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2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine
Part of the 2014 Crimean crisis
Crimea (black), Ukraine (light green) and Russia (light red) in Europe
Republic of Crimea (disputed by Ukraine and the Russian Federation)   Ukraine   Russia
Date 27 February 2014 (de facto) – present Location Republic of Crimea Kherson Oblast, Ukraine Status Ongoing Russia takes effective military control over Crimea, overpowering aerial and naval fleets NATO plans Rapid Trident millitary excercises in Ukraine. NATO accuses Russia of covert military operations in Crimea. Russia-Ukraine borders are patrolled by the Russian army until March 4, 2014. Russian military entered the Kherson Oblast on March 8. Ukraine sealed border with pro-Russian Moldovan region of Transnistria on March 15.
Belligerents
Russia Crimea	Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Pres. Vladimir Putin Gen. Sergey Shoygu Gen. Valery Gerasimov Lt.Gen. Igor Sergun V.Adm. Aleksandr Vitko Sergey Aksyonov	Pres. Oleksandr Turchynov Adm. Ihor Tenyukh Lt.Gen. Mykhailo Kutsyn R.Adm. Serhiy Hayduk (P.O.W.) R.Adm. Denis Berezovsky (defected)
Units involved
Russian Armed Forces: 76th Airborne Division 31st Airborne Brigade 18th Mechanized Brigade 1st Battalion "Vostok" (Chechen Republic) Baltic Fleet Northern Fleet Black Sea Fleet: Marines GRU Operators 22nd Spetsnaz Brigade 45th Spetsnaz Rgt. "Crimean self-defense" Chetniks Don Cossacks from Volgograd	Armed Forces of Ukraine: Ukrainian Navy 36th Coastal Defense Brigade   Ukrainian Sea Guard Ukrainian police Internal Troops National Guard of Ukraine
Strength
Crimean Force: 25,000–30,000 Black Sea Fleet: 11,000 (including Marines) 30 + Warships (incl. submarine) 4 Squadrons of fighter aircraft (18 planes each) Reinforcements:Between 16,000 and 42,000 troops	Crimean garrison: ~ 14,500 Troops 10 warships
Casualties and losses
1 Russian volunteer killed 1 military intelligence team captured 7 servicemen from the Russian Black Sea Fleet arrested	1 killed 3 wounded 50+ captured 5,500 soldiers defected 1 corvette damaged and captured 3 corvettes captured 1 submarine captured 1 amphibious ship captured 1 minesweeper damaged and captured 5 auxiliary ships captured

In late February 2014, following the events of the violent 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, the Crimean Peninsula moved to isolate itself from Ukraine and armed men secured the border with Ukraine. The Russian government insists that the forces did not include Russian military, but only local "self defense" forces. The region has fallen into a crisis as a result of the tension between Russia and NATO triggered by the Ukrainian Revolution and Crimea being reunited to Russia. Russia’s involvement and acceptance of Crimea's request to reunite with Russia has been welcomed by a majority of the local population.

The official result from the referendum was a 96.77 percent vote ‘for’ integration of the region into the Russian Federation. The turnout was 83.1 per cent.

According to a pact between Ukraine and Russia, Russia had a lease for their naval facilities in Crimea until 2042, and maintained the right to use some small areas of Crimea, up to 25,000 troops, 24 artillery systems, 132 armored vehicles, and 22 military planes on the Crimean peninsula. On February 24, 2014, additional soldiers arrived, on the Crimean Peninsula, but the total number remained well below 25,000.

Representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Georgia, Moldova, Turkey, Australia and the European Union spoke of international law and Ukrainian sovereignty, specifically in regards to Article 2 of the UN Charter which states, "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations". Article 2 has no relation to internal politics. The same UN Declaration contains the principle of self-determination of peoples and every State's duty to respect this right.

While initially China neither publicly supported nor criticized Russia while showing support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and abstaining at the United Nations Security Council, it later warned that it "doesn't want" sanctions against Russia. India considers that Russia has legitimate interests in Crimea. The Russian President called the Indian Prime Minister to explain the situation, after annexation of Crimea, where Prime Minister Singh "emphasized the consistent position India has on the issues of unity and territorial integrity of countries".

Former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko, who rose to power as a key figure in the pro-US/European Orange Revolution in 2004, becoming Ukrainian prime minister 2007-2010, was released from prison immediately after the Kiev coup which ousted Yanukovich. In a leaked phone conversation with Nestor Shufrych, former deputy secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said in reference to the reunification of Crimea with Russia “This is really beyond all boundaries. It’s about time we grab our guns and kill go kill those damn Russians together with their leader.”

Background

On 22 February 2014 Ukrainian protesters overthrew the democratically elected President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, after months of protests. The opposition took control of the capital city Kiev and the government district; soon after President Yanukovych left for Kharkiv to attend a summit of south-eastern regions, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) voted to restore the 2004 version of the Constitution of Ukraine and remove Yanukovych from power; however, the impeachment procedure, as defined by Ukrainian constitution Article 111, was not followed. President Yanukovych refused to resign and politicians from Ukraine's east and south regions, including Crimea, declared continuing loyalty to Yanukovych.

On 23 February, following the 2014 Ukrainian coup d'état, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a bill to repeal the law on minority languages, which includes Russian. In so doing, Russian-speaking regions were infuriated that the new parliament desired to make Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels, seemingly pressing ahead with Ukrainian nationalism. A few days later, however, on 1 March 2014, Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov vetoed the bill, effectively stopping its enactment.Template:Source needs translation

In the meantime, on the morning of 27 February, 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.Template:Source needs translation According to Ukrainian MP Hennadiy Moskal, former Chief of Crimean police, they had armored personnel carriers, grenade launchers, assault rifles, machine guns and other weapons. Since then they have controlled all land traffic between Crimea and continental Ukraine.

