkov|date=April 17, 2014|work=National Post|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=10 May 2014}}</ref> confirming the reports of non-Russian media.<ref name="Al Jazeera English" /><ref name="autogenerated2" /><ref name="Jones">{{cite web|last=Jones |first=Sam |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a701f3e8-a527-11e3-8988-00144feab7de.html#axzz2vFnXrLQx |title=US scorns Russia's version of Crimean intervention |work=Financial Times |date=February 21, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Reuters">{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/12/us-ukraine-crisis-osce-idUSBREA2B1C120140312 |title=OSCE team say Crimea roadblock gunmen threatened to shoot at them |publisher=Reuters |date= |accessdate=March 14, 2014}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{cite news| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/europe/crimea-ukraine.html |title=Gunmen Seize Government Buildings in Crimea|work=The New York Times|date= February 27, 2014|accessdate= March 1, 2014 |quote = Masked men with guns seized government buildings in the capital of Ukraine's Crimea region on Thursday, barricading themselves inside and raising the Russian flag after mysterious overnight raids that appeared to be the work of militant Russian nationalists who want this volatile Black Sea region ruled from Moscow.}}</ref><ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/28/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140228 |title=Armed men seize two airports in Ukraine's Crimea, Yanukovich reappears | agency =Reuters|date=March 1, 2014}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite news| agency = Reuters | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/01/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140301 | date = March 1, 2014 | title= Putin ready to invade Ukraine; Kiev warns of war| postscript = &#123;&#123;inconsistent citations&#125;&#125; }}</ref><ref name="upi.com">{{Cite news | url = http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/28/Telecom-services-sabotaged-in-Ukraines-Crimea-region/7611393621345/ | title = Telecom services sabotaged in Ukraine's Crimea region | agency = United Press International | accessdate = February 28, 2014}}</ref>

In 2015 president Putin admitted that the "plan of returning Crimea" was put into action on 23 February<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tvrain.ru/articles/putin_rasskazal_o_spetsoperatsii_po_vozvrascheniju_kryma-383567/ | title=Путин рассказал о спецоперации по возвращению Крыма | publisher=TV Rain | date=2015-03-08 | accessdate=2015-03-08 |trans_title=Putin told about the special operation to return Crimea}}</ref> (while in March 2014 still publicly claiming that "Russia doesn't consider an option of Crimea joining Russia").<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ria.ru/politics/20140304/998093694.html | title=Россия не рассматривает возможность присоединения Крыма, заявил Путин | trans_title=Russia doesn't consider Crimea joining Russia, said Putin | publisher=RIA | date=2014-03-04 | accessdate=2015-03-08}}</ref>

On the morning of 27 February, [[Berkut (Ukraine)|Berkut]] units from Crimea and other regions of Ukraine (dissolved by the decree of 25 February) seized checkpoints on the [[Isthmus of Perekop]] and [[Chonhar peninsula]].<ref name="autogenerated4">{{cite web|url=http://armyansk.info/news/news-archive/120-2014/4592-pod-armyansk-styanulis-siloviki-iz-berkuta |script-title=ru:Под Армянск стянулись силовики из "Беркута" |date=27 February 2014|website= armyansk.info|language=ru |accessdate=15 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="wsj-feb28" /> According to Ukrainian MP [[Hennadiy Moskal]], former Chief of Crimean police, they had [[armored personnel carrier]]s, [[grenade launcher]]s, [[assault rifle]]s, machine guns and other weapons.<ref name="armyansk" /> Since then they have controlled all land traffic between Crimea and continental Ukraine.<ref name="armyansk" />

Also on the early morning of 27 February, armed men in Simferopol, the capital city of the [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]], seized the [[Building of the Supreme Council of Crimea|Crimean parliamentary building]] and the Council of Ministers building and replaced the Ukrainian flag with the Russian flag.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news| url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/armed-men-seize-crimea-parliament-reports | newspaper = The Guardian| title= Armed men seize Crimea parliament|date= 27 February 2014 | accessdate = 1 March 2014}}</ref> They ousted the prime minister appointed by the President of Ukraine and installed a pro-Russian politician, [[Sergey Aksyonov]], as Crimea's prime minister.<ref>{{cite news|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|title=Crimean Leader Says Ukrainian Military Units Are Surrendering|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/world/europe/crimea-ukraine-russia.html|accessdate=4 March 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 March 2014}}</ref> Aksyonov's Russian Unity party took just 4,02 percent of the votes in the 2010 local elections and was represented by only three delegates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nickname is Goblin. Who is gifting Crimea to Putin?|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2014/03/15/7018918/|accessdate=19 December 2014|newspaper=UP|date=15 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Court has banned Aksyonov's party Russian Unity|url=http://news.liga.net/news/politics/1571549-okruzhnoy_adminsud_sud_zapretil_partiyu_aksenova_russkoe_edinstvo.htm|accessdate=19 December 2014|newspaper=UP|date=30 April 2014}}</ref> Another his project "Russian Block" took only 0,31 percent on Parliament elections in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aksyonov's party has been banned|url=http://thekievtimes.ua/politics/367742-partiyu-aksenova-zapretili.html|accessdate=19 December 2014|newspaper=UP|date=30 April 2014}}</ref> Aksyonov illegally declared himself in charge of local military and law enforcement.<ref name="LATimes2014-03-01a">{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-crimea-referendum-date-20140301,0,2305350.story | title = New Crimea leaders move up referendum date |work= The [[Los Angeles Times]]| first =Sergei L | last = Loiko| date=1 March 2014 |accessdate= 3 March 2014| quote= Kiev, Ukraine – Crimea's new pro-Moscow premier, Sergei Aksenov, moved the date of the peninsula's status referendum to March 30. On Thursday, the Crimean parliament, which appointed Aksenov, had called for a referendum on May 25, the date also set for the urgent presidential election in Ukraine.}}</ref> On 1 March, the acting president of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, decreed the Crimean legislature's appointment of Aksyonov as unconstitutional, as the position of prime minister is appointed by the president of Ukraine, and not elected by parliament.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} The Crimean legislature has declared its intention to hold a referendum on greater autonomy from Kiev on 25 May 2014, a move which Hatidzhe Mamutova, the head of the League of Crimean-Tatar Women, called illegal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-27/crimean-tatars-deported-by-stalin-rally-against-putin-in-crimea.html|agency=Bloomberg|title=Crimean Tatars Deported by Stalin Oppose Putin in Ukraine|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> This was later moved up to 16 March.

Councilors in the Crimean city of [[Sevastopol]], home to the Russian and Ukrainian Black Sea naval fleets, selected Russian citizen [[Aleksei Chalyi]] as mayor, as pro-Russian demonstrators chanted "a Russian mayor for a Russian city". Furthermore, Sevastopol's police chief said he would refuse orders from Kiev.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/25/ukraine-sevastopol-installs-pro-russian-mayor|work=The Guardian|title=Ukraine: Sevastopol installs pro-Russian mayor as separatism fears grow|date=25 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref> In Sevastopol, [[Kerch]], and other Crimean cities, pro-Russian demonstrators pulled down the [[flag of Ukraine]] and replaced it with the [[flag of Russia]] in clashes with city officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2014/02/23/328121/demonstrators-raise-russian-flag-in-kerch.html|agency=Focus News|date=23 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014|title=Demonstrators raise Russian flag in Kerch}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/no-ukrainian-flags-left-on-sevastopol-administrative-buildings-337812.html|work=Kyiv Post|title=No Ukrainian flags left on Sevastopol administrative buildings|date=27 February 2014|accessdate=1 March 2014}}</ref>

Russian units began moving into Crimea almost immediately after the press conference of former president Yanukovych held on 28 February 2014 in [[Rostov-on-Don]], near the [[Russia–Ukraine border|eastern border]] of Ukraine, where he called for Putin to "restore order" in Ukraine. During the conference Yanukovych insisted that military action was "unacceptable" and that he would not request Russian military intervention.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26386946 Ukrainian ex-leader Viktor Yanukovych vows fightback], [[BBC News]] (28 February 2014).</ref><ref name="CrimeaRussiaOccupation">{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis live: Russia admits its troops are moving in Crimea|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666893/Ukraine-crisis-live-Russia-admits-its-troops-are-moving-in-Crimea.html|accessdate=28 February 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> On 4 March 2014 Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, [[Vitaly Churkin]], presented a photocopy of a letter signed by Victor Yanukovich on 1 March 2014 asking to use the Russian armed forces to "restore the rule of law, peace, order, stability and protection of the population of Ukraine".<ref>{{cite news|script-title=ru:Чуркин сообщил об обращении Януковича к Путину|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/04/yanukovich/|publisher=[[Lenta.ru]]|date=4 March 2014|language=Russian}}</ref> Aksyonov also appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide assistance in ensuring the peace in the [[Autonomous Republic of Crimea]]. Both houses of the Russian legislature (Federal Assembly) voted on 1 March 2014 to give Vladimir Putin the right to use Russian troops in Crimea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2014/03/1/7016683/ |title=Putin declared war against Ukraine (in Ukrainian) |newspaper =Ukrayinska Pravda|date= 1 March 2014 | accessdate =3 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=22729336&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2F |title= Russian Troops Take Over Ukraine's Crimea Region|publisher= ABC News |accessdate= 1 March 2014}}</ref>

On February 27 troops without insignia seized the [[Building of the Supreme Council of Crimea|Building]] of the [[Supreme Council of Crimea]] (the regional parliament) and the building of the Council of Ministers in [[Simferopol]].<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/europe/crimea-ukraine.html?_r=0</ref> [[Berkut (special police force)|Berkut]] units, local militiamen and self-defence troops seized checkpoints on the [[Isthmus of Perekop]] and [[Chonhar peninsula]].<ref name="armyansk">{{cite web|url=http://armyansk.info/news/news-archive/120-2014/4592-pod-armyansk-styanulis-siloviki-iz-berkuta |script-title=ru:Под Армянск стянулись силовики из "Беркута" |date=February 27, 2014|website= armyansk.info|publisher= |language=ru |accessdate=March 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|2xlPEHZhzkQ|TCH issue of February 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="wsj">{{cite web |url= http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304071004579410931310849454 |title= Crimea Checkpoints Raise Secession Fears |date= February 28, 2014 |website= |publisher= The Wall Street Journal |accessdate= April 18, 2014 |quote= Crimean special forces and local militiamen with Kalashnikovs and masks have hoisted Russian flags and set up checkpoints on the only two highways that connect the Black Sea peninsula to mainland Ukraine.}}</ref> Since then they control all traffic by land between Crimea and continental Ukraine.<ref name="armyansk"/><ref name="wsj"/>
[[File:VOA-Crimea-unmarked-soldiers.jpg|thumbnail|Unmarked soldiers in Simferopol, 2 March]]
On February 28, while gunmen occupied the building, the Supreme Council held an emergency session.<ref name="interfax27feb"/><ref name="reuters13mar"/> It voted to terminate the Crimean government, and replace Prime Minister [[Anatolii Mohyliov]] with [[Sergey Aksyonov]].<ref name = "CNN1"/><ref name = "NYT" /> Aksyonov belonged to the [[Russian Unity]] party, which received 4% of the vote in the last election.<ref name=reuters13mar/> It also voted to hold a referendum on greater autonomy on 25 May. The gunmen had cut all of the building's communications and took MPs' phones as they entered.<ref name=interfax27feb/><ref name=reuters13mar/> No independent journalists were allowed inside the building while the votes were taking place.<ref name=reuters13mar/> Some MPs claimed they were being threatened and that votes were cast for them and other MPs, even though they were not in the chamber.<ref name=reuters13mar/>

On March 11, the Supreme Council and the [[Sevastopol#City Council|City Council of Sevastopol]] jointly [[Declaration of Independence of Crimea and Sevastopol|expressed their intention]] to [[Unilateral declaration of independence|unilaterally declare Crimea's independence]] from Ukraine as a [[Republic of Crimea|single united nation]] with the possibility of joining the [[Russian Federation]] as a federal subject. The question of independence was put to a [[Crimean referendum, 2014|referendum]].

On March 16, official returns indicated nearly 96% in favor,<ref name="Crimea Applies to Join Russia">{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/voting-under-way-in-crimea-referendum-to-join-russia/1872380.html|title=Crimea Applies to Join Russia|work=VOA|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref> with a turnout of over 83%,<ref name="bbc.com">[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26606097 Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union'], [[BBC]], March 16, 2014</ref> despite a boycott by [[Crimean Tatars|Tatars]] and other opponents of the referendum.<ref name="cbcref">[http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/crimea-election-chief-reports-95-vote-to-secede-half-of-ballots-counted-1.2574719 Crimea election chief reports 95% vote to secede, half of ballots counted] ''[[CBC News|CBC]]'' Retrieved on March 16, 2014</ref> The Ukrainian parliament declared the referendum unconstitutional.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: Russia isolated in UN Crimea vote|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26595776|accessdate=March 15, 2014|newspaper=BBC|date=March 15, 2014}}</ref> The [[United States]] and the [[European Union]] condemned the vote as illegal,<ref name="voanews.com">[http://www.voanews.com/content/voting-under-way-in-crimea-referendum-to-join-russia/1872380.html Obama: US, EU Prepared to Penalize Russia for Crimea Ballot], [[VOA]], March 16, 2014</ref> and later imposed sanctions against persons deemed to have violated Ukraine's sovereignty.<ref name="EO13660">{{cite press release | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/06/executive-order-blocking-property-certain-persons-contributing-situation | title=Executive Order 13660 – Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine | publisher=White House Office of the Press Secretary | date=March 6, 2014 | accessdate=March 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="EUsanctions">{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eu-leaders-weighing-sanctions-russia-22795279 | title=EU Slaps Initial Sanctions on Russia | agency=Associated Press | date=March 6, 2014 | agency=ABC News | accessdate=March 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="mainichi.jp">{{cite news |url=http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140304p2g00m0in014000c.html|title=Sanctions threat grows as Ukraine tensions rise|place=Japan |work=Mainichi Shimbun|date=March 4, 2014}}</ref>

Ukrainian officials, as well as [[Mustafa Dzhemilev]], [[Refat Chubarov]] and [[Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People|the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People]] claimed that the voter turnout in the referendum among Crimeans could only be a maximum of 30–40 percent and that the referendum was undemocratic, hastily prepared, falsified and didn't reflect the real will of the Crimeans.<ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/voter_turnout_at_pseudo_referendum_in_crimea_was_maximum_30_40_percent___mejlis_318657 Voter turnout at pseudo-referendum in Crimea was maximum 30–40 percent – Mejlis]. [[Ukrinform]]. March 17, 2014</ref> [[Mustafa Dzhemilev]] called the referendum "cynical" and "absurd", claiming that the right to self-determination only belongs to the indigenous people – the Crimean Tatar population.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.golos-ameriki.ru/content/crimea-tatars-on-latest-evens-in-ukraine/1883359.html |title=Мустафа Джамилев выступил в Совете Безопасности ООН |first1=Виктория |last1=Купчинецкая |date=March 31, 2014 |accessdate=April 1, 2014 |newspaper=[[Voice of America]] }}</ref> Pro-Ukrainian activists were reported to have been persecuted and kidnapped, with 9 still reported missing<ref>"[http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/03/25/ukraine-activists-detained-and-beaten-one-tortured http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/03/25/ukraine-activists-detained-and-beaten-one-tortured]"</ref><ref>"[http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/03/russian-repression-sweeps-crimea/ Russian Repression Sweeps Crimea]"</ref> and pro-Russian billboards were seen in the streets before the referendum.<ref>"[http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/12/crimea-pro-russian-billboard-campaign-urges-people-to-vote-in-referendum/]"</ref>

On March 17, the [[Crimean parliament]] declared independence from [[Ukraine]] and asked to join the [[Russian Federation]].<ref name=autogenerated9>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26609667 Crimean parliament formally applies to join Russia], [[BBC]], March 17, 2014</ref> President Putin claimed Crimea as a [[Crimean Federal District|part of Russia]] on moral and material grounds, citing the principle of [[self determination]] and Crimea's strategic importance for Russia.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/uriel-abulof/selfdetermination-redux_b_4997073.html Uriel Abulof, Self-Determination, Redux?], [[Huffingtonpost]], March 20, 2014</ref>