Also on the early morning of 27 February, men in military uniform in Simferopol, the capital city of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, seized the Crimean parliamentary building and the Council of Ministers building and replaced the Ukrainian flag with the Russian flag. They ousted the prime minister appointed by the President of Ukraine and installed a pro-Russian politician, Sergey Aksyonov, as Crimea's prime minister. Aksyonov's Russian Unity party took just 4 percent of the votes in the 2010 elections. Aksyonov illegally declared himself in charge of local military and law enforcement. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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 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. 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. 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.

The Crimean Peninsula is seen by Russia as its strategic link to the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and the Balkans as well as an area of Russian historic, cultural and religious significance. The Russian government maintains that its involvement in Crimea seeks to protect ethnic Russians in the region against Ukrainian authorities. Russia does not recognize the newly installed interim government in Ukraine, instead considering now-ousted-President Viktor Yanukovych Ukraine's legitimate leader. Russia states that Yanukovych asked Russia to intervene in Ukraine militarily to maintain peace and order. Russia claims that its armed forces are not involved in the present stand-off, and also asserts that use of force for the purposes of humanitarian intervention in Ukraine has not yet occurred.

The Ukrainian response so far has been muted as its leaders seek diplomatic solutions, with military reaction on their part limited to a mobilization of Ukraine's armed forces and reserves. Russia, however, has vowed that its troops will stay until the political situation has been "normalised". Internally, Crimea held a referendum on 16 March 2014 on whether Crimea should join the Russian Federation or remain part of Ukraine with the autonomy it had in 1992. There were two options, either supporting "reunification of Crimea with Russia" or "restoration of Crimea's 1992 Constitution and status of Crimea as part of Ukraine". Western media has published that the two options both acknowledged Russian control of the peninsula. The referendum resulted in an officially reported turnout of 81.3%, with 96.77% of voters supporting Crimea joining the Russian Federation. The events have caused alarm among the Crimean Tatar ethnic group.

Strategic importance

The Autonomous Republic of Crimea occupies most of the Crimean peninsula with only the Strait of Kerch separating it from Russia to the east by a short 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). Crimea is a part of Ukraine but, as an autonomous republic, it has its own constitution. According to the 2001 census, 58% of the two million residents of Crimea are ethnic Russians, 24% are ethnic Ukrainians, and 12% are Crimean Tatars. As tensions escalated in the region, Russia intervened under the justification that it must "protect Russian civilians and military in Ukraine".

The Russian-Ukrainian Partition Treaty on the Status and Conditions of the Black Sea Fleet, signed in 1997 and prolonged in 2010, determined the status of the military bases and vessels in Crimea. Russia is allowed to maintain up to 25,000 troops, 24 artillery systems (with a caliber smaller than 100 mm), 132 armored vehicles, and 22 military planes, on the Crimean and Sevastopol. The Russian Black Sea fleet is allowed to stay in Crimea until 2042.

At the same time, the Port of Sevastopol and the town of Kacha are located in Sevastopol, a city in the southwestern area of the peninsula that does not belong to Crimea administratively. Both locations hold key strategic value for Russia, economically and militarily. The Port of Sevastopol, which Russia currently leases from Ukraine, is considered a key hold for maritime routes between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and by extension the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It is also one of the few warm deepwater ports in the Black Sea available to Russia. As the Ukrainian revolution unfolded—and as the newly installed Ukrainian government began to distance itself from Russia—Russia felt that its access to the port and its military bases in the Crimean peninsula were in jeopardy. On the other hand, the town of Kacha serves as military headquarters for Russia's 25th Independent Anti-submarine Helicopter Regiment (25th AHR) and the 917th Independent Composite Air Regiment (917th ICAR) of the Black Sea Fleet Naval Air Force. Ensuring access to the port and Russia's military bases in the Crimean peninsula are considered two of the main factors that sparked Russia's military intervention.

Petroleum resources

Crimea also possesses several natural gas fields both onshore and offshore, all connected to Ukraine's pipeline system. The inland fields are located in Chornomorske and Dzhankoy, while offshore fields are located in the western coast in the Black Sea and in the northeastern coast in the Azov Sea:

The republic also possesses two oil fields: one onshore, the Serebryankse oil field in Rozdolne, and one offshore, the Subbotina oil field in the Black Sea.

Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed from The Guardian reported on 6 March that, "U.S. oil and gas majors like Chevron and Exxon are increasingly encroaching on Gazprom's regional monopoly, undermining Russia's energy hegemony over Europe." He then asserted that "competition to dominate Eurasian energy corridors, are behind Russian militarism and U.S. interference."

Timeline of military events in Ukraine

Crimea

February

On February 26, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered urgent military exercises to test the combat readiness of his armed forces across western Russia. From that day onwards, there were reports that Russian soldiers had established a checkpoint between the major Crimean cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol.

Crimea saw a sudden increase in armed presence, with militiamen dressed in camouflage but lacking any distinctive markings appearing all over the region. President Putin denied that Russian troops stationed in Crimea left their barracks, claiming these men were "pro-Russian local self-defence forces,". The presence of Russian troops is acknowledged by new Crimean leader Sergei Aksyenov.

According to Suomen Sotilas (Soldier of Finland) magazine's expert, the troops belonged to high readiness forces of the Russian Federation.

Soldiers were seen patrolling Simferopol International Airport and Sevastopol International Airport, while Western and independent media reported Russian troop movements in Crimea, including Russian military helicopters moving into the peninsula and Russian Army trucks approaching Simferopol, the Crimean capital. Ukrainian officials said Russian forces took over a military airbase in Sevastopol, landed troops at another airbase, and surrounded a coast guard base.

Part of a series on the
2014 annexation of Crimea
Main topics Timeline of the annexation International reactions to the annexation 2014 Crimean referendum Crimean problem Republic of Crimea
Background History of Crimea 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars 1954 transfer of Crimea 1991 Belavezha Accords 1994–95 President of Crimea 1994 Budapest Memorandum 1997 Russian - Ukrainian Friendship Treaty 1997 Partition Treaty 2006 anti-NATO protests in Feodosiya 2010 Kharkiv Pact 2013–14 Euromaidan Revolution of Dignity
v t e

March 2014

By March 2, Ukrainian military bases in Crimea were under the control of these unidentified soldiers. Soldiers infiltrated the radio-technical company at the Maganome Cape near Feodosiya; the 55th Anti-Air Defense in Yevpatoriya had been seized. Soldiers without identification, blocked the 36th Ukrainian Coastal Defense unit (Ukrainian Navy) in Perevalne (between Simferopol and Alushta) and demanded that the besieged Ukrainian Marines surrender, and 400 Russian special operations troops arrived by the Russian Black Sea Fleet BDK "Azov". Russian Special Operation soldiers attempted to disarm the 191st Training unit of Ukrainian Navy in Sevastopol; there also was an attempt by another 30 soldiers of Russia to take over the 39th Training unit of Ukrainian Navy (Sevastopol). The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine acknowledged seizure of its headquarters of the Azov-Black Sea regional administration and the Simferopol border detachment by the armed soldiers. The Crimea Front took over the building of Trade Unions in Simferopol and under the flag of Russia announced that they protect the Constitution of Ukraine; Soldiers without identification blocked the Ukrainian military installation А-0669 in Kerch.

March 2, 2014

• Ukrainian Navy Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky officially defected and pledged allegiance to Crimea. According to MP Yuri Syrotyuk, Berezovsky had already been dismissed before his defection for ordering his troops not resist the Russian forces in case of blockade or isolation. Ukrainian units which refused to surrender informed the acting Minister of Defense Ihor Tenyukh, who replaced Berezovsky with Rear Admiral Serhiy Hayduk. Internal Troops of Ukraine in Simferopol refused to lay down their arms and side with the Russians. By 3 March 2014, Russian troops captured the Ukrainian Border Guard base in Balaklava after repeated assaults. There was reportedly one occasion when the wives of Ukrainian soldiers requested that the Russian soldiers not provoke the Ukrainian military. Russia vowed troops would stay until the political situation has been "normalised". Ukrainian media claimed at around 21:00 (LST), five vehicles with soldiers without insignia broke through the border checkpoint "Krym-Kuban" at the Kerch Strait ferry line. The same day in Sevastopol, the crew of the command ship Slavutych thwarted an attempt to hijack the vessel by a boat manned by unidentified armed personnel.

• Ukrainian defence sources alleged that the commander of Russian Black Sea Fleet Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Vitko had issued an official ultimatum to all Ukrainian military servicemen to surrender by 05:00 (LST) 4 March 2014 or face a military confrontation. These allegations were denied by the Russian foreign ministry and a representative of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters. The deadline came and went without incident or attempt to storm. A Ukrainian human rights group claimed that Russian soldiers were openly standing on the perimeter of the Ukrainian hamlet Perevalne.

March 6, 2014

• Russian sailors scuttled the decommissioned cruiser Ochakov at the entrance to Donuzlav Bay in western Crimea as a blockship, in an attempt to prevent Ukrainian navy ships from gaining access to the Black Sea. The ocean-going tug Shakhter was also scuttled some hours later at the same location.

March 7, 2014

• On March 7, Ukraine claimed armed men attempted to storm a Ukrainian military base in Sevastopol by ramming trucks through the main gate of the base. However international media who visited the scene, said the gates did not appear to have been driven through, and there was no sign that the base had been seized. Also, another blockship, the former Black Sea Fleet rescue/diving support vessel BM-416 (VM-416) was scuttled near the Ochakov.

March 9, 2014

• The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reported that 80 Russian soldiers in trucks and supported by 40 to 50 civilians broke into and took over the navy's airfield at Novofedorivka. The air base had been previously overflown by four Mi-24 helicopters. Another airstrip was captured earlier in the day at Dzhankoi.

March 10, 2014

• Russian forces captured a motorized infantry battalion at Bakhchysarai, a missile base at Chornomorskoe and the main military hospital in Crimea. They had occupied thirteen military posts by that date.

12 March

• At evening, Russian forces seized an electronic surveillance outpost at the village of Olenevka. The unarmed Ukrainian personnel kept inside the compound, after dismantling the main power station.

13 March

• At noon, a recoinnasance aircraft of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine was fired at by Russian armoured vehicles near the border city of Armyansk. It was the second incident of this kind in the last five days. Earlier, an unidentified fourth Russian vessel was sunk by the Russian navy as a blockship at Donuzlav Bay.

14 March

• On 14 March, the Russian amphibious assault ship Yamal landed troops, trucks and at least one armoured personnel carrier at Kazachaya bay near Sevastopol. Russian high-tech corporation Rostec claims that Russian troops used equipment from the company to capture a US MQ-5B drone over Crimea, after jamming radio controlers signals to the unmanned aircraft. The report says that the UAV "belonged to the 66th American Reconnaissance Brigade, based in Bavaria". An unnamed Pentagon official denied the report on the basis that no US drone were flying missions over Crimea, and that the MQ-5B would be too basic and outdated to carry out such high-profile operation. Rostec itself later officially denied that the Avtobaza complex, a company product, had been used on Crimean territory, stating it is by no means responsible for the relocation and the results of the use of the equipment supplied by the Corporation's organizations within the framework of contractors' orders.

16 March

• On March 16, the Russian and Ukrainian defense ministries agreed to a truce regarding besieged Crimean bases through 21 March, according to the Ukrainian ministry of defense. The Ukrainian military began to replenish supplies at its Crimean facilities, according to the Ukrainian ministry of defense while Crimean officials said the bases' troops would be given safe passage out; the bases were expected to be taken over at the ceasefire's end. Earlier, Russian troops planted anti-tank mines around a Ukrainian marines battalion at Feodosia.

18 March: Simferopol Incident

• One Ukrainian soldier and one pro-Russian soldier were killed and several wounded during an assault by unknown gunmen of the Ukrainian Army's Topographic Centre in Simferopol. The remainder of the Ukrainian troops were disarmed and taken prisoners. Crimean police later said that both the pro-Russian and Ukrainian forces had been fired upon from a single location. Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused the pro-Russian soldiers of committing a war crime.