On March 24, the Ukraine Ministry of Defense announces that approximately 50% of Ukrainian soldiers in Crimea have defected to the Russian military.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://un.ua/eng/article/500186.html |title=Ukranian News – Defense Ministry: 50% Of Ukrainian Troops In Crimea Defect To Russia |publisher=Un.ua |date=March 24, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jonathan Marcus |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26713727 |title=BBC News – Ukrainian forces withdraw from Crimea |publisher=Bbc.com |date=March 24, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref>

On March 25, Russia awarded a [[Medal for the Return of Crimea]] to individuals who assisted in the annexation of Crimea. The reverse of the medallion dates "the return of Crimea" to February 20 – March 18. This raises the possibility that Russia had awarded those involved in the [[2014 Ukrainian revolution#20 February|February 20 killing of Maidan protesters]], while Yanukovych was still president and before the Crimean crisis actually began.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/25/putin-s-crimean-medal-of-honor-forged-before-the-war-even-began.html|title=Putin's Crimean Medal of Honor, Forged Before the War Even Began|date= March 25, 2014 |publisher= [[The Daily Beast]] |accessdate= May 6, 2014 }}</ref>

On March 27, the U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution declaring Crimea's Moscow-backed referendum invalid. The resolution passed with 100 votes in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly.<ref name="CHARBONNEAU AND DONATH">{{cite news|last=CHARBONNEAU AND DONATH|first=MIRJAM AND LOUIS|title=U.N. General Assembly declares Crimea secession vote invalid|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-ukraine-crisis-un-idUSBREA2Q1GA20140327|newspaper=Reuters|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Felton and Gumuchian">{{cite news|last=Felton and Gumuchian,|first=Marie-Louise and Alex|title=U.N. General Assembly resolution calls Crimean referendum invalid|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/27/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/|newspaper=CNN|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="un.org">{{cite news|title=Backing Ukraine's territorial integrity, UN Assembly declares Crimea referendum invalid|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443&Cr=ukraine&Cr1=|newspaper=UN News Center|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="foxnews.com">{{cite news|title=UN General Assembly approves referendum calling Russia annexation of Crimea illegal|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/27/un-general-assembly-votes-yes-on-ukraine-unity/|newspaper=Associated Press|date=March 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|title=Ukraine: UN condemns Crimea vote as IMF and US back loans|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26776416|date=March 27, 2014|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

On April 15, Ukrainian parliament passed a bill declaring the southern Crimea peninsula as territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and imposed travel restrictions on Ukrainians visiting Crimea.<ref name="apr15">{{cite web|title=Ukraine Parliament declares Crimea temporarily occupied territory|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ukraine-parliament-declares-crimea-temporarily-occupied-territory/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

On April 17, during the 12th 'Direct Line with Vladimir Putin' the use of Russian armed forces along with Crimean self-defence troops was avowed by the Russian president.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsru.com/russia/17apr2014/line.html#7 |script-title=ru:Крым и Украина стали главными темами "прямой линии" Путина: россиян, несогласных с позицией президента, нет |date= April 17, 2014 |publisher= [[NEWSru]] |accessdate= April 17, 2014 |language= Russian }}</ref>

On 5 May, there appeared a blog on the website of the Russian [[President of the Russian Federation|President's]] [[Human rights in Russia|Human Rights Council]] estimating that a "vast majority of the citizens of Sevastopol voted in favor of unification with Russia in the referendum (50–80%); in Crimea, various data show that 50–60% voted for unification with Russia, with a turnout of 30–50%," suggesting that only 15–30% of Crimeans actually voted for annexation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/05/05/putins-human-rights-council-accidentally-posts-real-crimean-election-results-only-15-voted-for-annexation/|title=Putin's 'Human Rights Council' Accidentally Posts Real Crimean Election Results|date=May 5, 2014|work=Forbes|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref> The blog entry was taken down quickly.

On 9 May, a hundred thousand people gathered in Crimean Sevastopol to watch Victory Day parade, waving Russian flags and singing among other pieces the Russian anthem.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.c-inform.info/news/id/1132|title=Hundreds of thousands gather in Sevastopol watch Victory Day parade|publisher=|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

On May 16, Sergei Aksyonov announced a ban on all public rallies aimed in particular at the annual commemoration of the Soviet deportation of the Tatars from Crimea, as the Tatars continue to be amongst those resisting Russia's occupation of the peninsula.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crimean Leader Bans Public Rallies|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/crimea-tatars-rallies-stalin-/25388073.html|date=17 May 2014|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}</ref>

In August [[Roskomnadzor]] started enforcing [[Russian Internet blacklist|Internet censorship]] in Crimea Internet providers, including blocking large number of Ukraininan news sites.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ru.krymr.com/content/article/26527575.html | title=Как обойти блокирование интернет-сайтов в Крыму | publisher=Krym.Realii | date=2014-08-27 | accessdate=2014-08-27}}</ref>

In November [[Human Rights Watch]] issued a report "Right to Retreat" on humanitarian situation in Crimea under Russian administration, documenting "persecution of Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists, harassment of pro-Ukraine and Crimean Tatar media and imposition of Russian citizenship in Crimea".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hrw.org/reports/2014/11/17/rights-retreat-0 | title=Rights in Retreat | publisher=Human Rights Watch | date=2014-11-17 | accessdate=2014-11-22}}</ref>

On January 24, 2015 [[Igor Girkin|Igor Strelkov]] admitted that his militia group coerced Crimean deputies to vote in favor of secession from Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ostro.org/general/society/news/462841/|publisher=Ostrov|title=Террорист Гиркин: "Мы насильно сгоняли депутатов Крыма голосовать за отделение от Украины"}}</ref>

==Non-Russian involvement==
On March 2, 2014, [[Pavel Chernev]], former member of the nationalist [[Attack (political party)|Attack]] party and current political secretary of "Orthodox Dawn" ({{lang-bg|Православна Зора}}, ''Pravoslavna Zora''), who is known for his pro-Putin views, revealed that the Bulgarian branch of the organization will be sending a group of Bulgarian volunteers to "protect ethnic Russians and ethnic Bulgarians from forceful Ukrainization". Chernev also claimed that they had already sponsored "tens of Orthodox fighters" (non-Bulgarian) to fly to Moscow and [[Crimea]].<ref name="cross.bg">{{cite news|url=http://www.cross.bg/organizatziyata-ykraiina-grypa-1398840.html#axzz2v29xhu18 |title=Православна Зора" праща българска група към Украйна|publisher=cross.bg|date=March 2, 2014 | language=Bulgarian|accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blitz.bg/news/article/253466|title="Православна зора" праща бойна група в Украйна срещу Мамоническия Запад |publisher=blitz.bg|date=March 2, 2014 | language=Bulgarian|accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref> Simeon Kostadinov, another former Attack member, then representing the Nationalist Party in Bulgaria, and Chernev clarified that their mission has peaceful intentions, but will be prepared to give a good account of themselves in the unfortunate event of an escalation. Their contention was that the [[Second Azarov Government|old regime]] could be considered preferable from the standpoint of the Bulgarian minority in Ukraine and the [[First Yatsenyuk Government|new authorities]] lacked legitimacy. Another small "international group based on the [[Pyrenean Peninsula]]" which included some Bulgarians and was supported by a Russian paramilitary organization was reported to have left for Ukraine on March 3. "Orthodox Dawn" displayed an interest in securing the backing of international actors for the [[2014 referendum in Crimea]] and tried to recruit foreign election observers.<ref name="btvnews.bg">{{cite news|url=http://btvnews.bg/article/bulgaria/na-raba-na-voina.html|title=Бойци и националисти заминават за Украйна под знака на "Православна Зора|publisher=btvnews.bg|date=March 4, 2014 |language=Bulgarian|accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref> According to Bulgarian sources, drawing on reports made by [[Al Jazeera]], 20 Bulgarian nationals arrived in [[Crimea]]. They formed part of the paramilitary formation Dobrovolets/Доброволец, which was under the control of Russian troops. Dobrovolets' area of operations also intended to include [[Odessa]] and [[Donetsk]]. Chernev stated that he will be visiting Crimea on March 15 and guaranteed that all the participants in the mission had undergone thorough screening to ensure that people with criminal convictions are weeded out.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blitz.bg/news/article/254831#toggleComment|title=20 българи вече са в Крим, готови да хванат оръжие, "Доброволец" вече започна организирането на отряди в Донецк и Одеса|publisher=blitz.bg|date=March 9, 2014 |language=Bulgarian|accessdate=March 10, 2014}}</ref> Anton Kisse, the only deputy in the [[Verkhovna Rada]] with Bulgarian roots, spoke out against any foreign interventions, stating that "even the friendliest foreign state has no right to impose its vision of what constitutes proper order on Ukraine" and that "people will turn to Bulgaria if the need arises".<ref name="standartnews.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.standartnews.com/mneniya-intervyuta/balgarite_v_ukrayna_ne_sme_po_barikadite-228436.html|title=Българите в Украйна не сме по барикадите|publisher=standartnews.com|date=March 5, 2014 |language=Bulgarian|accessdate=March 7, 2014}}</ref>
Chernev was one of the election observers for the [[2014 referendum in Crimea]],<ref name="focus-news.net">{{cite news|url=http://www.focus-news.net/news/2014/03/17/1896081/pavel-chernev-sanktsiite-ne-sa-tolkova-znachimi-na-fona-na-predstoyashtoto-prisaedinyavane-na-krim-kam-ruskata-federatsiya.html|title=Павел Чернев: санкциите не са толкова значими, на фона на предстоящото присъединяване на Крим към Руската федерация|publisher=focus-news.net|date=March 17, 2014 |language=Bulgarian|accessdate=March 18, 2014}}</ref> on the invitation of [[Sergey Aksyonov]].<ref name="blitz.bg">{{cite news|url=http://www.blitz.bg/news/article/255528|title=Сръбски воеводи водят наши опълченци в Крим,"Православна зора" на Чернев ще наблюдава референдума на 16 март|publisher=blitz.bg|date=March 13, 2014 |language=Bulgarian|accessdate=March 18, 2014}}</ref>

A very small group of [[Chetniks]], a [[Serbian nationalist]] paramilitary force, travelled to Crimea to support Russia. Serbian and Russian nationalists share Slavic and Orthodox culture and [[anti-Western sentiment]], and Chetniks claim to be in Russia's favour for support during the [[Yugoslav Wars]].<ref name=Chetniks>{{cite web | url = http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbian-fighters-head-to-crimea |title=Serbian Fighters Help 'Russian Brothers' in Crimea |publisher=Balkan insight |date = February 6, 2014 |accessdate= February 6, 2014}}</ref> The Chetniks were based in an Orthodox monastery. Their commanders Bratislav Jivković and Milutin Malisić had participated in previous armed conflicts – Jivković in the [[Bosnian War]] as part of the [[Serb Volunteer Guard]] while Malisić had been involved in the protection of the Serbian minority in [[Kosovo]] in the aftermath of the [[Kosovo War]]. Malisić reiterated that his paramilitary formation was committed to peace and did not want to shed the blood of fellow Slavs, viewing Ukrainians and Russians as brotherly ethnicities.<ref name="blitz.bg"/>

==Effects==
As a result of the crisis, the two leading indexes of the [[Moscow Exchange]] fell in trading on March 3: the [[MICEX 10]] declined 10.79 percent, equating to a loss in [[market capitalization]] of nearly $60 billion, and the [[RTS Index]] declined 12.01 percent to its lowest level since September 2009.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 3, 2014 |title=Ruble, stocks slide over growing Ukraine tension |url=http://rt.com/business/russia-stock-fall-ukraine-524/ |publisher=[[RT (TV network)|RT]] |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Nq7BJ5FC |archivedate=March 5, 2014 |accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref> The next day, though, the MICEX rose 5.25%, recovering part of the losses. In response to this and the decline of the [[Russian ruble|ruble]], the [[Central Bank of Russia]] raised its interest rate from 5.5 to 7.0% and spent up to US$12 billion in reserves to bolster the currency.<ref name="in.reuters.com">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Lidia |last2=de Carbonnel |first2=Alissa |date=March 4, 2014 |title=Russian markets plunge as Putin tightens Crimea grip |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/03/ukraine-crisis-idINDEEA1Q0JL20140303 |agency=[[Reuters]] |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Nq7gRWK2 |archivedate=March 5, 2014 |accessdate=March 5, 2014}}</ref> The possibility for international sanctions against Russia has also been raised.<ref name=cnru>{{cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/02/news/economy/ukraine-economy/|title=Ukraine crisis: Why it matters to the world economy|publisher=CNN|date=March 3, 2014}}</ref>

There were worries that Russian gas exports to Europe and Ukraine may become disrupted by the conflict. Thirty percent of Europe's gas is imported from Russia, half of which flows through Ukrainian pipelines. On March 1, the [[Ministry of Energy (Russia)|Russian Energy Ministry]] decided to halt the subsidies of Russian gas to Ukraine.<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-02/russia-gas-threat-shows-putin-using-pipelines-to-press-ukraine.html|title=Russia Gas Threat Shows Putin Using Pipes to Press Ukraine |publisher=bloomberg|date=March 3, 2014}}</ref> The crisis could also affect worldwide grain supplies. Prices will likely rise because Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of corn.<ref name=cnru /> The crisis resulted into the exit of several multinational companies from Crimea due to suspension of necessary financial and banking services.<ref>{{cite web|title=Burger King to open outlets in Crimea after rival McDonald's exit|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/burger-king-to-open-outlets-in-crimea-after-rival-mcdonalds-exit/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=April 10, 2014}}</ref> The [[European Union]] also banned import of all goods from Crimea into its members states.<ref>{{cite web|title=EU bans Import from Crimea and Sevastopol from June 25|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/eu-bans-import-from-crimea-and-sevastopol-from-june-25/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|accessdate=23 June 2014}}</ref>

==Incidents==

===Simferopol incident===
{{further|Simferopol Incident}}

Over the course of the Crimean crisis, a Ukrainian soldier and a Crimean defense member were killed, another two Ukrainians sustained serious bullet injuries and two other Russian militiamen were wounded. During [[Simferopol incident|a controversial incident in Simferopol]] on March 18, some Ukrainian sources said that armed gunmen that were reported to be Russian special forces allegedly stormed the base. This was contested by Russian authorities, who subsequently arrested an alleged Ukrainian sniper in connection with the killings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26637296 |title=Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'|publisher=BBC|accessdate=18 March 2014| quote="Crimean police later said both Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces had been fired on from a single location (...) None of the accounts can be independently confirmed."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_19/Sniper-that-killed-two-seized-in-Crimea-6475/ |title=Sniper that killed two seized in Crimea – News – World – The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video |publisher=The Voice of Russia |date=2013-07-27 |accessdate=2014-04-02}}</ref>

At this stage, none of the accounts of this event could be verified independently.<ref>"None of the accounts can be independently confirmed.",[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26637296 Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'], [[BBC]], March 19, 2014</ref> The Ukrainian and the Crimean authorities provided conflicting reports of the event.<ref name=autogenerated3>"None of the accounts can be independently confirmed." [http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26637296 Ukraine officer 'killed in attack on Crimea base'], [[BBC]], March 19, 2014</ref> Furthermore, witnesses of the event said that there was no immediate evidence that any Russian soldiers were involved in the incident.<ref name="yahoo1">"There was no immediate evidence that Russian soldiers were involved in Tuesday's incident, witnesses said."[http://news.yahoo.com/ukrainian-officer-wounded-crimea-shooting-military-spokesman-152853937.html Ukrainian officer wounded in Crimea shooting: military spokesman], [[Yahoo News]], March 18, 2014</ref>