19 March

• Pro-Russian militiamen by sending women ahead attacked the Ukrainian Navy's headquarters at Sevastopol, and captured Ukrainian Navy's commander-in-chief, Serhiy Hayduk. Ukrainian Defense ministry reported another incident at the Southern Naval Base in Novoozyorne, where a tractor rammed the compound's gates and blocked the entrance. At evening, another naval base was seized without a fight by Pro-Russian forces at Bakhchisaray, and the Ukrainian personnel inside was expelled. At 20:30, Ukrainian troops fired on unidentified hostile forces which attempted to break into Belbek's air base throwing stun grenades. The attackers were repulsed.

20 March

• Earlier in the morning on 20 March 2014 the administration ship Donbas, the tugboat Kremenets and the fire prevention motorboat Borshchiv raised the Russian Naval flags. At the same time, Russian military servicemen captured two Ukrainian corvettes in the Sevastopol Naval Base: Lutsk and Khmelnytskyi. About 200 Ukrainian sailors were brought to the coast. It was reported that the Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaydachniy, which had departed from her base at Odessa on 14 March, confronted four Russian warships with two Mi-35 assault helicopters attempting to sail into Ukraine territorial waters and, although initially refused on a peaceful request, they were forced to withdraw to open sea when the frigate raised armed alert. At Sevastopol, a Russian fleet's tug attacked the Ukrainian corvette Ternopil with grenades, inflicting some damage. At evening, 15-20 Russian special troops from the tug stormed the corvette and captured her using stun grenades and automatic fire.

21 March

• At Sevastopol, Russian warships surrounded the Ukrainian submarine Zaporizhzhia, and attacked her with grenades. The submarine was later seized by Russian personnel. At Donuzlav Bay, the Ukrainian minesweeper Cherkasy made a fruitless attempt to negotiate the scuttled vessels and gain access to open sea; after the failure, she and the landing ship Konstantin Olshansky dropped anchor and adopted a defensive formation.

22 March

• The Ukrainian air base at Belbek was overrun and taken over by Russian special forces forces supported by six BTR-80 armoured vehicles. The commander of the base, Yuli Mamchur, was captured, and the rest of the Ukrainian personnel evicted. One Ukrainian serviceman and one journalist were injured. At the same time, Pro-Russian militias and activists launched an assault and took control of the Ukrainian air base at Novofedorovka. The attackers threw smoke grenades on the coumpound. The Ukrainian personnel eventually abandoned the barracks. At Sevastopol, the command ship Slavutych was seized by Pro-Russian and Russian troops from a tug after her crew put up a two-hour long resistance. Earlier, the corvette Vinnytsia was also stormed and captured by Russian forces. At Donuzlav Bay, the crew of the amphibious ship Konstantin Olshansky was called to battle stations after being threatened by Russian forces.

23 March

• According to sources from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, three senior Ukrainian military officers -among them Yuli Mamchur- remained unaccounted for in Crimea, presumably captured by Pro-Russian militias. At Donuzlav Bay, the Ukrainian minesweeper Cherkasy made a second ill-fated attempt to negotiate the scuttled ships at the bay's entrance. At night, the Russian navy scuttled a fifth ship at the mouth of the bay.

24 March

• Russian Mi-35 and Mi-8 helicopters attacked the marines base at Feodosia at early morning, firing unguided rockets on the facilities there. One building was seen engulfed by thick smoke. Later, Russian special forces, backed by at least three BTR-80s armoured vehicles assaulted the barracks from two different directions firing automatic weapons and using stun grenades. The two top Ukrainian officers, Colonel Dmitry Delyatytskyy and Mayor Rostislav Lomtev, were captured and brought to an undisclosed location. Other 80 marines were taken prisoners. There were several wounded among the Ukrainian personnel. A tug carrying Russian forces boarded and seized the amphibious ship Konstantin Olshansky at Donuzlav Bay. Ukrainian sources claim that 200 troops assaulted the vessel with the use of automatic weapons and stun grenades. The Ukrainian ship was manned by 20 crewmembers at the time, who laid up a smokescreen. Ukrainian sources report that the crew disabled beyond repair the electronics and the engines of the vessel before surrender. The auxiliary ship Henichesk was also taken over earlier in the morning. The minesweeper Cherkasy successfully repulsed an assault by two speedboats by manoeuvering at full speed and launching explosive charges overboard in order to keep the hostile vessels away.

25 March

• The last warship waving the Ukrainian flag in Crimea, the minesweeper Cherkasy, was captured by the Russians after a two-hour long battle against two Mi-35 helicopters, three speedboats and the ocean-going tug Kovel at Donuzlav Bay. There were no casualties, but the minesweeper's rudder was disabled by the explosion of a grenade. The crew was allowed to stay in their vessel until the morning of 26 March, and hoist the Ukrainian flag until the last member of the complement leave the warship.

Kherson Oblast

• Ukrainian media claimed that on or prior to 8 March, Russian soldiers entered the territory of Chonhar village in Henichesk Raion of Kherson Oblast, and that they placed mines and boundary pillars. Chonhar is several kilometers north of the middle land connection to Crimea, and is now guarded by a Russian checkpoint.
• On 7 March, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe observer mission attempted to enter Crimea via Chonhar, but was blocked at the checkpoint.
• On 12 March, members of the Security Service of Ukraine claimed to have captured a Russian military intelligence team which had infiltrated into Kherson from Crimea.
• On 15 March, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence claimed that the Ukrainian military repelled an attempt by Russian forces to enter the Arabat Spit portion that belongs to the Kherson Oblast adjacent to Crimea. The Ukrainian military supposedly used aircraft, ground forces, and its aeromobile battalion in the operation. It was reported that 40 Russian soldiers had been landed by helicopter near the village of Strilkove, and that they were later supported by three armoured vehicles and 60 troops landed from another six helicopters. A Ukrainian border guard spokesman estimated that there were as many as 120 Russian soldiers in the area. The Russian troops claimed they sought to protect a Chornomornaftogaz gas pumping station from possible terrorists actions. Some reports claimed that the Russian troops remained in the area. The Crimean authorities has announced the plan to nationalize the company and privatize it at an open tender. The Crimean deputy prime minister Rustam Temirgaliev has said that the new owner of the company would be Gazprom.

Other troop movements

• The head of Chernihiv regional council announced that the Russians were conducting military movements on the Chernihiv Oblast segment of the State Border of Ukraine on 2 March. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 3 March that Russia had started to amass troops on several segments of the eastern borders with Ukraine (Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts). Later, the Luhansk border detachment dismissed those claims as a disinformation by media. On 3 March, Russia deployed 3,500 troops and heavy equipment on the Baltic coast in Kaliningrad Oblast near Polish and Lithuanian borders, causing Lithuania and Poland, who are members of NATO, to ask for protection against a Russian invasion.

• On 4 March two Russian vessels, the 150 'Saratov' landing ship and the 156 'Yamal' assault ship, had entered the straits.

• On 8 March, Ukrainian border guards began a special deployment along the border with Moldova, in the Transdnistria area, in order to prevent any provocations by pro-Russian activists in Odessa Oblast.

• On 13 March, the Russian Defence Ministry announced a buildup of Russian troops in regions along Ukraine's eastern borders, confirming at least some earlier reports. "Heavy training" involving over 10,000 troops and large amounts of equipment took place in the Rostov, Belgorod, and Kursk Oblasts. The drills were not announced in advance as is the norm. Ukrainian officials claimed the assembled force included 80,000 soldiers and several hundred each of tanks, planes, and field artillery. Following the death of a 22-year-old man in clashes between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian protesters in Donetsk, Russia declared its readiness to intervene in Eastern Ukraine to protect ethnic Russians there.
• On 23 March, seven Russian servicemen from the Russian Black Sea Fleet were arrested by Ukrainian Border Guards at a railway checkpoint in Donetsk Oblast while traveling in civilian clothes from Volzhsky to Sevastopol.
• On the night of 23 March, a group of at least ten unidentified armed persons in camouflage fatigues attacked a State Emergency Service of Ukraine base at Odessa, and robbed a sentry of his SKS carbine before fleeing the scene when another sentry fired warning shots.
• On 25 March the Committee of the Security of the State of Transdnistria reported that a drone launched from Ukraine was shot down over its territory on 23 March.

Non-military events

Russia

• At a meeting to protest against the Russian intervention in Ukraine that took place near to the Ministry of Defense building in Moscow, 28 protesters were arrested by the police. Andrei Yurov, an expert of the Moscow Helsinki Group, said that the decision of the Council of the Federation allowing President Putin to use military force within the territory of Ukraine was taken on the basis of unconfirmed information about the "victims" among citizens in Crimea.

In Crimea

• On 4 March Prime Minister Aksyonov announced the creation of a Crimean navy and Ministry of Defence. He also stated that three air defence units and over 5000 personnel pledged allegiance to Crimea.

Other military actions

Russia's actions increased tensions in nearby countries historically within its sphere of influence, particularly the Baltics and Moldova; all have large Russian-speaking populations, and Russian troops are stationed in the breakaway Moldovan territory of Transnistria. Some devoted resources to increasing defensive capabilities, and many requested increased support from the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which they had joined in recent years.

United States

• On 5 March the Pentagon announced it would send six fighter jets and a refueling aircraft to augment the four already participating in the Baltic Air Policing mission.
• 7 U.S. F-16's were scheduled to participate in a training exercise in Poland. On 6 March, it was announced that 12 fighters and 300 service personnel would go to Poland. The increase was attributed to concerns over Russian activities in Crimea.
• An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Truxtun, crossed into the Black Sea on 6 March to participate in long-planned exercises with Bulgaria and Romania. It was the only United States Navy vessel in the Black Sea besides the guided-missile frigate USS Taylor that was moored in the port of Samsun, Turkey. American officials stated that it was part of a routine deployment for exercises with the Bulgarian and Romanian navies.

Turkey

• On 7 March, the Turkish Air Force reported it scrambled six F-16 fighter jets after a Russian surveillance plane flew along Turkey's Black Sea coast. It was the second incident of its kind reported that week, with one occurring the day before on 6 March. The Russian plane remained in international airspace. Diplomatic sources revealed that Turkey has warned Russia that if it attacks Ukraine and its Crimean Tatar population, it would blockade Russian ships' passage to the Black Sea.

Belarus

• Ukraine reported that Russian units in Belarus were participating in Russia's military exercises near the Ukrainian border.
• On 13 March, Russia sent six Su-27 fighters and three military transport planes to participate in exercises in Belarus, in response to the exercises in Poland.

Legal aspects

This section is missing information about the actions undertaken by the United Nations Security Council before Russia intervened in Ukraine. Please expand the section to include this informationto include this information or by making an edit request. Further details may exist on the talk page. (March 2014)

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 sovereignty, self-determination, acts of aggression, and humanitarian emergencies. Russia claims that its armed forces are not involved in the present stand-off, and also asserts that use of force for the purposes of humanitarian intervention in Ukraine has not yet occurred. Ukraine and some other countries, on the other hand, argue that Russian forces are involved and such intervention is a violation to Ukraine's sovereignty.

Alexander Mezyaev, Head of the Chair of the Academy on International Law and Governance in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. Noted that the United Nations International Court of Justice handed down an advisory opinion in 2010 saying unambiguously that the unilateral declaration of independence is in accordance with the international law. The Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations adopted by the resolution 2625 (XXV) of the United Nations General Assembly on October 24 1970states, «Every State has the duty to refrain in its international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner. Such a threat or use of force constitutes a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and shall never be employed as a means of settling international issues». So in fact, the territorial integrity is recalled in the context of outside intervention. The principle has no relation to the internal politics. Western politicians are trying to make it look like if there was some principle of territorial integrity which would say that the territory of a state cannot be changed. The very same Declaration contains the principle of self-determination of peoples. It reads, «By virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter».