The two casualties had a joint funeral attended by both the Crimean and Ukrainian authorities, and both soldiers were mourned together.<ref>"Joint Funeral" [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10716412/Ukraines-unlikeliest-funeral-the-only-two-foes-to-die-in-Russias-Crimea-takeover-are-mourned-together.html 'Ukraine's unlikeliest funeral: the only two foes to die in Russia's Crimea takeover are mourned together'], [[Daily Telegraph]], March 22, 2014</ref> The incident is now under investigation by both the Crimean authorities and the Ukrainian military.
<ref>"Joint Funeral2" [http://www.kyivpost.com/multimedia/photo/opposing-sides-in-crimean-conflict-come-together-for-simferopol-funeral-of-two-men-killed-one-ukrainian-the-other-russian-340418.html 'Opposing sides in Crimean conflict come together today for Simferopol funeral of two men killed, one Ukrainian, the other Russian'], [[Kyiv Post]], March 22, 2014</ref><ref>"Joint Funeral3" [http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/europe/53641-funeral-crimea-first-casualties 'Funeral held for Crimea's first casualties'], [[Agence France-Presse]], March 22, 2014</ref>

===Novofedorivka incident===
On 6 April 2014, the Ukrainian defense ministry announced the shooting death of a Ukrainian Naval officer in the [[urban-type settlement]] of [[Novofedorivka (air base)|Novofedorivka]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://af.reuters.com/article/idAFBREA360CV20140407 | title=Russian marine kills Ukraine navy officer in Crimea, says ministry | publisher=[[Reuters]] | date=7 April 2014 | accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref>

The incident took place outside the [[Novofedorivka (air base)|Novofedorivka Air Base]] in the military dormitory building, which was occupied by Ukrainian servicemen and their families that were awaiting relocation to mainland Ukraine. While Ukrainian Navy major Stansilav Karachevsky of the military unit No. 1100 was preparing his belongings in preparation to leave Crimea, an altercation between him and several soldiers on both sides broke out.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/crimea-ukraine-sailor-shot-dead-by-russian-soldier-1443687 | title=Crimea: Ukraine Sailor Shot Dead by Russian Soldier | publisher=[[International Business Times|IBTimes]] | date=7 April 2014 | accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-naval-officer-shot-dead-by-russian-solider-in-crimea-9243306.html | title=Ukraine: Naval officer shot dead by Russian solider in Crimea | publisher=[[The Independent]] | date=7 April 2014 | accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref>

The scuffle escalated to where Russian [[Spetsnaz]] Sergeant E.S. Zaitsev shot the unarmed officer twice in the head at point blank range with an [[AK-74]] assault rifle on the 5th floor of the dormitory building where Russian soldiers were evacuating the troops. Major Karachevsky was pronounced dead immediately.

A second Ukrainian military officer, identified as Captain Artem Yermolenko, was beaten and abducted by Russian soldiers. Russian sources confirmed the death of a Ukrainian major perpetrated by one of its sergeants, but it said that it was an incident where a group of drunk Ukrainian soldiers on their way to the sleeping quarters encountered Russian soldiers manning a checkpoint on the road to the air base where they were previously stationed.

After the incident, the major's body was reportedly taken by Russian troops.<ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/zrobleno_v_kremli_falshivka_pro_te_shcho_ubitiy_ukraiinskiy_ofitser_pyanim_napav_na_rosiyan_1926303 Made in the Kremlin: fake about that the killed Ukrainian officer while drunk attacked Russians]. [[Ukrinform]]. April 7, 2014</ref>

==Reactions in Ukraine and Russia==
{{Crimean Crisis of 2014}}

===Ukraine===
Three ex‐presidents of Ukraine accused Russia of interfering in Crimean affairs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192876.html |title=Three ex-Ukrainian presidents blame Russia for meddling in Crimean affairs |agency=Interfax |place=Ukraine |date=February 26, 2014}}</ref> Interim president [[Oleksandr Turchynov]] at the start of the protests warned that there is a "serious risk" of separatism in parts of the country.<ref name="EN25214">{{cite news|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/25/ukraine-leader-turchynov-warns-of-danger-of-separatism/ |title=Ukraine leader Turchynov warns of 'danger of separatism' |publisher=[[Euronews]] |date=February 25, 2014}}</ref><ref name="guardian226">{{cite news|url= http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/ukraine-new-leader-disbands-riot-police-crimea-separatism | title = Russia puts military on high alert as Crimea protests leave one man dead| work =The Guardian|date= 26 February 2014 | accessdate = 27 February 2014}}</ref> On February 27, 2014, the [[Central Election Commission of Ukraine]] claimed that regional referendum is impossible due to lack of necessary legislative basis for such.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016542/ |title=The CEC assured that Crimean referendum cannot be held |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> On February 27, 2014, the [[Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada]] [[Oleksandr Turchynov]] was instructed to develop a new law "about language".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016552/ |title=Turchynov instructed to quickly develop a new language law |newspaper=[[Urkayinska Pravda]] |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> On February 28, a freelance journalist wrote on Twitter that President Yanukovych said that any military actions are unacceptable and he will not ask Russia for it.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666893/Ukraine-crisis-live-President-Barack-Obama-warns-of-costs-for-any-violation-of-Ukraine.html Ukraine crisis live: President Barack Obama warns of 'costs' for any violation of Ukraine – Telegraph<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> According to President Yanukovych he believed that Crimea must remain part of Ukraine.<ref>[http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_28/Crimea-must-remain-part-of-Ukraine-Yanukovych-9425/ Crimea must remain part of Ukraine – Yanukovych – News – World – The Voice of Russia]</ref><ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Defiant-Yanukovych-Urges-Russian-Restraint-in-5277726.php Defiant Yanukovych Urges Russian Restraint in Crimea Amid Unrest – SFGate]</ref>

The new [[Prime Minister of Ukraine]] [[Arseniy Yatsenyuk]] stated in his maiden speech on February 27 that "Ukraine will use all legal constitutional methods to preserve the territorial integrity of the state. Crimea was, is and will be a part of Ukraine!".<ref name="euronews.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/27/new-ukrainian-government-gets-to-work/ |title=New Ukrainian government gets to work |newspaper=[[Euronews]] |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

On February 28, the [[Verkhovna Rada]] adopted a resolution on events in Crimea:<ref name="verkhovna_rada">{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/28/7016584/ |title=Rada supported the resolution on Crimea against Russian intervention |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |date=February 28, 2014}}</ref> "Verkhovna Rada demands from the Russian Federation to stop steps that have signs of encroachment on state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including to refuse supporting separatism in Ukraine in any form".<ref name="verkhovna_rada" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/rada_zaklikala_rosiyu_ne_zazihati_na_teritoriyu_ukraiini_1912961 |title=Rada urged Russia not to encroach on the territory of Ukraine |agency=[[Ukrinform]] |date=February 28, 2014}}</ref>

The [[Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada]] [[Oleksandr Turchynov]] dismissed [[Yuriy Ilyin]] as the [[Chief of the General Staff (Ukraine)|Chief of the General Staff]]. During the [[2014 Ukrainian Revolution]] Ilyin was reportedly preparing a military operation against the protest movement in Kiev. Ilyin reportedly had a heart attack after meeting with the newly appointed mayor of Sevastopol.<ref name="ilyin_fired">[http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/28-02-2014/126972-ukraine_chief_general_staff-0/ Ukraine's acting President dismisses Chief of General Staff]. [[Pravda]]. February 28, 2014.</ref>

Due to the events in Crimea, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] of Ukraine initiated bilateral consultations with Russia and indicated its readiness to initiate consultations within the [[Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]] framework if it receives no response.<ref>[http://www.unian.ua/politics/891050-cherez-podiji-v-krimu-mzs-ukrajini-zvernulosya-za-konsultatsiyami-do-rf.html Due to events in Crimea Ukraine Foreign Ministry asked for consultations with Russia]. [[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency]] February 28, 2014.</ref>

On March 1, the acting president of Ukraine signed an edict in which he pointed out that appointment of Sergey Aksyonov as the Chairman of the Councils of Ministers of Crimea was in violation of the [[Constitution of Ukraine]] and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.<ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/1/7016766/ Turchynov signed a decree on illegal appointment of Aksenov]. ''[[Ukrayinska Pravda]]''. March 1, 2014.</ref> The incumbent and two former presidents of Ukraine – [[Leonid Kravchuk]], [[Leonid Kuchma]] and [[Viktor Yushchenko]]—called on Ukraine to renounce the [[Kharkiv Agreements]].<ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/2/7016922/ Three presidents urged to discontinue the "Kharkiv Agreements"]. [[Ukrayinska Pravda]]. March 1, 2014</ref> Leonid Kuchma's press-center later denounced such a statement on behalf of Leonid Kuchma.<ref name="interfax.ru">[http://www.interfax.ru/world/362110 Leonid Kuchma's press-center refutes the statement]. [[Interfax]]</ref> The acting President of Ukraine purportedly ordered the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] to full combat readiness.<ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/1913433 Turchynov commanded to bring into full combat readiness the Armed Forces of Ukraine]. [[Ukrinform]]. March 1, 2014</ref>

On March 4, the district administration court of Kiev cancelled the decision of the council concerning a no confidence vote to the Council of Ministers of Crimea and the appointment of Aksyonov as a chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea as well as declared illegal organization and conduct of a local referendum on improving the status and powers of autonomy.<ref name="court_cancelled">[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/4/7017611/ The Court reversed the decision of the puppets of the Kremlin in the Crimea]. ''[[Ukrayinska Pravda]]''. March 4, 2014</ref>

On March 17, Ukraine recalled its ambassador [[Volodymyr Yelchenko]] from the [[Russian Federation]] officially to discuss the situation about Crimea.<ref name="lb.ua">[http://lb.ua/news/2014/03/17/259710_ukraina_otzivaet_posla_rossii.html Ukraine recalls ambassador from Russia]. LB. March 17, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/ukraine_recalls_its_ambassador_from_russia_for_consultations_318723 Ukraine recalls its ambassador from Russia for consultations]. [[Ukrinform]]. March 17, 2014</ref>

On March 19, Ukraine drew up plans to withdraw all their soldiers and their families to mainland Ukraine from Crimea "Quickly and Efficiently".<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26656617|title=Ukraine 'preparing withdrawal of troops from Crimea'|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=March 19, 2014}}</ref>

On March 25, Ukrainian defense minister, [[Ihor Tenyukh]], resigned due to the public criticism of being indecisive and slow to give orders to Ukrainian military units in Crimea. His resignation was approved only after a repeated vote in the [[Ukrainian parliament]].<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/ihor-tenyukh-resignation_n_5026169.html Ukraine's Parliament Accepts Resignation Of Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh]. [[Huffington Post]]. March 26, 2014</ref> He resigned and was replaced by [[Colonel General]] [[Mykhaylo Koval]], who had served with the border guards in Crimea and was briefly kidnapped there in March<!--DOES THIS AGREE WITH THE KIDNAPPING VICTIMS SECTION BELOW?-->. Ukrainian Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council [[Andriy Parubiy]] stated in an interview that "Mistakes have been and will be made, but the new government is not afraid to fix them."<ref name="Kathy Lally">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-fires-defense-minister-who-lost-crimea-to-russia/2014/03/25/81409484-31c6-41db-9e24-7b6193240aef_story.html |title=Ukraine fires defense minister who lost Crimea to Russia |author= Kathy Lally |publisher=Washington Post |date=March 26, 2014}}</ref>

The Ukrainian National Council for TV and Radio Broadcasting instructed all cable operators on March 11 to stop transmitting a number of Russian channels, including the international versions of the main state-controlled stations Rossiya 1, Channel One and NTV, as well as news channel Rossiya 24.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ennis |first=Stephen |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26546083 |title=BBC News – Ukraine hits back at Russian TV onslaught |publisher=Bbc.com |date=March 12, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref>

The Kiev government has barred Russian men aged 16–60 and women aged 20–35 from entering Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ukraine bans entry for all Russian males aged 16–60: Aeroflot |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/ukraine-bans-entry-for/1075426.html |date=April 18, 2014 |agency=Channel NewsAsia}}</ref>

Former President [[Viktor Yuschenko]] believes that the formerly imprisoned ex-Prime Minister and fierce political rival [[Yulia Tymoshenko]] "cut a deal" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which saw Ukraine give Crimea to Russia in exchange for Russia securing Tymoshenko's early release from prison.<ref name="yuschenko">{{cite news|url=http://euobserver.com/foreign/123519|title=Putin redraws map of Europe|publisher=EUObserver|date=2014-03-19|accessdate=2014-03-20}}</ref> Yushchenko said it is "quite strange" that Ukraine's Tymoshenko-dominated government has done nothing to secure the Crimean electricity and water infrastructure on the mainland, in addition to failing to stop "Russian agitators" from going to [[Donetsk]] and [[Kharkov]].<ref name=yuschenko/> Tymoshenko dismissed the charges as "anti-Ukrainian propaganda."<ref name=yuschenko/>

On 16 September 2014 Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ratified a 1,200-page cooperation agrrement with EU. He said this is the first step towards membership in EU. This legislation gives the right to use Russian in all state institutions. But the free trade deal will start only by 2016.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/ukraine-ratifies-landmark-eu-pact/article6417295.ece. Retrieved from 'The Hindu' on 17 September 2014</ref>

====Viktor Yanukovych====
[[File:Ukr elections 2012 multimandate okruhs.png|thumb|Results of the [[Ukrainian parliamentary election, 2012|2012 parliamentary election]]. Yanukovych's [[Party of Regions]] in blue.]]
Late at night on February 27, the ex-President of Ukraine, [[Viktor Yanukovych]], who is wanted along with [[Vitaliy Zakharchenko|Zakharchenko]] under suspicion of mass killing of people,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/26/7016394/ |title=Yanukovych and Zakharchenko are on the international wanted list |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |date=February 26, 2014}}</ref> arrived in [[Rostov-on-Don]] escorted by jet fighters.<ref name="yanukovych_rostov">{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/28/7016578/ |title=Did Yanukovych indeed arrived to Rostov-na-Donu accompanied by fighters? |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |date=February 28, 2014}}</ref> On February 28, he conducted a press-conference.<ref name="yanukovych_rostov" /> In this press conference Yanukovych stated "Crimea must remain part of the Ukrainian state retaining broad autonomy rights".<ref name="YCRIU28214">{{cite news |url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193467.html |title=Crimea must remain part of Ukraine, enjoy broad autonomy rights – Yanukovych |agency=[[Interfax-Ukraine]] |date=February 28, 2014}}</ref> According to him the unrest in Crimea was "an absolutely natural reaction to the bandit coup that has occurred in Kiev"; and he stated he was confident that the people of Crimea "do not want to obey and will not obey [[Ukrainian nationalists|nationalists]] and bandits".<ref name="YCRIU28214" /> He insisted that military action was "unacceptable" and that he would not request Russian military intervention.<ref name="CrimeaRussiaOccupation">{{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis live: Russia admits its troops are moving in Crimea|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10666893/Ukraine-crisis-live-Russia-admits-its-troops-are-moving-in-Crimea.html |accessdate=February 28, 2014|place=UK |newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26386946 |title=Ukrainian ex-leader Viktor Yanukovych vows fightback |publisher=BBC News |date=February 28, 2014}}</ref> Still on March 4, 2014, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, [[Vitaly Churkin]] showed a photocopy of the letter allegedly signed by Victor Yanukovich on March 1, 2014 where he demanded Russian military intervention in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Чуркин сообщил об обращении Януковича к Путину|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/03/04/yanukovich/ |place=Russia |newspaper=[[Lenta.ru|Lenta]]|date=March 4, 2014}}</ref>

On March 11, [[Yanukovych]] vowed to return to Ukraine, calling upon the Ukrainian Armed Forces to not follow the "criminal orders" of the acting government in Kiev.<ref name=autogenerated5>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-s-ousted-president-viktor-yanukovych-vows-to-return-1.2567819 Ukraine's ousted president Viktor Yanukovych vows to return – World – CBC News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Yanukovych attacked the acting government in Ukraine as being a "band of ultranationalists and neo-fascists" that have replaced his government, and criticized their supposed Western backers.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

===Republic of Crimea===
{{see also|Kosovo independence precedent}}
[[File:Ukraine census 2001 Russian.svg|thumb|right|280px|Map denoting the subdivisions of Ukraine and the percentage of people that indicated [[Russian language in Ukraine|Russian]] as their native language in the latest local census. Sevastopol identifies itself as the highest at 90.6% followed immediately by Crimea at 77.0%.]]

Operations of the [[Kerch Strait ferry]] were suspended on February 27, 2014.<ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016544/ Kerch ferry is not being serviced, special order]. ''[[Ukrayinska Pravda]]''. February 27, 2014.</ref> The Ukrainians in Crimea called on Ukrainian officials to secure peace and security for Crimeans and for European officials to influence the Russian position in regards to separatist attitudes.<ref name="Interfax 2014">[http://www.interfax.ru/world/news/361692 Ukrainians of Crimea asked the Ukrainian authorities to prevent a war on the peninsula]. Interfax. February 27, 2014.</ref> The new chairman of the Council of Ministers hopes to receive financial help from the [[Russia|Russian Federation]] with support from [[Viktor Yanukovych]].<ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/28/7016596/ Crimea used Yanukovych to ask for money in Russia]. ''[[Ukrayinska Pravda]]''. February 28, 2014.</ref> In the telephone conversation [[Volodymyr Konstantinov]] explained to [[Nestor Shufrych]] ([[People's Deputy of Ukraine|MP]]) that Crimea does not want a secession, but only to expand its right.<ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/konstantinov_poyasniv_shufrichu_chogo_hochut_u_krimu_1913010 Konstantinov explained to Shufrych what they want in Crimea]. [[Ukrinform]]. February 28, 2014.</ref> The former chief of the general staff [[Yuriy Ilyin]] was reported to be hospitalized with a heart attack in the Ukrainian Navy hospital in Sevastopol.<ref>[http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/eks_glavkom_zs_ukraiini_illin_potrapiv_u_sevastopolskiy_shpital_1913052 Former chief of general staff Illin got to the Sevastopol hospital]. [[Ukrinform]]. February 28, 2014.</ref>

Members of the Crimean government have declared their acceptance of Yanukovych as the legitimate President of Ukraine, deputy chairman of the Crimean parliament Konstantin Bakharev has said: "Today, Yanukovych is the legitimate president," though he also addressed issues concerning him saying, "But we have questions for him, questions as the leader of the government about his moral responsibility before the society, before the party he once led, and before Crimeans."<ref name="Sneider">{{cite web|last=Sneider|first=Noah|title=Crimea's Coward|url= http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2014/03/crimeans_protest_viktor_yanukovych_s_ouster_rallies_in_crimea_s_capital.html |work=Slate}}</ref>

About one thousand residents of Crimea, mainly Crimean Tatars, have left Crimea for Ukraine.<ref name="Ukrinform">{{cite news |date=March 12, 2014 |title=MFA: Number of refugees from Crimea growing |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/mfa_number_of_refugees_from_crimea_growing_318502 |location=Kyiv |publisher=Ukrinform |accessdate=March 16, 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://dpsu.gov.ua/en/about/news/news_3533.htm Ukrainian State Border Guard Service personnel keep performing tasks on enforcing border protection of South, East and West Ukrainian border | State border guard service of Uk...<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.kyivpost.com/multimedia/photo/tatar-self-defense-339029.html Crimean Tatars face tough choice: dig in, or flee<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Party of Regions MP Yuriy Miroshnychenko urged the Crimean government to stop the referendum.<ref name="16:15">{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/party_of_regions_must_stop_crimean_referendum___miroshnychenko_318414 |title=Party of Regions must stop Crimean referendum – Miroshnychenko&#124; Ukrinform |publisher=Ukrinform.ua |date= |accessdate=March 11, 2014}}</ref> Another Party of Regions MP, Hanna Herman, commented the same day about Yanukovych's press conference, "He needs to ... prevent the illegal referendum."<ref>{{cite news |date=March 11, 2014 |title=Yanukovych's speech in Rostov looked pathetic – Herman |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/eng/news/yanukovychs_speech_in_rostov_looked_pathetic___herman_318404 |location=Kyiv |publisher=Ukrinform |accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

===Russia===
{{see also|2014 anti-war protests in Russia}}
[[File:2014-03-10 - Yevpatoria military base - 0017.JPG|thumb|Request ("ultimatum") by [[Council of Ministers of Crimea]] to Ukrainian 55th Anti-Aircraft Artillery regiment in [[Yevpatoria]] to lay down arms under control of [[Black Sea Fleet|Russian Black Sea Fleet]] for the period of [[Crimean referendum, 2014|Crimean referendum]]]]
In a poll published on 24 February by the state-owned [[Russian Public Opinion Research Center]], only 15% of those Russians polled said 'yes' to the question: "Should Russia react to the overthrow of the legally elected authorities in Ukraine?"<ref>{{cite news | url=http://time.com/11952/putin-ukraine-crimea-russia/ | title=4 Reasons Putin Is Already Losing in Ukraine | work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=3 March 2014}}</ref>

The [[State Duma]] Committee on [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] Affairs, headed by [[Leonid Slutsky (politician)|Leonid Slutsky]], visited Simferopol on February 25, 2014 and said: "If the parliament of the Crimean autonomy or its residents express the wish to join the Russian Federation, Russia will be prepared to consider this sort of application. We will be examining the situation and doing so fast."<ref name="Rothkopf">{{cite web|last=Rothkopf |first=David |url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/02/25/all_not_quiet_on_ukraine_s_eastern_front |title=All (Not) Quiet on Ukraine's Eastern Front |work=Foreign policy |date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> They also stated that in the event of a [[referendum]] for Crimea region joining Russian Federation they would consider its results "very fast".<ref name="Infowars.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.infowars.com/russia-may-be-preparing-to-annex-crimea/ |title=Russia May Be Preparing to Annex Crimea Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind! |publisher=Infowars.com |date=February 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="gordonua.com">{{cite news|title=Российские паспорта и присоединение к РФ: Депутаты Госдумы прибыли в Крым (Rossiyskiye pasporta i prisoyedineniye k RF: Deputaty Gosdumy pribyli v Krym) |trans_title=Russian passports and joining Russia: State Duma deputies arrived in Crimea |url=http://gordonua.com/news/politics/Rossiyskie-pasporta-i-prisoedinenie-k-RF-Deputaty-Gosdumy-pribyli-v-Krym-11430.html |language=Ukrainian |newspaper=Gordonua|date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> Later Slutsky announced that he was misunderstood by Crimean press and no decision regarding simplifying the process of acquiring Russian citizenship for people in Crimea has been made yet.<ref name="aif.ru">{{cite news|title=В Госдуме опровергли данные о выдаче паспортов РФ жителям Крыма (V Gosdume oprovergli dannyye o vydache pasportov RF zhitelyam Kryma) |trans_title=The State Duma has denied information about issuing passports to residents of Crimea RF |url=http://www.aif.ru/euromaidan/uanews/1112843|language=Ukrainian|newspaper=[[Argumenty i Fakty]] |date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> And added that if "fellow Russian citizens are in jeopardy you understand that we do not stay away".<ref>{{cite web|language=Ukrainian |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016276 |title=Росія обіцяє втрутитися, якщо ''росіянам в Україні буде загроза'' (Rosiya obitsyaye vtrutytysya, yakshcho ''rosiyanam v Ukrayini bude zahroza'') |trans_title=Russia promises to intervene if the Russians in Ukraine ''threatened'' |work=Українська правда (Ukrayins'ka pravda) [Ukrainian Pravda] |place=UA |date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> On February 25, in a meeting with Crimean politicians he stated that Viktor Yanukovich was still the legitimate president of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/25/7016292/ |title=У Росії Януковича все ще вважають президентом – Слуцький (U Rosiyi Yanukovycha vse shche vvazhayut' prezydentom – Sluts'kyy) |trans_title=In Russia Yanukovych's still the president – Slutsky |work=Українська правда (Ukrayins'ka pravda) [Ukrainian Pravda] |place=UA |date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> That same day in the Russian Duma, they announced they were determining measures so that Russians in Ukraine who "did not want to break from the Russian World" could acquire Russian citizenship.<ref name="Интерфакс Interfax">{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.ru/world/news/361055 |title=Госдума России обсуждает меры по защите крымчан (Gosduma Rossii obsuzhdayet mery po zashchite krymchan) |trans_title=Russian State Duma discusses measures to protect the Crimean |publisher=Интерфакс (Interfax) |place=RU}}</ref>

On February 26, Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] ordered the [[Russian Armed Forces]] to be "put on alert in the [[Western Military District]] as well as units stationed with the 2nd Army [[Central Military District]] Command involved in aerospace defense, airborne troops and long-range military transport." Despite media speculation it was for in reaction to the events in Ukraine Russian [[Ministry of Defense (Russia)|Defense Minister]] [[Sergei Shoigu]] said it was in separate consideration from the unrest in Ukraine.<ref name="Alpert">{{cite web|last=Alpert |first=Lukas I. |url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304709904579406310892324006 |title=Russia Orders Military Exercises Amid Ukraine Tension |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
On February 27, 2014, the Russian government dismissed accusations about violation by the Russian side of the basic agreements in regards of the [[Black Sea Fleet]]: "All movements of armored vehicles are undertaken in full compliance with the basic agreements and did not require any approvals".<ref name="mid.ru">{{cite press release|url=http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/newsline/B975BAFF6BC9B43F44257C8C004A3AFD |type=comment |publisher=The Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia |title=The media question about the movements of the Black Sea Fleet armored vehicles |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="RIA News">{{cite news |url=http://ria.ru/world/20140227/997402725.html |title=Russian Defense Ministry: The Black Sea Fleet is not a threat to the situation in Ukraine |publisher=RIA News |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016538/ |title=Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the movement of armored vehicles in Crimea |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

On February 27, the Russian governing agencies presented the new law project on granting citizenship.<ref name="ria.ru">{{cite news|url=http://ria.ru/trend/_citizenship_Russia_12022014/ |title=Draft law of FMS and the Ministry of Economy of granting citizenship |publisher=RIA News |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref>

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the West and particularly [[NATO]] to "abandon the provocative statements and respect the neutral status of Ukraine".<ref name="mid_accusations">{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/27/7016548/ |title=MID of Russia made another statement on Ukraine: militants, NATO, provocations |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> In its statement the ministry claims that agreement on settlement of the crisis which was signed on February 21 and was witnessed by foreign ministries from Germany, [[Poland]] and France has to this date, not been implemented<ref name="mid_accusations" /> ([[Vladimir Lukin]] from Russia had not signed it<ref name="CTV News">{{cite news |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/tensions-high-at-kyiv-protest-camp-despite-ground-breaking-deal-1.1697154 |title=Tensions high at Kiev protest camp despite ground-breaking deal|publisher=[[CTV News]]|date=February 21, 2014 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/tensions-high-at-kyiv-protest-camp-despite-ground-breaking-deal-1.1697154 |archivedate=February 22, 2014}}</ref>).

On February 28, according to [[ITAR-TASS]], the [[Russian Ministry of Transport]] discontinued its further talks with Ukraine in regards to the [[Kerch Strait Bridge]] project.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/rosiya_pripinila_peregovori_z_ukraiinoyu_za_proektom_kerchenskogo_mostu_1912965 |title=Russia has suspended negotiations with Ukraine on the project of Kerch bridge |agency=[[Ukrinform]] |date=February 28, 2014}}</ref> However, on March 3 [[Dmitry Medvedev]], the [[Prime Minister of Russia]], signed a [[Order of the Government of Russia|decree]] creating a subsidiary of Russian Highways ([[Avtodor]]) to build a bridge at an unspecified location along the Kerch strait.<ref name="TV Rain">{{cite news |place=Russia |newspaper=[[Dozhd]]|publisher=TV Rain |url=http://tvrain.ru/articles/medvedev_rasporjadilsja_sozdat_kompaniju_dlja_stroitelstva_mosta_cherez_kerchenskij_proliv-364255/ |script-title=ru:Медведев распорядился создать компанию для строительства моста через керченский пролив |date=March 3, 2014|language=Russian }}</ref><ref>''The Moscow Times''. March 4, 2014</ref>
[[File:Марш за мир и свободу (2).jpg|thumb|upright|left|At least 30,000 people at March 15 protests, named [[2014 Russian anti-war protests|March of Peace]], which took place in [[Moscow]] a day before the Crimean referendum.]]

On Russian social networks there is a movement to gather volunteers who served in the Russian army to go to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/02/28/7016603/ |title=In Russia there are gathering "tourists" to Ukraine who served in the military |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |date=February 28, 2014}}</ref>

On February 28 President Putin stated it was of "extreme importance of not allowing a further escalation of violence and the necessity of a rapid normalisation of the situation in Ukraine" in telephone calls with key EU leaders.<ref name="CrimeaRussiaOccupation" /> Already on February 19 the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the Euromaidan revolution as the "[[Brown revolution]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://lenta.ru/news/2014/02/19/brown/ |title=Russian Foreign Ministry called the Ukrainian revolution "brown" |newspaper=Lenta |place=RU |date=February 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/02/19/7014748/ |title=Russian Foreign Ministry: In Ukraine the "brown" revolution, we will apply all the influence |newspaper=[[Ukrayinska Pravda]] |place=UA |date=February 19, 2014}}</ref>

The [[Federation Council (Russia)|Federation Council]] approved that Russia may introduce a limited contingent of Russian troops in Crimea{{Clarify|date=March 2014}}<!-- isn't it in WHOLE Ukraine? See Presidential request to FC here: http://kremlin.ru/news/20353 --> for the security of the Black Sea Fleet and the Russians.<ref name="Federation 2014">[http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/1/7016760/ Council of the Federation: Russia may introduce troops into Crimea]. [[Ukrainska Pravda]]. March 1, 2014.</ref>

In Moscow, on March 2, an estimated 27,000 rallied in support of the Russian government's decision to intervene in Ukraine.<ref name="csmmoscow">{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0302/Vladimir-Putin-sees-small-protests-mass-support-for-troops-in-Ukraine-video |title=Vladimir Putin sees small protests, mass support for troops in Ukraine (+video)|work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=March 2, 2014}}</ref> The rallies received considerable attention on Russian state TV and were officially sanctioned by the government.<ref name=csmmoscow />