UK media reported that Russia contested that it has undertaken a humanitarian intervention to protect ethnic Russians in Crimea from threats to their safety. However, Russia denies any military intervention. The doctrine referred to by the UK media stipulates that it is acceptable for a state to intervene into another state on exceptional circumstances of a grave humanitarian emergency to save a whole population whose lives are threatened. The precedent of incursion into another nation's sovereign territorial boundaries on such basis—without a mandate from the United Nations Security Council—was made during the Kosovo War. During the Kosovo War, NATO forces engaged forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and bombed Serbian civilians on the basis of claims that the ethnic Albanian population was facing persecution and genocide. NATO at that time claimed that the inability of the UN Security Council to act on the emergency required intervention without a mandate.

The United States has also claimed that Russia's actions have violated Ukraine's sovereignty while it has addressed Russia's claims of threats to ethnic Russians with a proposal to send international monitors to Ukraine to ensure that the rights of all Ukrainians—including ethnic Russians—are upheld.

Furthermore, both nations have also ratified several treaties between themselves. One such treaty, the Partition Treaty on the Black Sea Fleet—signed in 1997 and still in effect—allows Russia to maintain up to 25,000 Russian troops in Crimea. The US administration has asserted that Russia violated the treaty by not coordinating the troop movements with Ukraine, even though it didn't exceed the 25,000 threshold. CIA director John Brennan has stated that the legal force enacted by the treaty might have made Russia not consider its troop movements to be an invasion.

Commentary

Western Commentary

The American Marc Weller, a Cambridge University professor of international law, analyzed some legal aspects of Russia's actions, concluding that they are for the most part contraventions of established law. He has opined as follows:

1. "Russia has clearly and unambiguously recognised Ukraine and its present borders, confirmed in the Alma Ata Declaration of December 1991, which consigned the Soviet Union to history, the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, offering security guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for removing nuclear weapons from its territory, the 1997 agreement on the stationing of the Black Sea fleet in Crimean ports."
2. The activity seen breached the latter agreement as it prohibited any unilateral increase of Russian forces in Crimea.
3. A 1974 United Nations definition deems using "foreign armed forces on the territory of a state in contravention of the agreement governing that presence" to be an act of "aggression".
4. The motive claimed by Russia – to protect Russians in another country – "lacks substance" in law according to Weller. It is, according to Weller, primarily Ukraine's responsibility (not Russia's) in law to protect Ukrainian citizens from violence (including ethnic Russian Ukrainians). There is a doctrine allowing "rescuing citizens abroad", but it only applies to "grave humanitarian emergency" (for which evidence Weller argues did not exist; although loss of functioning government is sometimes viewed as such), does not apply to "foreigners declared nationals principally for the purpose of rescuing them forcibly", and can at most be used to rescue citizens back to their country, rather than occupying parts of another country. Further, "a state intervening for genuine humanitarian purposes would not be entitled to cause a change in the status of the territory concerned."
5. Although the past president of Ukraine was not removed in the correct manner (via impeachment) he was, according to Weller, "unanimously disowned by the parliament." Weller argues that the ousted President could no longer claim to represent the true sovereign of Ukraine, the people. The regional government of Crimea, according to Weller, seems to "lack the legal power" to require intervention by a foreign state.
6. "According to international precedent, cannot simply secede unilaterally, even if that wish is supported by the local population in a referendum", not least since, according to Weller, "international practice generally seeks to accommodate separatist demands within the existing territorial boundaries". Weller also argues that, "divorce at gunpoint" is not recognized in international law.

Another expert, de [Stefan Talmon], a professor of international law at the University of Bonn, shares the same legal view, as does former professor of Public Law and Eastern European Law de [Otto Luchtenhandt], who notes that a referendum by Crimea alone would previously have been invalid, as "Article 73 of the Ukrainian constitution states very clearly that questions of Ukraine's territorial sovereignty can only be decided by referendums put to the whole of the population." He states "hardly any" countries would recognize Crimea as Russia, even with a regional referendum. He draws a parallel to northern Cyprus which, 30 years after its 1983 separation, is still only recognized by the country – Turkey – that claims it.

Sumantra Maitra, from the University of Otago, New Zealand, argued that this Russian aggression can be attributed to Vladimir Putin's foreign policy and economic policy correlation, and Russian aggression is directly proportional to its economic performance. He also mentioned that Russian actions in Ukraine implies the Security Dilemma Russia is currently facing.

Julian Ku suggests that the claim that the referendum would violate international law is undercut by the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence. In that opinion, the ICJ found (among other things) that general international law does not prohibit unilateral declarations of independence. The authors of the “unilateral” declaration of Kosovo’s independence did not consult Serbian authorities (much less get its consent). Like the declaration of independence, the referendum does not by itself “secede” Crimea from Ukraine under international law. And unlike the declaration of independence, the referendum could find support (if other conditions are met) in the law of self-determination.

Russian commentary

The Russian specialist, Alexander Mezyaev, Head of the Chair of the Academy on International Law and Governance in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. Noted that the United Nations International Court of Justice handed down an advisory opinion in 2010 saying unambiguously that the unilateral declaration of independence is in accordance with the international law.

A referendum based decision is not a «unilateral declaration of independence». The Court’s ruling was related to the unilateral declaration of independence by illegitimate government of Kosovo and Metohija. In the case of Crimea the government is democratically elected and legitimate. There are no international norms to be violated; such norms simply do not exist.

It should be explained why the West has not declared the referendum to be held in Scotland in September 2014 to be in violation of international law as it will not take place in other regions of Great Britain?

Lawyers coming up with «legal» substantiations for the Western governments’ statements often say the referendum violates the principle of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Sounds solid enough at first glance, but it has no legal basis. To define what the «principle of territorial integrity» means one should refer to The Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations adopted by the resolution 2625 (XXV) of the United Nations General Assembly on October 24, 1970. «Every State has the duty to refrain in its international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. Such a threat or use of force constitutes a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and shall never be employed as a means of settling international issues».