Meanwhile, on March 1, five people who were picketing next to the Federation Council building against the invasion of Ukraine were arrested.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.unian.ua/politics/891669-u-rosiji-zatrimali-aktivistiv-yaki-protestuvali-proti-viyni-z-ukrajinoyu.html |title=In Russia were detained activists who protested against the war with Ukraine |agency=[[Ukrainian Independent Information Agency]] |date=March 1, 2014}}</ref> The next day about 200 people protested at the building of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow against Russian military involvement.<ref name="Utro">{{cite web |url=http://www.utro.ru/articles/2014/03/02/1179378.shtml|title=На антивоенных акциях в Москве задержаны 300 человек (Na antivoyennykh aktsiyakh v Moskve zaderzhany 300 chelovek) |trans_title=At the anti-war actions in Moscow detained 300 people |publisher=Utro |place=RU |language=Russian|accessdate=March 2, 2014}}</ref> About 500 people also gathered to protest on the [[Manezhnaya Square, Moscow|Manezhnaya Square]] in Moscow and the same number of people on the [[Saint Isaac's Square]] in Saint Petersburg.<ref name="investigator.org.ua">{{cite web |url=http://investigator.org.ua/news/120579/ |title=В Москве и Перебурге проходят митинги против российской оккупации Крыма. Уже есть задержанные (V Moskve i Peterburge prokhodyat mitingi protiv rossiyskoy okkupatsii Kryma. Uzhe yest' zaderzhannyye) |trans_title=In Moscow and St. Petersburg rallies against the Russian occupation of the Crimea. Already have detained |language=Russian |publisher=Центр журналистских расследований (Tsentr zhurnalistskikh rassledovaniy) [Center for Investigative Journalism] |accessdate=March 2, 2014 }}</ref> On March 2, about eleven protesters demonstrated in [[Yekaterinburg]] against Russian involvement, with some wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.<ref name="kp.ru">{{cite web |url=http://www.kp.ru/online/news/1674924/|title=Жители Екатеринбурга провели пикеты против ввода российских войск в Крым (Zhiteli Yekaterinburga proveli pikety protiv vvoda rossiyskikh voysk v Krym) |trans_title=Inhabitants of Ekaterinburg picketed against Russian troops in the Crimea |work=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]] |place=RU |language=Russian |accessdate=March 2, 2014}}</ref> Protests were also held in [[Chelyabinsk]] on the same day.<ref name="ura.ru">{{cite web |url=http://www.ura.ru/content/svrd/02-03-2014/news/1052176002.html|title="Сколько детей ты готов похоронить, чтобы Крым стал частью России?" Первые антивоенные пикеты прошли на Урале ("Skol'ko detey ty gotov pokhoronit', chtoby Krym stal chast'yu Rossii?" Pervyye antivoyennyye pikety proshli na Urale) |trans_title="How many children are you willing to bury to Crimea became part of Russia?" First anti-war pickets were held in the Urals |publisher=Ura |place=RU |language=Russian |accessdate=March 2, 2014}}</ref> The opposition to the military intervention was also expressed by rock musician [[Andrey Makarevich]], who wrote in particular: "You want war with Ukraine? It will not be the way [[Russo-Georgian war|it was with Abkhazia]]: the folks on the Maidan have been hardened and know what they are fighting for – for their country, their independence. [...] We have to live with them. Still neighborly. And preferably in friendship. But it's up to them how they want to live".<ref name="novayagazeta.ru">{{cite web |url=http://www.novayagazeta.ru/society/62540.html |title=Не стреляй! Шевчук, Гребенщиков, Макаревич. Антивоенная риторика (Ne strelyay! Shevchuk, Grebenshchikov, Makarevich. Antivoyennaya ritorika) |trans_title=Do not shoot! Shevchuk, Grebenshikov Makarevich. antiwar rhetoric |work=[[Novaya Gazeta]] |language=Russian |accessdate=March 4, 2014}}</ref> The Professor of the Department of Philosophy at the [[Moscow State Institute of International Relations]] [[Andrey Zubov]] was fired for his article in ''[[Vedomosti]]'', criticizing Russian military intervention.<ref name="Bershidsky">{{Cite news |last = Bershidsky |first = Leonid |date = March 25, 2014 |title = Comparing Putin to Hitler Will Get You Fired |url = http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-03-25/comparing-putin-to-hitler-will-get-you-fired |work = [[bloomberg.com]] |accessdate = March 25, 2014 }}</ref>

On 2 March, one Moscow resident protested against Russian intervention by holding "Stop the war" banner, but he was immediately harassed by passers-by and when the police was arresting him, a woman offered them fabricating a serious charge (beating up a child) against him; however, the proposal was rejected by the police.<ref name="opposed">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26531310 |title=Ukraine crisis: Russians opposed to Putin |publisher=BBC News Magazine |date=12 March 2014}}</ref> Andrei Zubov, a professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, who compared Russian actions in Crimea to the [[Anschluss]] of Austria, was threatened. Akexander Chuyev, the leader of the pro-Kremlin Spravedlivaya Rossiya party, also objected to Russian intervention in Ukraine. [[Boris Akunin]], popular Russian writer, predicted that Russia's moves would lead to political and economic isolation.<ref name="opposed"/>

[[File:Vladimir Putin answered journalists’ questions on the situation in Ukraine (2014-03-04).jpeg|thumb|upright=1.3|Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] (seated, middle) speaks to the press on March 4, 2014, denouncing [[2014 Ukrainian revolution|the events in Kiev]] as an "unconstitutional coup", and insisting that Moscow has a right to protect Russians in Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/putin-reserves-the-right-to-use-force-in-ukraine/2014/03/04/92d4ca70-a389-11e3-a5fa-55f0c77bf39c_story.html |title=Putin defends Ukraine stance, cites lawlessness |work=The Washington Post|date=March 4, 2014}}</ref>]]
President Putin's approval rating among the Russian public has increased by nearly 10% since the crisis began, up to 71.6%, the highest in three years, according to a poll conducted by the [[VTSIOM|All-Russian Center for Public Opinion Research]], released on March 19.<ref name="approval">{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/18/crimea-ukraine-putin-russia/6564263/|title=Putin's move on Crimea bolsters popularity back home|publisher=USA Today|date=March 19, 2014|accessdate=March 20, 2014}}</ref> Additionally, the same poll showed that more than 90% of Russians supported unification with the Crimean Republic.<ref name=approval/>

On March 4, at press conference in [[Novo-Ogaryovo]] President Putin expressed his view on the situation that if a revolution took place in Ukraine, it is a new country with which Russia did not conclude any treaties.<ref name="putin_renounced">{{cite news |url=http://dt.ua/POLITICS/putin-podilyaye-dumku-scho-yakscho-v-ukrayini-revolyuciya-to-na-yiyi-teritoriyi-vzhe-nova-derzhava-138899_.html |title=Putin shares the view that if in Ukraine "revolution" – then on its territory is a new state |newspaper=[[Mirror Weekly]] |date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> He brought up an analogy with events of 1917 in Russia, when as a result of the revolution the [[Russian Empire]] fell apart and a new state was created.<ref name="putin_renounced"/> However, he stated Ukraine would still have to honor its debts.
[[File:Celebrating Victory Day and the 70th anniversary of Sevastopol’s liberation (2493-24).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Around 100,000 people gathered in Crimean Sevastopol at Victory Day parade]]
Russian politicians have speculated that there are already 143,000 Ukrainian refugees in Russia.<ref name="refugees">{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2014/03/02/07/46/russia-claims-thousands-fleeing-ukraine |title=Russia claims thousands fleeing Ukraine |newspaper=Nine MSN |place=AU |date=March 2, 2014}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] refuted those claims of refugees increase in Russia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/mzs_ukraiini_sprostuvalo_zrostannya_kilkosti_bigentsiv_do_rosiii_1914722 |title=мзс україні спростувало зростання кількості бігентсив до росії (MZS Ukrayini sprostuvalo zrostannya kil'kosti bihent·syv do rosiyi) |trans_title=Ukraine Foreign Ministry refuted the growing number of refugees in Russia |agency=[[Ukrinform]] |date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> At a briefing on March 4, 2014, the director of department of information policy of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] of [[Ukraine]] [[Yevhen Perebiynis]] claimed that Russia was misinforming its own citizens as well as the entire international community to justify its own actions in the Crimea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/mzs_putin_prodovgue__dezinformuvati_uves_svit_zaradi_vipravdannya_svoiih_diy_1914726 |place=UA |title=мзс путін продовґуе дезінформувати весь світ заради виправдання своїх дії (MZS Putin prodovgue dezinformuvaty ves' svit zarady vypravdannya svoyikh diyi) |trans_title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Putin continues to mislead the whole world for justification of own actions |agency=[[Ukrinform]] |date=March 4, 2014}}</ref>

On March 5, an anchor of the Russian-owned international news channel [[RT America]], [[Abby Martin (journalist)|Abby Martin]], in an interview with [[Piers Morgan]], said she "did not agree" with how her employer RT was covering the Ukrainian crisis, but claims RT still supports her despite her differences of opinion.<ref name="Piers">{{cite video|title=Abby Martin: Russia Today supports me|url=http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/03/05/pmt-intv-martin-russia-critique.cnn.html|publisher=CNN|date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> Also on March 5, 2014, another RT America anchor, [[Liz Wahl]], of the network's Washington, DC bureau, resigned on air, explaining that she could not be "part of a network that whitewashes the actions of Putin" and citing her Hungarian ancestry and the memory of the Soviet repression of the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian Uprising]] as a factor in her decision.<ref name="Kirchick">{{cite web|last = Kirchick|first = James|title = Exclusive: RT Anchor Liz Wahl Explains Why She Quit|work = The Daily Beast|accessdate = March 6, 2014|date = March 5, 2014|url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/05/exclusive-rt-today-anchor-liz-wahl-explains-why-she-quit.html
}}</ref>

In early March, Igor Andreyev, a 75-year-old survivor of the [[Siege of Leningrad]], attended an anti-war rally against the Russian intervention in Crimea and was holding a sign that read "Peace to the World". The riot police arrested him and a local pro-government lawyer then accused him of being a supporter of "fascism". The retiree, who lived on a 6,500-ruble monthly pension, was fined 10,000 rubles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/leningrad-blockade-survivor-arrested-fined-for-anti-war-protest/495842.html |title=Leningrad Blockade Survivor Arrested, Fined For Anti-War Protest |author=Anna Dolgov |publisher=The Moscow Times |date=7 March 2014}}</ref>

Prominent dissident [[Mikhail Khodorkovsky]] said that Crimea should stay within Ukraine with broader autonomy.<ref name="Interfax">{{cite news |url=http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=487296|title=Khodorkovsky: Crimea should stay within Ukraine with broad autonomous status|publisher=Interfax|date=March 10, 2014}}</ref>

[[Tatarstan]], a republic within Russia populated by [[Volga Tatars]], has sought to alleviate concerns about treatment of Tatars by Russia, as Tatarstan is a gas-rich and economically successful republic in Russia.<ref name="aljazeera.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/03/crimea-crisis-tatarstan-factor-2014314143349496558.html |title=Crimea crisis: The Tatarstan factor – Opinion |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> On March 5, [[President of Tatarstan]] [[Rustam Minnikhanov]] signed an agreement on cooperation between Tatarstan and the Aksyonov government in Crimea that implied collaboration between ten government institutions as well as significant financial aid to Crimea from Tatarstan businesses.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> On March 11, Minnikhanov was in Crimea on his second visit and attended as a guest present in the Crimean parliament chamber during the vote on the declaration of sovereignty pending the March 16 referendum.<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> The Tatarstan's Mufti [[Kamil Samigullin]] invited Crimean Tatars to study in madrasas in Kazan and declared support for their "brothers in faith and blood".<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> [[Mustafa Dzhemilev]], a former leader of the Crimean Tatar Majlis believes that forces that are suspected to be Russian forces should leave the Crimean peninsula,<ref name="aljazeera.com"/> and has asked the UN Security Council to send peacekeepers into the region.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rfe/Rl |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-crimean-tatar-un-peacekeepers/25317014.html |title=Crimean Tatar Leader Calls For UN Peacekeeping Troops |publisher=Rferl.org |date=2014-04-01 |accessdate=2014-05-14}}</ref>

On March 13, Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] made a comparison between Crimea and [[Kosovo]] in a phone call with U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>"[http://cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/crimea-vote-putin-cites-kosovo-precedent Crimea Vote: Putin Cites Kosovo 'Precedent']" CNS News.16 March 2014.</ref>

On March 15, thousands of protesters (estimates varying from 3,000 by official sources up to 50,000 claimed by opposition) in Moscow marched against Russian involvement in Ukraine, many waving Ukrainian flags.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-moscow-protest-russias-action-crimea-003037662.html]{{dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> At the same time a pro government (and pro-[[Crimean status referendum, 2014|referendum]]) rally, occurred across the street, counted thousands as well (officials claiming 27,000 with opposition claiming about 10,000).

==International reactions==
{{main|International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis}}
[[File:Crimea reaction clean.svg|thumb|300px|right|International reaction to the 2014 Crimean crisis according to official governmental statements.{{efn|If an official position can be sorted in more than one category, the "strongest" position was marked (from the "call for a peaceful resolution" to "interpretation as a military intervention" consecutively). For the sources see the image description.}}
{{legend|#efef8f|''Statements only voicing concern or hope for peaceful resolution to the conflict''}}
{{legend|#57d2d2|''Support for Ukrainian territorial integrity''}}
{{legend|#289797|''Condemnation of Russian actions''}}
{{legend|#1b6565|''Condemnation of Russian actions as a military intervention or invasion''}}
{{legend|#d93cd9|''Support for Russian actions and/or condemnation of the Ukrainian interim government''}}
{{legend|#f08080|''Recognition of Russian interests''}}
{{legend|#497bd7|''Ukraine''}}
{{legend|#6a1f1f|''Russia''}}
{{legend|#CDCDCD|''No official statements / No data available''}}]]
[[File:UN Resolution regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine.svg|thumb|300px|Results of the United Nations General Assembly vote about the territorial integrity of Ukraine.<br>{{Legend inline|#74C365|In favor}} {{Legend inline|#ab4e52|Against}} {{Legend inline|#FADA5E|Abstentions}} {{nowrap|{{Legend inline|#89CFF0|Absent}}}} {{Legend inline|#e0e0e0|Non-members}}]]

There has been a range of international reactions to the crisis. A U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution 100 in favor, 11 against and 58 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly that declared invalid Crimea's Moscow-backed referendum.<ref name="CHARBONNEAU AND DONATH"/><ref name="Felton and Gumuchian"/><ref name="un.org"/><ref name="foxnews.com"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/> In a move supported by the Lithuanian President,<ref name=CNBC>{{cite news|title=Russia sanctions 9 US officials in response to US sanctions on Russian officials|url=http://www.cnbc.com/id/101489046|newspaper=CNBC|date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> the United States government imposed sanctions against persons they deem to have violated or assisted in the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.<ref name="EO13660" /> The [[European Union]] suspended talks with Russia on economic and visa-related matters; and is considering more stringent sanctions against Russia in the near future, including asset freezes.<ref name="EUsanctions" /><ref name="mainichi.jp"/> while Japan announced sanctions which include suspension of talks relating to military, space, investment, and visa requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/18/japan-imposes-sanctions-against-russia-over-crimea-independence/ |title=Japan imposes sanctions against Russia over Crimea independence |publisher=Fox News |date=March 18, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> The [[EU Commission]] decided on March 11 to enter into a full free-trade agreement with Ukraine this year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Baker |first=Luke |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/us-eu-ukraine-trade-idUSBREA2A10D20140311 |title=EU to offer 500 million euros of trade benefits to Ukraine |publisher=Reuters |date= |accessdate=March 11, 2014}}</ref> On March 12, the [[European Parliament]] rejected the upcoming referendum on independence in Crimea, which they saw as manipulated and contrary to international and Ukrainian law.<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140312STO38705/html/Ukraine-MEPs-call-for-firm-action-on-Russia-to-prevent-further-escalation Ukraine: MEPs call for firm action on Russia to prevent further escalation<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The [[G7]] bloc of developed nations (the [[G8]] minus Russia) made a joint statement condemning Russia and announced that they will suspend preparations for the upcoming [[40th G8 summit|G8 summit in Sochi]] in June.<ref>{{cite news |work=Political ticker |publisher=CNN |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/02/lawmakers-call-for-suspension-of-russia-from-g8-swift-action-against-putin/ |title=Lawmakers call for suspension of Russia from G8, swift action against Putin |type=[[World Wide Web]] log |date=March 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/02/john-kerry-russia-putin-crimea-ukraine |title=Russia G8 status at risk over 'incredible act of aggression' in Crimea, says Kerry |work=The Guardian |date=March 2, 2014 |place=UK}}</ref> [[NATO]] condemned Russia's military escalation in Crimea and stated that it was breach of international law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_107681.htm |title=North Atlantic Council statement on the situation in Ukraine |publisher=Nato.int |date= |accessdate=March 3, 2014}}</ref> while the [[Council of Europe]] expressed its full support for the territorial integrity and national unity of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=4908&lang=2&cat=17 |title=PACE: News |publisher=Assembly.coe.int |date=November 22, 2013 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> The [[Visegrád Group]] has issued a joint statement urging Russia to respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and for Ukraine to take into account its minority groups to not further break fragile relations. It has urged for Russia to respect Ukrainian and international law and in line with the provisions of the [[1994 Budapest Memorandum]].<ref name=Visegrad>{{cite press release |title=Statement of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrad countries on Ukraine |url=http://www.kormany.hu/en/prime-minister-s-office/news/statement-of-the-prime-ministers-of-the-visegrad-countries-on-ukraine |place=Hungary |publisher=Prime Minister's Office|title=Statement of the Prime Ministers of the Visegrád Countries on Ukraine}}</ref>