So in fact, the territorial integrity is recalled in the context of outside intervention. The principle has no relation to the internal politics. The Western politicians are trying to make it look like if there was some principle of territorial integrity which would say that the territory of a state cannot be changed.

The very same Declaration contains the principle of self-determination of peoples. It reads, «By virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter».

Reactions

Ukrainian response

Interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov accused Russia of "provoking a conflict" by invading Crimea. He compared Russia's military actions to the 2008 Russia–Georgia war, when Russian troops occupied parts of the Republic of Georgia, and the breakaway enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia were established under the control of Russian-backed administrations. He called on Putin to withdraw Russian troops from Crimea and stated that Ukraine will "preserve its territory" and "defend its independence". On 1 March, he warned, "Military intervention would be the beginning of war and the end of any relations between Ukraine and Russia."

On 1 March, Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov placed the Armed Forces of Ukraine on full alert and combat readiness.

International reactions

A number of countries condemned and expressed grave concerns over the Russian intervention in Ukraine. The UN Security Council held a special meeting at the weekend on the crisis. The G7 countries condemned the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, and urged Russia to withdraw. All G7 leaders are refusing to participate in it due to assumed violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in contravention of Russia's obligations under the UN Charter and its 1997 basing agreement with Ukraine.

The United States raised the likelihood of sanctions against Russia unless they withdrew. United States President Barack Obama has put visa restrictions in place against "those responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," and the United States State Department has announced its own plans to do the same . Canada recalled its ambassador from Russia. British Foreign Minister William Hague removed Britain from preparations for the upcoming G8 summit and said the UK would work with international partners to "ensure that reforms by Ukraine are matched by international willingness to provide economic support".

Financial markets

The intervention has caused turbulence on the financial markets. Many markets around the world fell slightly due to the threat of instability. The Swiss franc climbed to a 2-year high against the dollar and 1-year high against the Euro. The Euro and the US dollar both rose, as did the Australian dollar. The Russian stock market declined by more than 10 percent, whilst the Russian ruble hit an all time lows against the US dollar and the Euro. The Russian Central bank hiked interest rates and intervened in the foreign exchange markets to the tune of $12 billion to try to stabilize its currency. Prices for wheat and grain rose, with Ukraine being a major exporter of both crops.

See also

• 2014 Crimean crisis
• 2014 Russian anti-war protests
• Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances
• Euromaidan
• Russia–Ukraine border
• Russia–Ukraine relations
• Deportation of the Crimean Tatars

Notes

1. ^ Radyuhin (2014) "President Vladimir Putin, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Russian armed forces, asked Parliament for permission to use the Russian armed forces to "protect" Russian civilians and military in Ukraine."
2. Walker (2014) "Putin also insisted that ousted Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovych, was the legitimate leader of Ukraine and that the "so-called" acting president had no authority and the new government in Kiev illegal."
3. Baldor (2014) "A U.S. warship is also now in the Black Sea to participate in long-planned exercises."
4. 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."

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150. Росіяни захопили пост українських радіотехніків у Криму. Korrespondent.net, 12 March 2014
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162. At the headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy military blocked without water and food. Ukrayinska Pravda. March 19, 2014
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169. "Hetman Sahaidachny" forced ships of the Russian Federation to leave territorial waters of Ukraine. UNIAN. March 20, 2014
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173. Russian invaders seized "Ternopil". Ukrayinska Pravda. March 20, 2014
174. В Севастополе захватили корвет Тернополь. Korrespondent.net, 20 March 2014
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176. Український тральщик "Черкаси" не зміг вирватися з Донузлава. DT, 21 march 2014
177. Командира воинской части в Бельбеке похитили российские военные. Unian, 22 March 2014
178. Представитель СМИ и украинский военнослужащий пострадали во время штурма военной части в Бельбеке. Podrobnosti, 22 March 2014
179. Украинцы оставили военную часть в Новофедоровке. Теперь это база ЧФ РФ. Ukrainskaya Pravda, 22 March 2014
180. Российские военнослужащие захватили корабль "Славутич". Delo.ua, 22 March 2014
181. Російські військові взяли штурмом корвет "Вінниця". Korrespondent.net, 22 march 2014
182. Бойову тривогу оголосили на кораблі Костянтин Ольшанський. Korrespondent.net, 22 March 2014
183. Three senior Ukrainian officers missing, believed held by Russians, by Sergei L. Loiko. Los Angeles Times, 23 March 2014
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187. У Феодосії російські окупанти випустили перші реактивні снаряди. TSN.ua, 24 march 2014
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190. Окупанти захопили "Ольшанський". Livivska Gazeta, 24 March 2014
191. Озброєні люди взяли штурмом корабель Костянтин Ольшанський. Korrespondent.net, 24 March 2014
192. Моряки изувечили "Константина Ольшанского" перед штурмом. Unian, 25 March 2014
193. Тральщик "Черкаси" відбив атаку російських військових. DT.ua, 24 March 2014
194. Российские захватчики ворвались на борт тральщика "Черкассы". ATN, 25 March 2014
195. Під час штурму "Черкас" російські військові стріляли по кораблю, а українські – у повітря. TVI, 25 March 2014
196. РОСІЙСЬКІ ОКУПАНТИ ЗАХОПЛЮВАЛИ "ЧЕРКАСИ" ПОНАД 2 ГОДИНИ. Прапор лишається до ранку. Ukrainska Pravda, 25 March 2014
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201. Ukraine accuses Russia of military incursion - FT.com
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208. "Crimean authorities not ruling out future privatization of Chornomornaftogaz". Kyiv Post. Interfax-Ukraine. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
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210. "Chernihiv Regional Council Chairman declared about military movement near the Russian border". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 2 March 2014.
211. Russia is suspected of preparing an invasion in Ukraine through the land borders, 3 March 2014 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
212. No Russian armored vehicles on the segment of Luhansk border detachment – border guards, 3 March 2014 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
213. "Niespodziewane manewry w Obwodzie Kaliningradzkim : wojskowość". Poland: Kresy. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
214. Karsten, Østergaard Nielsen. "Polens præsident: Obama har lovet mig at beskytte os mod Rusland" (in Danish). Denmark: Dr. Retrieved 4 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
215. "Turkey grants US warship permission to enter Black Sea". RT. 5 March 2014.
216. Украинские пограничники проводят спецоперацию на приднестровском сегменте госграницы во избежание возможных провокаций. Interfax Ukraina, 8 March 2014
217. ^ Steven Lee Myers; Alison Smale (13 March 2014). "Russian Troops Mass at Border With Ukraine". New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
218. Kelley, Michael (13 March 2014). "Ukraine Says 80,000 Russian Soldiers And 270 Tanks Are Threatening A 'Full-Scale Invasion'". Business Insider. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
219. "Russia Warns It Is Ready To Place Eastern Ukraine 'Under Its Protection'". Business Insider. Reuters. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
220. В Одесской области произошло нападение на склад с оружием. Dumskaya.net, 24 March 2014
221. У КДБ Придністров'я заявляють, що збили безпілотник. Korrespondent.net, 25 March 2014
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225. "Self-defense forces ranks swell in anticipation of Crimea showdown with radicals". Russia: RT. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
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Further reading