China said "We respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine". A spokesman restated China's belief of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations and urged dialogue.<ref name=ibtbacchi1>{{cite news|last=FlorCruz |first=Jaime |title=Russia may find ally in China – albeit a passive one for now|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/05/world/asia/china-russia-ukraine-analysis/|accessdate=March 5, 2014|newspaper=CNN|date=March 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name=ibtbacchi2>{{cite news|last=Economy|first=Elizabeth|title=China's Soft 'Nyet' To Russia's Ukraine Intervention|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabetheconomy/2014/03/05/chinas-soft-nyet-to-russias-ukraine-intervention/|accessdate=March 5, 2014|newspaper=Forbes|date=March 6, 2014}}</ref>

[[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Advisor]] [[Shivshankar Menon]] of [[India]] stated that Russia has legitimate interests in Crimea and called for "sustained diplomatic efforts" and "constructive dialogue" to resolve the crisis.<ref>{{cite news|title=Russia has legitimate interests in Ukraine: Shivshankar Menon, NSA|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/russia-has-legitimate-interests-in-ukraine-shivshankar-menon-nsa/articleshow/31546699.cms|accessdate=March 7, 2014|publisher=The Economic Times|date=March 6, 2014}}</ref> However, the National Security Advisor is not a part of the [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]] of India and, as such, Menon's statement was not an official statement issued by the government of India.<ref>"However, when questioned, national security adviser Shivshankar Menon said..." ([http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Russian-interests-in-Crimea-legitimate-India/articleshow/31557852.cms source])</ref> However, India subsequently made it clear that it will not support any "unilateral measures" against Russian government. "India has never supported unilateral sanctions against any country. Therefore, we will also not support any unilateral measures by a country or a group of countries against Russia."<ref>{{cite news|title=India not to support western sanctions against Russia|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-not-to-support-western-sanctions-against-Russia/articleshow/32307749.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|date=March 19, 2014}}</ref>
Both [[Syria]] and [[Venezuela]] openly support Russian military action. Syrian President [[Bashar al Assad]] said that he supports Putin's efforts to "restore security and stability in the friendly country of Ukraine", while Venezuelan President [[Nicolas Maduro]] condemned Ukraine's "ultra-nationalist" coup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/06/bashar-al-assad-letter-of-support-to-putin/ |title=Syria's Assad expresses support to Putin on Ukraine |publisher=euronews |date=May 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name="SFGATE">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Putin-on-Ukraine-Supported-by-5311093.php | title=Putin on Ukraine Supported by China-Syria-Venezuela Minority | publisher=San Francisco Chronicle | work=Bloomberg News | date=March 12, 2014 | accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref> Sri Lanka described Yanukovych's removal as unconstitutional and considered Russia's concerns in Crimea as justified.<ref>[http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/sri-lanka-regrets-removal-of-ukrainian-president-114031300031_1.html Sri Lanka regrets removal of Ukrainian president | Business Standard<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Polish Prime Minister [[Donald Tusk]] called for change in EU energy policy as Germany's dependence on Russian gas poses risks for Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/13/russia-political-economic-damage-ukraine-merkel|title=Germany's dependence on Russian gas poses risks for Europe – Polish PM|publisher=Reuters|date=March 10, 2014}}</ref>

On March 13, German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] warned Moscow it risks massive damage to Russia, economically and politically, if it refuses to change course on Ukraine,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/13/russia-political-economic-damage-ukraine-merkel|title=Russia risks political and economic damage over Ukraine, says Merkel|publisher=The Guardian|date=March 13, 2014}}</ref> though close economic links between Germany and Russia significantly reduce the scope for Berlin to sanction the Eurasian giant.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Bryant |first = Chris |date = March 27, 2014 |title = German business concerns grow over Russia ties |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ccc5cfd8-b449-11e3-bac4-00144feabdc0.html |work = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 27, 2014 |quote = German entities have invested roughly €20bn in Russia and some 6,200 companies – mostly small and medium-sized Mittelstand businesses – are active there. Last year trade between the two countries totalled more than €76bn. … Russia supplies 35 per cent of German gas and 30 per cent of its oil. }}</ref>

After Russia moved to formally incorporate Crimea, some worried whether it may not do the same in other regions.<ref name=Transdniester>{{cite news|last=Freeman|first=Colin|title=Russian troops poised to 'run' into Moldova, Nato commander warns|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/moldova/10717260/Russian-troops-poised-to-run-into-Moldova-Nato-commander-warns.html|accessdate=March 24, 2014|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> US deputy national security advisor [[Tony Blinken]] said that the Russian troops massed on the eastern Ukrainian border may be preparing to enter the country's eastern regions. Russian officials stated that Russian troops would not enter other areas.<ref name=Transdniester /> US Air Force Gen. [[Philip M. Breedlove]], NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe, warned that the same troops were in a position to take over the separatist Russian-speaking [[Moldova]]n province of [[Transnistria]].<ref name=Transdniester />

On April 9, [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|PACE]] deprived Russia of voting rights.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rfe/Rl |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-ukraine-pace-/25327665.html |title=PACE Deprives Russia of Voting Rights |publisher=Rferl.org |date=April 10, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref>

On 14 August, while visiting Crimea, Vladimir Putin ruled out pushing beyond Crimea. He undertook to do everything he could to end the conflict in Ukraine, saying Russia needed to build calmly and with dignity, not by confrontation and war which isolated it from the rest of the world.<ref name="PutinConciliatory">{{cite news|title=Putin talks of peace in annexed Crimea|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/vladimir-putin-delivers-speech-in-crimea/5672208|date=14 August 2014|accessdate=15 August 2014|publisher=''ABC AU''}}</ref>

===Recognition===
{{Further|Political status of Crimea|International reactions to the 2014 Crimean crisis}}
[[File:Recognition of Crimean Referendum.svg|{{legend|#336733|Countries recognizing results of [[Crimean status referendum, 2014|2014 Crimean referendum]]}}{{legend|black|Crimea}}|300px|thumb|right]]

The [[2014 Crimean referendum]] was recognized by 18 states, 15 of whom were UN members.

Five UN members ([[Afghanistan]],<ref name="nytimes1"/> [[Nicaragua]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/nicaragua-recognizes-crimea-as-part-of-russia-341102.html |title=Nicaragua recognizes Crimea as part of Russia |publisher=Kyivpost.com |date=March 27, 2014 |accessdate=April 1, 2014}}</ref> [[Russia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/724749 |title=ITAR-TASS: Russia – Russian Federation Council ratifies treaty on Crimea's entry to Russia |publisher=ITAR-TASS |date=March 16, 2014 |accessdate=April 1, 2014}}</ref> [[Syria]],<ref name="nytimes1">http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/asia/breaking-with-the-west-afghan-leader-supports-russias-annexation-of-crimea.html?ref=asia&_r=0</ref> [[Venezuela]]<ref name="nytimes1"/>) have explicitly accepted the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol as federal subjects of Russia:

According to [[Belarus]], Crimea is ''de jure'' part of Ukraine, but ''de facto'' part of Russia. Its wording thus far has been vague: it includes "Ukraine should remain an integral, indivisible, non-aligned state" and "As for Crimea, I do not like it when the integrity and independence of a country are broken", on the one hand, and "Today Crimea is part of the Russian Federation. No matter whether you recognize it or not, the fact remains." and "Whether Crimea will be recognized as a region of the Russian Federation de-jure does not really matter", on the other hand.<ref>[http://president.gov.by/en/news_en/view/president-of-the-republic-of-belarus-alexander-lukashenko-answers-questions-of-mass-media-representatives-on-8348/ President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko answers questions of mass media representatives on 23 March 2014]. president.gov.by. March 23, 2014.</ref>

===Sanctions===
{{main|List of individuals sanctioned during the 2014 Crimean crisis}}
Sanctions were imposed to prevent Russian and Crimean officials and politicians traveling to Canada, the United States, and the European Union. They were the most wide-ranging used on Russia since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.<ref name="Katakey">{{Cite news |last = Katakey |first = Rakteem |date = March 25, 2014 |title = Russian Oil Seen Heading East Not West in Crimea Spat |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/russian-oil-seen-heading-east-not-west-in-crimea-spat.html |publisher = [[bloomberg.com]] |accessdate = March 25, 2014 }}</ref>

Japan announced milder sanctions than the US and EU. These include suspension of talks relating to military, space, investment, and visa requirements.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/03/18/japan-imposes-sanctions-against-russia-over-crimea-independence/ Japan imposes sanctions against Russia over Crimea independence | Fox News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In response to the sanctions introduced by the U.S. and EU, the [[State Duma|Russian Duma]] unanimously passed a resolution asking for all members of the Duma to be included on the sanctions list.<ref name="dumasanctions">{{cite news|url=http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_03_18/All-Russian-MPs-volunteer-to-be-subject-to-US-EU-sanctions-7889/|title=All Russian MPs volunteer to be subject to US, EU sanctions|publisher=2014-03-18|accessdate=March 20, 2014}}</ref> Head of the opposition [[A Just Russia]] party [[Sergei Mironov]] said he was proud of being included on the sanctions list, "It is with pride that I have found myself on the black list, this means they have noticed my stance on Crimea."<ref name=dumasanctions/> Russian companies started pulling billions of dollars out of Western banks to avoid any asset freeze.<ref name = "FT freeze">{{Cite news |last1 = Jenkins |first1 = Patrick |last2 = Schäfer |first2 = Daniel |last3 = Weaver |first3 = Courtney |last4 = Farchy |first4 = Jack |date = March 14, 2014 |title = Russian companies withdraw billions from west, say Moscow bankers |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ffea2660-ab9e-11e3-aad9-00144feab7de.html |publisher = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 27, 2014 }}</ref>

Three days after the lists were published, the [[Foreign Ministry of Russia|Russian Foreign Ministry]] published a reciprocal sanctions list of US citizens, which consisted of 10 names, including House of Representatives Speaker [[John Boehner]], Senator [[John McCain]], and two advisers to President Obama. The ministry said in the statement, "Treating our country in such way, as Washington could have already ascertained, is inappropriate and counterproductive," and reiterated that sanctions against Russia would have a boomerang effect.<ref>[http://rt.com/news/foreign-ministry-russia-sanctions-133/ Sanctions tit-for-tat: Moscow strikes back against US officials] ''[[RT (TV network)|RT]]'' Retrieved on March 20, 2014</ref> Several of those sanctioned responded with pride at their inclusion on the list, including [[John Boehner]],<ref name=WaPo>{{cite news|last=Lowery & O'Keefe|first=Wesley & Ed|title=Reacting to sanctions, Russians ban Reid, Boehner and four other lawmakers|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/20/reacting-to-sanctions-russians-ban-reid-boehner-and-7-other-lawmakers/|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> [[John McCain]],<ref name=WaPo/> [[Bob Menendez]],<ref name=NJ>{{cite news|last=Isherwood|first=Darryl|title=Bob Menendez is banned from Russia|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/bob_menendez_is_banned_from_russia.html|newspaper=NJ|date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> [[Dan Coats]],<ref name=WaPo/> [[Mary Landrieu]],<ref name=Slate>{{cite news|last=Weigel|first=David|title=Senators Celebrate Being Sanctioned by Russia|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2014/03/20/senators_celebrate_being_sanctioned_by_russia.html|newspaper=Slate|date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> and [[Harry Reid]].<ref name=Slate/>

On March 24, Russia has imposed retaliatory sanctions on 13 Canadian officials including members of the [[Parliament of Canada]],<ref name="theglobeandmail.com">{{cite news|author=Steven Chase |url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/russia-bans-entry-to-13-canadians-in-retaliation-for-ottawas-sanctions/article17635115/ |title=Russia imposes sanctions on 13 Canadians, including MPs |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=March 24, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> banning them from entering Russia. Foreign Affairs Minister [[John Baird (Canadian politician)|John Baird]], said the sanctions were "a badge of honour."<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russian-sanctions-against-canadians-a-badge-of-honour-1.2584137 Russian sanctions against Canadians a 'badge of honour' – Politics – CBC News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Former [[Minister of Justice (Canada)|Minister of Justice]] [[Irwin Cotler]] also said that he considered the sanctions a badge of honour, not a mark of exclusion.<ref name="theglobeandmail.com"/>

In March 2014, ''The Christian Science Monitor'' reported, "The good news is that so far, Russia has shown no inclination to use the NDN [ [[Northern Distribution Network]], key supply line to [[Afghanistan]] that runs through Russia] as leverage in the wake of US retaliation for its troop movements in Crimea."<ref>"[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/2014/0304/Punish-Russia-Why-some-Pentagon-officials-would-prefer-restraint.-video Punish Russia? Why some Pentagon officials would prefer restraint.]," ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'', 4 March 2014.</ref>

Expanded Western sanctions in mid-March coursed through financial markets, hitting the business interests of some Russia's richest people.<ref name = "FT share prices">{{Cite news |last1 = Farchy |first1 = Jack |last2 = Hume |first2 = Neil |date = March 21, 2014 |title = Russian share prices drop as sanctions bite |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9ffba124-b0d6-11e3-9f6f-00144feab7de.html |publisher = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 21, 2014 }}</ref> The Americans' centered on the heart of Moscow's leadership,<ref name = "FT inner circle">{{Cite news |last = Buckley|first = Neil |date = March 21, 2014 |title = Putin feels the heat as sanctions target president's inner circle |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c8859528-b11c-11e3-bbd4-00144feab7de.html |publisher = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 21, 2014 }}</ref> though the EU's initial list shied from targeting Putin's inner circle.<ref name = "EU trade war">{{Cite news |last = Traynor |first = Ian |date = March 21, 2014 |title = European Union prepares for trade war with Russia over Crimea |url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/21/eu-mobilises-trade-war-russia-crimea-ukraine |publisher = [[theguardian.com]] |accessdate = March 22, 2014 }}</ref> As ratings agencies [[Fitch Ratings|Fitch]] and [[Standard & Poor's]] downgraded Russia's credit outlook,<ref name = "Bloomberg downgrade">{{Cite news |last = Tanas |first = Olga |date = March 21, 2014 |title = Russia's Credit Outlook Cut as U.S., EU Widen Sanction Lists |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-20/russia-outlook-cut-to-negative-by-s-p-as-obama-widens-sanctions.html |publisher = [[bloomberg.com]] |accessdate = March 21, 2014 }}</ref> Russian banks warned of a sanctions-induced recession,<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{Cite news |last1 = Timu |first1 = Andra |last2 = Meyer |first2 = Henry |last3 = Tanas |first3 = Olga |date = March 23, 2014 |title = Russia Staring at Recession on Sanctions That Could Get Tougher |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/russia-staring-at-recession-on-sanctions-that-could-get-tougher.html |publisher = [[bloomberg.com]] |accessdate = March 23, 2014 }}</ref> the country braced for capital outflows for the first three months of 2014 to reach $70 billion,<ref name = "FT capital flows">{{Cite news |last1 = Hille |first1 = Kathrin |last2 = McGregor |first2 = Richard |date = March 24, 2014 |title = Russia braced for $70bn in outflows |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/19b9ad88-b37c-11e3-bc21-00144feabdc0.html |publisher = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 24, 2014 }}</ref> more than the entirety of outflows for 2013,<ref name="ft.com">{{Cite news |last1 = Weaver |first1 = Courtney |last2 = Farchy |first2 = Jack |date = March 25, 2014 |title = Funds cut Russian holdings after sanctions |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b67f8da4-b3f4-11e3-a102-00144feabdc0.html |publisher = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 27, 2014 |quote = Deputy economy minister Andrei Klepach estimates that Russian capital outflows will total up to $70bn in the first quarter, more than the $63bn that left the country during the whole of 2013.}}</ref> and Russian government-bond issues plummeted by three-quarters compared with the same period the previous year.<ref>{{Cite news |last1 = Farchy |first1 = Jack |last2 = Arnold |first2 = Martin |date = April 18, 2014 |title = Banks retreat from Moscow deals |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/36e988ea-c576-11e3-89a9-00144feabdc0.html |publisher = ft.com |accessdate = April 19, 2014 }}</ref> Novatek, Russia's second-largest gas producer, saw $2.5bn in market value wiped out when its shares sank by nearly 10%, rendering Putin's close friend [[Gennady Timchenko]], who has a 23% stake in the company, $575m poorer.<ref name = "FT share prices"/> "I do hope that there is some serious diplomatic activity going on behind the scenes," said one Russian banker,<ref name = "FT executives">{{Cite news |last1 = Farchy |first1 = Jack |last2 = Hille |first2 = Kathrin |last3 = Weaver |first3 = Courtney |date = March 21, 2014 |title = Russian executives quake as US sanctions rattle markets |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f35068a-b119-11e3-9548-00144feab7de.html |publisher = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 21, 2014 }}</ref> though others were more sanguine on the question of whether the sanctions would have any enduring effect,<ref name = "Bloomberg downgrade"/><ref name = "Bloomberg muted">{{Cite news |last = Pavliva |first = Halia |date = March 23, 2014 |title = EU's Muted Crimea Response Triggers Russian Stock Rebound |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-23/eu-s-muted-crimea-response-triggers-russian-stock-rebound.html |publisher = [[bloomberg.com]] |accessdate = March 23, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="uk.reuters.com">{{Cite news |last1 = Matzen |first1 = Eric |last2 = Martin |first2 = Michelle |date = March 21, 2014 |title = Russian sanctions ripple through corporate boardrooms |url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/21/uk-europe-sanctions-idUKBREA2K1VD20140321 |agency = [[Reuters]] |accessdate = March 21, 2014 }}</ref> and Russians, top and bottom, seemed defiant.<ref name = "FT defiant">{{Cite news |last = Hille |first = Kathrin |date = March 21, 2014 |title = Putin boosted by defiant tone at top and among people |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1dca5172-b122-11e3-9548-00144feab7de.html |publisher = [[ft.com]] |accessdate = March 21, 2014 }}</ref> The official Russian response was mixed.<ref>{{Cite news |last1 = Alpert |first1 = Lukas I. |last2 = Sonne |first2 = Paul |date = March 21, 2014 |title = Russia Sends Mixed Signals in Response to U.S. Sanctions |url = http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303802104579452751446729822 |publisher = [[wsj.com]] |accessdate = March 21, 2014 }}</ref>

Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation [[Alexey Ulyukaev]] said what introduction of sectoral sanctions will lead to a serious decline of the Russian economy: economic growth of Russia will became seriously negative, the growth of volumes of investment will be even more negative, inflation will be on the rise, and government revenues and reserves will go down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8D%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%80%D1%84-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85-%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B9/a-17743705|title=Минэкономразвития РФ опасается негативного влияния западных санкций|work=DW.DE|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

As well as differences between the United States and Europe as a whole as to how to respond to the Russian-backed incursion, those same differences have played out among Eastern European countries.<ref name = "Bberg EE diffs">{{Cite news |last = Fraher |first = John |date = April 18, 2014 |title = Energy Needs Curb Eastern EU Hunger for Russian Sanctions |url = http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-18/putin-gas-splits-eastern-eu-over-russia-sanctions.html |publisher = bloomberg.com |accessdate = April 18, 2014 }}</ref>

====Sporting events====
The game of the 21st round of the [[2013-14 Ukrainian Premier League]] on March 15 between [[SC Tavriya Simferopol]] and [[FC Dynamo Kyiv]] was forced to take place in Kiev at [[NSC Olimpiysky]] instead of the [[Lokomotiv Republican Sports Complex|Lokomotiv RSC]] in [[Simferopol]].<ref name="fpl.ua">[http://www.fpl.ua/ukr/news/news_fpl/5410/ The game "Tavriya" – "Dinamo" will be held in Kiev]. Premier League of Ukraine. March 8, 2014</ref>

===Commentary===
Several scholars, including [[Alexander J. Motyl]], [[Paul A. Goble]], [[Timothy D. Snyder]], and [[Andreas Umland]], have discussed the possibility of Russian military intervention in Crimea specifically, due to its unique geopolitical nature and demographics.<ref name="Babiak">{{cite web|last=Babiak|first=Mat|url=http://ukrainianpolicy.com/is-russia-opening-a-crimean-front/ |title=Is Russia Opening a 'Crimean Front'?|publisher=Ukrainian Policy|accessdate=February 21, 2014 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://ukrainianpolicy.com/is-russia-opening-a-crimean-front/ |archivedate=February 21, 2014}}</ref><ref name="foreignpolicy.com">{{cite web|last=Rothkopf |first=David |url=http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/02/26/dear_kremlin_careful_with_crimea |title=Dear Kremlin: Careful with Crimea |work=Foreign policy |date=February 26, 2014}}</ref> Political scientist Uriel Abulof suggested that instead of rejecting the referendum outright, the West should have proposed a moratorium on a free plebiscite, arguing that the clash over the principle of self-determination unearthed an emergent "global crisis of legitimacy."<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/>

[[Nina L. Khrushcheva]], the great-granddaughter of former Soviet Premier [[Nikita Khrushchev]] and a Russian Affairs professor at the [[The New School]], New York City, said that the aim of Crimea had not necessarily been independence from Ukraine, but rather continued dependence on Russia. However, this instead led Putin to justify continued backing for Yanukovych as well as his own desires to re-take the peninsula. Nevertheless, she believed that Putin's long-term goal may not have been annexation of Crimea, since this might have caused ethnic Crimean Tatars, who had been [[Population transfer in the Soviet Union|forcibly displaced by Stalin to Central Asia]], to demand a return to Crimea and possibly cause the Islamic insurgency to spread out of the Northern Caucasus. Furthermore, she also stated that if Russia had set a precedent of recovering "lost territory", this could inspire countries such as China or [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] to demand back their own "stolen lands".<ref name="Russia's Crimean Shore">{{cite news|url=http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/nina-l--khrushcheva-asks-whether-vladimir-putin-will-exploit-ukraine-s-disarray-to-reclaim-lost-territory|title=Russia's Crimean Shore? |publisher=Project Syndicate|date=February 28, 2014}}</ref>

Volodymyr Panchenko, of the Kiev-based think-tank [[International Centre for Policy Studies|International Center for Policy Studies]], said on February 28 that the aim of Russia is for Crimea to be "more or less controlled by Russian troops," but that if or when a referendum is held "more than 80 percent" of votes would be for independence from Ukraine. The way events are unfolding in Crimea "is not a good precedent for the [[Oblasts of Ukraine|other provinces]]."<ref name="Deutsche Welle">{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.de/historical-tensions-bubble-up-in-crimea/a-17465196 |title=Historical tensions bubble up in Crimea |publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=February 28, 2014}}</ref>

<section begin=CommentaryOnAnnexation2 />Russian opposition activist and chess Grandmaster [[Garry Kasparov]], former US National Security Advisor [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]], former US secretary of state [[Hillary Clinton]], Ukrainian MP [[Lesya Orobets]] ([[Batkivshchyna]]), former foreign minister of the Czech Republic, [[Karel Schwarzenberg]], as well as the Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada [[John Baird (Canadian politician)|John Baird]] all compared Russia's actions to Nazi Germany's policy before the start of [[World War II]], after the [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Olympic Games in Berlin]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Crimea invasion: Putin acting like Hitler in Ukraine land snatch |newspaper=The International Business Times |place=UK |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/crimea-invasion-putin-acting-like-hitler-ukraine-land-snatch-1438714}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hillary Clinton says Vladimir Putin's Crimea occupation echoes Hitler|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/06/hillary-clinton-says-vladimir-putins-crimea-occupation-echoes-hitler|newspaper=The Guardian|date=March 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Reitschuster">{{cite news|last=Reitschuster|first=Boris|title=Sochi is to Putin what Berlin in 1936 was to Hitler, says Garry Kasparov|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/07/sochi-vladimir-putin-hitler-berlin-garry-kasparov |newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name="video.cnbc.com">{{cite video |title=Putin 'a new Hitler heading for Europe': Ukrainian MP|publisher=CNBC |url=http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000251410}}</ref><ref name="Canadian Broadcasting Corporation">{{cite news |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |place=Canada |title=John Baird compares Russia's Ukraine response to Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/john-baird-compares-russia-s-ukraine-response-to-nazi-invasion-of-czechoslovakia-1.2558118}}</ref><section end=CommentaryOnAnnexation2 />

<section begin=CommentaryOnAnnexation3 />Former [[Chancellor of Germany|West German Chancellor]] [[Helmut Schmidt]] called Russia's actions "perfectly understandable", and considers sanctions being imposed by the US and EU "foolish".<ref name="spiegel.de">[http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/ukraine-krise-gruene-kritisieren-helmut-schmidt-fuer-putin-verstaendnis-a-960951.html Green party criticizes Helmut Schmidt for Putin statements] ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' – Retrieved on March 27, 2014</ref> [[Matthias Platzeck]], the former [[Minister-President]] of [[Brandenburg]] and party chairman of the [[SDP]], suggested that "the annexation of Crimea needs to be settled legally to make it acceptable for everyone".<ref>"[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/11/28/why-do-nearly-40-percent-of-germans-endorse-russias-annexation-of-crimea/ Why do nearly 40 percent of Germans endorse Russia's annexation of Crimea?]". ''[[The Washington Post]]''. 28 November 2014.</ref><section end=CommentaryOnAnnexation3 /> Former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union [[Jack F. Matlock, Jr.]] said in an interview with the ''Foreign Policy'': "If there had been no possibility of Ukraine ever becoming part of [[NATO]], and therefore Sevastopol becoming a NATO base, Russia would not have invaded Crimea."<ref>"[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/06/30/epiphanies_from_jack_matlock Epiphanies from Jack Matlock]". ''[[Foreign Policy]]''. 30 June 2014.</ref>

Former Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] has defended the Crimean referendum: "While Crimea had previously been joined to Ukraine [in 1954] based on the Soviet laws, which means [Communist] party laws, without asking the people, now the people themselves have decided to correct that mistake."<ref>"[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/03/18/Mikhail-Gorbachev-hails-Crimea-annexation-to-Russia/6881395193402/ Mikhail Gorbachev hails Crimea annexation to Russia]". [[United Press International]]. March 18, 2014.</ref>

Ukraine's Chief Rabbi, [[Yaakov Bleich]], described Putin's accusations of anti-semitism from Ukrainians towards Jews as a pretense for invasion as "what the Nazis did during the time of the [[Anschluss]] in Austria."<ref name="Project Maidan">{{cite web |title=Ukraine's chief Rabbi on claims of Ukrainian |publisher=[[Group for Tomorrow's Ukraine|Project Maidan]] |url=http://projectmaidan.com/post/78566439139/ukraines-chief-rabbi-on-claims-of-ukrainian}}</ref>

Commentaries and editorials published by China's state-run [[Xinhua News Agency]]<ref name=20140307xinhua>Ming Jinwei (March 7, 2014) [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2014-03/07/c_133168143.htm "Commentary: The West's fiasco in Ukraine"]. Xinhua News Agency.</ref> and ''[[Global Times]]''<ref name=20140306globaltimes>[http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/846263.shtml#.UxqfoaJrliw "Backing Russia is in China's interests"]. ''Global Times'' (March 6, 2014)</ref> supported Russia's position on the situation, though Chinese president Xi Jinping said China's position was neutral, and noted Crimea's status does not meaningfully affect his country.<ref>{{Cite news |last1 = Brown |first1 = Stephen |last2 = Breidthardt |first2 = Annika |date = March 28, 2014 |title = China takes no sides on Ukraine crisis, Xi tells Europe |url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/28/uk-ukraine-china-germany-idUKBREA2R1CE20140328 |agency = [[Reuters]] |accessdate = March 30, 2014 }}</ref>

====Ukraine's territorial integrity====
{{see also|List of national border changes since World War I}}
[[File:2014 Russo-ukrainian-conflict map.svg|thumb|Crimea, which is under Russian control, is shown in pink. Pink in the [[Donbass]] area represents areas currently held by the [[Donetsk People's Republic|DPR]]/[[Lugansk People's Republic|LPR]] separatists (cities in red).]]
The crisis aroused discussion of the concept of "[[territorial integrity]]".<ref name=Voeten>{{cite news|last=Voeten|first=Erik|title=What is so great about 'territorial integrity' anyway?|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/03/17/what-is-so-great-about-territorial-integrity-anyway/|accessdate=April 13, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post (blog)|date=March 17, 2014}}</ref> The phrase was used by many governments and commentators,<ref name=Voeten /> and according to Erik Voeten, referred to the idea that borders could only be changed by mutual agreement between two countries. Voeten argued that while the principle produces less conflict, "the status quo looks best to states that won the last war," and did not appeal to Russia as much as to Western states.<ref name=Voeten /> [[Fareed Zakaria]] stated that the situation in Crimea involved a "global principle: whether national boundaries can be changed by brute force," and questioned what effects it might have on other regions with contested boundaries.<ref name=Zakaria>{{cite news|last=Zakaria|first=Fareed|title=Why (this time) Obama must lead|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fareed-zakaria-on-ukraine-obama-must-lead-from-the-front/2014/03/13/10b9359a-aaea-11e3-af5f-4c56b834c4bf_story.html|accessdate=April 13, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post (blog)|date=March 14, 2014}}</ref> Bryan Frederick of the [[RAND Corporation]] stated "the widely accepted principle that international borders are not subject to further revision" had been responsible for decreased international conflict in recent decades, and that Russia's involvement threatened the idea, which had been eroding since the [[Russo-Georgian War]] and as a result of the [[Kosovo independence precedent]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Frederick|first=Bryan|title=Ukraine and the Death of Territorial Integrity|url=http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/ukraine-the-death-territorial-integrity-9997|accessdate=April 13, 2014|newspaper=The National Interest|date=March 5, 2014}}</ref>

A wider partitioning of Ukraine, while opposed by many commentators<ref name=Klion>{{cite news|last=Klion|first=David|title=Partition is not an option|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/3/ukraine-partitioncrimeaputinyanukovich.html|accessdate=March 24, 2014|newspaper=Al Jazeera America|date=March 7, 2014}}</ref> and governments,<ref>{{cite news|title=Turkish FM Davutoğlu warns over partition of Ukraine|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-fm-davutoglu-warns-over-partition-of-ukraine-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=63110&NewsCatID=338|accessdate=March 24, 2014|newspaper=Hurriyet Daily News|date=March 2, 2014|location=Ankara}}</ref> had a few proponents.<ref>{{cite news|last=Black|first=Crispin|title=Ukraine solution: West should back off and support partition|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/world-news/ukraine/57546/ukraine-solution-west-should-back-and-support-partition|accessdate=March 24, 2014|newspaper=The Week|date=March 3, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Burger|first=Ethan|title=Could partition solve Ukraine's problems?|url=http://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/ethan-s-burger/could-partition-solve-ukraine%E2%80%99s-problems|accessdate=March 24, 2014|newspaper=openDemocracy|date=February 19, 2010}}</ref> Media were accused of exaggerating the regional differences in Ukraine through misleading maps implying clear linguistic or ethnic boundaries.<ref name=Klion />

Belarusian President [[Alexander Lukashenko]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.itar-tass.com/world/727600|title=Tass article|accessdate=April 14, 2014|date=April 13, 2014|agency=ITAR-TASS}}</ref> considered Russia's proposal to federalize Ukraine{{clarify|date=December 2014}}<!--wikilink?--> as a threat to Ukraine's territorial integrity. [[Mykola Riabchuk]] argued that the result would be "highly vulnerable to Russian subversion, manipulation and sabotage."<ref>{{cite news|last=Riabchuk|first=Mykola|title=Ukraine: Russian propaganda and three disaster scenarios|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/04/ukraine-russia-propaganda-thre-201441112542990923.html|accessdate=April 14, 2014|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=April 11, 2014}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
* On September 16 masked armed men reportedly surrounded the Crimean Tatar's Mejlis building in [[Simferopol]]. According to the Unian News Agency, the armed men refused to state why they were carrying out the operation, saying "they were not authorized to speak". Three masked men were caught on CCTV removing the Ukrainian flag from the building the night before.<ref>{{cite news|title=armed men surround mejlis building|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/video/armed-men-surround-mejlis-building-101221886.html|work=sgnews|date=16 September 2014|accessdate=16 September 2014}}</ref> In his speech at the Kremlin, on 18 March, Vladimir Putin expressed "great respect for people of all the ethnic groups living in Crimea."<ref>{{cite news|title=Crimea crisis: Russian President Putin's speech annotated|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26652058|work=BBC News|date=19 March 2014|accessdate=16 September 2014}}</ref>
* On September 16 Russia's defence minister called for the deployment of reinforcements to the Crimea and southern Russia, citing the worsening crisis in Ukraine and buildup of foreign forces nearby. [[Sergei Shoigu]] said the "situation in Ukraine has sharply worsened and the foreign military presence has increased very close to our border."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/09/16/Russia-to-deploy-reinforcements-to-Crimea-area--minister|agency=AFP|title=russia to deploy reinforcements|date=16 September 2014|accessdate=16 September 2014}}</ref>
* Due to falling [[price of oil|oil prices]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://primepair.com/trading-magazine/russias-collision-course-recession-02-02-2015 |title=Russia's Collision Course with Recession |publisher=PrimePair |date=2 February 2015}}</ref> and strains caused by [[International sanctions during the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|international sanctions]] stemming from the Crimean crisis, the [[exchange rate]] of the [[Russian ruble]] [[2014 Russian financial crisis|fell precipitously]] in 2014.<ref name=ASherter>{{cite news|last1=Sherter|first1=Alain|title=Russia in crisis: Analysis of a meltdown|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-in-crisis-analysis-of-a-meltdown/|accessdate=17 December 2014|publisher=CBS News|date=16 December 2014}}</ref> The fall in the value of the ruble has led to fears that Russia might face a [[liquidity crisis]], a [[recession]], and even a repeat of the [[1998 Russian financial crisis]].<ref name=NMac>{{cite news|last1=MacFarquhar|first1=Neil|title=As the Ruble Swoons, Russians Desperately Shop|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/17/world/europe/as-the-ruble-swoons-russians-desperately-shop.html|accessdate=17 December 2014|publisher=New York Times|date=16 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=PKirby>{{cite news|last1=Kirby|first1=Paul|title=Russia economy: What is the risk of meltdown?|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30492505|accessdate=17 December 2014|publisher=BBC News|date=16 December 2014}}</ref> Russia responded to these fears by dramatically raising [[interest rates]] in December 2014.<ref name=Yglesias>{{cite news|last1=Yglesias|first1=Matthew|title=Why the Russian economy is melting down|url=http://www.vox.com/2014/12/16/7401401/ruble-collapse-interest-rates|accessdate=17 December 2014|publisher=Vox|date=16 December 2014}}</ref>

===Crimean public opinion===
A poll of the Crimean public was taken by the Ukrainian branch of Germany's biggest market research organization, GfK, on 16–22 January 2015. According to Bloomberg: "Eighty-two percent of those polled said they fully supported Crimea's inclusion in Russia, and another 11 percent expressed partial support. Only 4 percent spoke out against it. ... Fifty-one percent reported their well-being had improved in the past year."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bershidsky|first1=Leonid|title=One Year Later, Crimeans Prefer Russia|url=http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-02-06/one-year-later-crimeans-prefer-russia|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|date=February 6, 2015}}</ref>

==Russian campaign awards==
* [[Medal for the Return of Crimea]] was established on March 21, 2014 by the [[Ministry of Defense (Russia)|Ministry of Defense]] of the [[Russian Federation]].<ref>[http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2014/03/25/n_6037281.shtml MinDef of Russia created the Medal for the Return of Crimea]. Gazeta.ru. March 25, 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.pravda.ru/news/districts/south/crimea/25-03-2014/1201682-davayza-0/ Shoigu handed the first medals for the Return of Crimea]. [[Pravda.ru]]. March 25, 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423063326/http://sammler.ru/index.php?showtopic=142324|title=Copies of the official document|publisher=|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref>
* Medal for Liberation of Crimea and Sevastopol,<ref>[http://sevastopolnews.info/2014/04/lenta/sobytiya/069218099/ Medal for Liberation of Crimea and Sevastopol received: Putin, Gazmanov, Chalyi, Shoigu and other 128 people]. Sevastopol News. April 3, 2014</ref> the first recipient was [[Aleksandr Zaldostanov]],<ref>[http://echo.msk.ru/blog/andrei_egorov/1336280-echo/ Why the medal for Liberation of Crimea received Kadyrov and Tkachev]. [[Echo of Moscow]]. June 8, 2014</ref> a leader of the [[Night Wolves]].

==Related places==
* [[Building of the Supreme Council of Crimea]], where Crimea [[Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Crimea|independence]] from Ukraine was declared, on March 11, 2014.
* [[Sevastopol]], a [[city with special status]] in Crimea
* [[Kerch Strait Bridge]], planned bridge spanning the [[Strait of Kerch]]
* [[Donuzlav]], sinking of a [[tugboat]] ''Shakhter'' and an anti-submarine ship ''[[Russian cruiser Ochakov|Ochakov]]'', on March 5–6, 2014
* [[Perevalne]], Ukrainian garrison was surrounded by the Russian troops
* [[Armyansk]] and [[Dzhankoy]], checkpoints, established on February 27, 2014<ref name="wsj-feb28">{{cite web |url= http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304071004579410931310849454 |title= Crimea Checkpoints Raise Secession Fears |date= April 17, 2014 |website= |publisher= The Wall Street Journal |accessdate= April 17, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="feb27">{{cite web|url=http://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/np/_dorogi-v-krym-perekryli-blokpostami-kotorye-ohranyaet-berkut-i-vooruzhennye-lyudi-v-kamuflyazhe/544741|title=Дороги в Крым перекрыли блокпостами, которые охраняет Беркут и вооруженные люди в камуфляже|work=Gazeta.ua|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Chonhar]], a checkpoint, standoff since February 27, 2014<ref name="wsj-feb28"/><ref name="feb27"/>
* [[Port Krym]], a strategic ferry connection with [[Russia]]'s [[Port Kavkaz]]
* [[Arabat Spit]] and [[Strilkove]], Russian [[landing operation]] on 15 March 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/03/15/7018882/|title=В Херсонской области высадился российский десант|work=Украинская правда|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/03/15/7018897/|title=Украинские военные отбили наступление русских вояк|work=Украинская правда|accessdate=October 2, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Novofedorivka (air base)|Novofedorivka]], a town and a military air base on the Black Sea coast.
* [[Sevastopol International Airport|Aeroport Belbek]], an international airport in Belbek, near Sevastopol.

==See also==
{{Portal|Crimea|Ukraine|Russia|2010s|Politics|International relations}}
{{Div col||25em}}
* [[2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine]]
* [[2014 Russian intelligentsia reaction on events happened in Crimea]]
* [[Åland crisis]]
* [[Annexation]]
* [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]]
* [[Cyprus dispute]]
* [[Do not buy Russian goods!]]
* [[Ethnic Russians in post-Soviet states]]
* [[Eurasianism]]
* [[Foreign policy of Vladimir Putin]]
* [[Greater Russia]]
* [[Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade]]
* [[Neo-Sovietism]]
* [[Regionalism in Ukraine]]
* [[Security dilemma]]
* [[Sudetenland#Sudeten Crisis|Sudeten crisis]]
* [[Texas annexation]]
* [[The Great Game]]
* [[United States occupation of Veracruz]]
* [[War in Donbass]]
{{Div col end}}

==Notes==
{{notelist|28em}}
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
'''Footnotes'''
{{Reflist|25em}}

'''Other references'''
<!-- place old references not used on the body anymore here -->
{{refbegin|30em}}
# {{cite web| url= http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/721148 | newspaper =ITAR-TASS | title = Russia – Western and Central commands start massive redeployment | date = July 24, 2013 |accessdate=March 3, 2014}}
# {{cite web|last=Zinets |first = Natalia | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/02/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140302 | title = Ukraine mobilizes after Putin's 'declaration of war' |publisher=Reuters |date= March 3, 2014 | accessdate = March 3, 2014}}
# {{cite web| url= http://news.yahoo.com/russia-war-games-over-ukraine-prompt-us-warning-003015456.html | title= Russia war games over Ukraine prompt US warning – Yahoo News | publisher= Yahoo | date= February 26, 2014 |accessdate= March 3, 2014}}
# [http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2014/03/2/7016976/ Депутат: Крымский премьер известен в криминальных кругах как "Гоблин"]
# {{cite news|title=Премьером Крыма выбрали бандита по кличке Гоблин, – Сенченко |url=http://news.eizvestia.com/news_politics/full/661-premerom-kryma-vybrali-bandita-po-klichke-goblin-senchenko |accessdate=March 4, 2014|newspaper=[[Izvestia]]|date=March 4, 2014}}
# {{cite web| url = http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/crimean-parliament-dismisses-autonomous-republics-government-337803.html | title = Crimean parliament dismisses autonomous republic's government | date = February 27, 2014 }}
# {{cite news|last=Sengupta|first=Kim|title = Ukraine crisis: Intimidation and a chilling ultimatum from Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Belbek – but Ukrainian forces remain defiant|url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-a-chilling-ultimatum-from-russias-black-sea-fleet-to-ukrainian-forces-in-crimea--surrender-by-four-or-else-9166745.html |newspaper=The Independent|date= March 4, 2014}}
# {{cite web|url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/02/28/ukraine-crisis-helicopters-idUKR4N0IH00420140228 | title = Russian helicopters fly over Crimea – Ukraine border guards | place = UK | publisher = Reuters |date = February 9, 2009 |accessdate=March 2, 2014}}
# {{cite web| url= http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/01/us-ukraine-crisis-warships-idUSBREA200VA20140301 |title=Two Russian warships seen off Ukraine coast, violate agreement: Interfax |publisher=Reuters |date= March 1, 2014 |accessdate=March 2, 2014}}
# {{cite news | title = Armed men seize two airports in Ukraine's Crimea, Yanukovich reappears | url= http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/28/us-ukraine-crisis-idUSBREA1Q1E820140228 | accessdate =March 1, 2014|date=February 28, 2014| first1 =Alissa | last1 = de Carbonnel| first2 = Alessandra | last2 = Prentice|agency= Reuters}}
# {{cite web| url = http://english.pravda.ru/news/hotspots/02-03-2014/126973-ukraine_russia_war-0/ | title= Ukraine declares general mobilization after Russia approves use of military force in Crimea | publisher = Pravda | place = RU |date=February 24, 2014 |accessdate=March 2, 2014}}
# {{Cite journal| place = [[Canada|CA]] | url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-revolt-was-anti-constitutional-coup-putin-says-1.2558841 | title = Ukraine revolt was anti-constitutional coup, Putin says | publisher = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] | accessdate = March 4, 2014 }}
# {{cite web |last=Pulkki |first= Arto |title= Crimea Invaded By High Readiness Forces of the Russian Federation |work=Suomen Sotilas |year=2014 |url = http://www.suomensotilas.fi/en/artikkelit/crimea-invaded-high-readiness-forces-russian-federation | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140305142752/http://www.suomensotilas.fi/en/artikkelit/crimea-invaded-high-readiness-forces-russian-federation |archivedate=March 5, 2014}}
# {{Cite news| publisher = Google | url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hQk2tGUfVGUorTi8U-ImIkcPwK7A?docId=b9608342-357e-4401-b7be-5218b1630df2&hl=en | newspaper = AFP | title = Russia denies controlling pro-Moscow force in Crimea }}
# {{Cite news| url = http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/03/04/putin_dials_back_tensions_a_notch_in_crimea.html | title = Putin dials back tensions a notch in Crimea | newspaper = The Toronto Star }}
# {{Cite journal| url = http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26433309 | title = Putin: Russia not yet sending troops into Ukraine | publisher = BBC | date = March 4, 2014 }}
# {{cite web|title=Obama: Russia 'On The Wrong Side of History' On Ukraine | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/03/obama-russia_n_4891788.html | work = The Huffington Post}}
# {{cite news|title=Ukraine crisis: Russia faces 'costs and consequences', warns William Hague|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10672977/Ukraine-crisis-Russia-faces-costs-and-consequences-warns-William-Hague.html |newspaper= The Telegraph | date = March 3, 2014}}
# {{Cite news| url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/02/uk-france-pull-out-g8-preparatory-talks-ukraine-russia-military | title = UK and France pull out of G8 preparatory talks over Ukraine crisis | place = UK | newspaper = The Guardian }}
# {{Cite news| url = http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/03/ukraine-vladimir-putin-angela-merkel-russian | title = Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin has lost the plot, says German chancellor | place = UK | newspaper = The Guardian }}
# {{Cite news| url = http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/02/us-ukraine-crisis-italy-idUSBREA210OP20140302 | title = Italy appeals to Russia to negotiate, not invade Ukraine | newspaper = Reuters }}
# {{cite web| url = http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/03/01/statement-prime-minister-canada-situation-ukraine | title = Statement on the situation in Ukraine | author = Prime Minister of Canada }}
# {{Cite news| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10674260/Ukraine-crisis-EU-gives-Russia-48-hour-deadline-to-return-troops-to-barracks-in-Crimea.html | title = Ukraine crisis: EU gives Russia 48-hour deadline to return troops to barracks in Crimea | newspaper = The Telegraph | place = UK }}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |last=Bremmer |first=Ian |authorlink=Ian Bremmer |title=The Politics of Ethnicity: Russians in the New Ukraine |journal=Europe-Asia Studies |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=261–283 |year = 1994 |doi= 10.1080/09668139408412161}}
* {{cite book |last= Hagendoorn |first=A. |last2=Linssen |first2=H. |last3=Tumanov |first3=S. V. | title = Intergroup Relations in States of the former Soviet Union: The Perception of Russians | location =New York |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2001 |isbn= 1-84169-231-X}}
* {{cite book |last= Legvold |first=Robert |title=Russian Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century and the Shadow of the Past |location=New York |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2013 |isbn = 978-0-231-51217-6}}
* {{cite journal |first=David R. |last=Marples |first2=David F. |last2=Duke |title=Ukraine, Russia, and the question of Crimea |journal=Nationalities Papers |volume=23 |issue=2 |year=1995 |pages=261–289 |doi=10.1080/00905999508408377 }}
* [[Timothy Snyder|Snyder, T]]. ''[http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116812/how-europe-should-respond-russian-intervention-ukraine Beneath the Hypocrisy, Putin Is Vulnerable. Here's Where His Soft Spots Are]''. New Republic. March 1, 2014.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikinews|Wikinews interviews specialists on Russian intervention in Ukraine}}
* [http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26270866 Ukraine crisis] at [[BBC News Online]]
* [http://www.kyivpost.com/hot/crisis-in-crimea/ Crisis in Crimea] at the ''[[Kyiv Post]]''
* [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-divisions-crimea.html Ukraine Crisis in Maps] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* [http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2014/ukraine/index.html Crisis in Ukraine] at [[CNN]]
* [http://live.aljazeera.com/Event/Ukraine_liveblog Ukraine Live Blog] at [[Al Jazeera English]]
* [http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/ukraine Crisis in Ukraine] at the [[Atlantic Council]]

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