• Bremmer, Ian (1994). "The Politics of Ethnicity: Russians in the New Ukraine". Europe-Asia Studies. 46 (2): 261–283. doi:10.1080/09668139408412161.
• Hagendoorn, A.; Linssen, H.; Tumanov, S. V. (2001). Intergroup Relations in States of the former Soviet Union: The Perception of Russians. New York: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-84169-231-X.
• Legvold, Robert (2013). Russian Foreign Policy in the Twenty-first Century and the Shadow of the Past. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-51217-6.

External links

• NATO Secretary General – Doorstep statement to the media on YouTube. 2 March 2014
• RT News Anchor resigns on air citing propaganda. CNN World. 5 March 2014
• Russia's invasion of Ukraine (live updates). Kyiv Post. 2 March 2014
• VICE News: Ukraine Coverage on YouTube
• Template:Uk icon Putin vs the people of Ukraine.. 2 March 2014. Ukrayinska Pravda.

v t e Crimea articles
Political status Sevastopol Republic of Crimea (Russia) Autonomous Republic of Crimea
History	Greek Crimea Crimea in the Roman era Cherson (theme) Bosporan Kingdom) Akatziri Khazars Crimean Goths Kipchaks Empire of Trebizond Genoese Crimea Genoese–Mongol Wars Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689 Crimean Khanate 1783 annexation by Russia Crimean War Soviet period Crimea in World War II 1944 Crimean Tatar deportation Renaming of Crimean toponyms 1954 transfer to Ukraine Crimean Tatar repatriation Autonomous Republic of Crimea President of Crimea (historical) 2003 Tuzla Island conflict 2014 status referendum 2014 annexation by Russia Supreme Council of Crimea (until 2014) (Chairman) Prime Minister of Crimea (until 2014) Council of Ministers (until 2014) Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People
Geography	Arabat Spit Arabat Bay Azov Sea Black Sea Caves Marble Vyalova Crimean Mountains Kerch Strait Perekop Isthmus Pontic–Caspian steppe Southern Coast Syvash Subdivisions Cities Raions Urban-type settlements
Politics	Republic of Crimea/Autonomous Republic of Crimea Constitution Head State Council 2014 parliamentary election Sevastopol Legislative Assembly Governor 2017 election Black Sea Fleet Crimean Federal District
Economy	Tourism Crimean Bridge Crimean Trolleybus
Society	Sports Crimean Premier League Demographics Peoples Russians Ukrainians Crimean Tatars Armenians Karaites Pontic Greeks Krymchaks Crimea Germans Languages Crimean Tatar Krymchak Russian Ukrainian Religion Christianity Roman Catholicism Ukrainian Catholicism Judaism Islam
Category

v t e Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity
21 November 2013 – 23 February 2014
Main topics	Timeline of the Euromaidan Domestic responses to the Euromaidan International reactions to the Euromaidan Casualties Heavenly Hundred Order of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes Damaged communist monuments
Main events	1 December 2013 riots Fall of the monument to Lenin in Kyiv 11 December 2013 assault Ukrainian–Russian action plan Anti-Maidan Vasylkiv terrorists case Anti-protest laws in Ukraine 2014 Odesa clashes 2014 Hrushevskoho Street riots 2014 RSA occupations Agreement on settlement of political crisis in Ukraine Revolution of Dignity
Aftermath	2014 pro-Russian unrest Timeline Russian military intervention 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia Timeline War in Donbas timeline First Yatsenyuk government Lustration in Ukraine Decommunization in Ukraine
Elections	2014 Ukrainian presidential election 2014 Ukrainian local elections 2014 Kyiv local election 2014 Crimean status referendum 2014 Donbas status referendums 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election
Main places	Maidan Nezalezhnosti Mezhyhirya Khreshchatyk Lypky Bankova Street European Square Hrushevskoho Street Dynamo Stadium Kyiv City Council Trade Unions Building Ukrainian House Mariinskyi Park October Palace Kyiv Conservatory
European integration	Ukraine–European Union relations Eastern Partnership European Union Association Agreement European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement Constitution of Ukraine
Protest figures	Organizations Maidan People's Union Euromaidan Press Parliamentary opposition parties Batkivshchyna Svoboda UDAR Other parties Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists Democratic Alliance UNA–UNSO United Left and Peasants Civic organizations Automaidan Road Control Vidsich Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Militant groups Right Sector Spilna Sprava Lead figures Vitali Klitschko Arseniy Yatsenyuk Oleh Tyahnybok Petro Poroshenko Yuriy Lutsenko Oleksandr Turchynov Yulia Tymoshenko Andriy Parubiy Andriy Sadovyi Arsen Avakov Ruslana Tetiana Chornovol Dmytro Bulatov Dmytro Yarosh Refat Chubarov
Anti-protest figures	Organizations Second Azarov government Ministry of Internal Affairs Internal Troops of Ukraine Security Service of Ukraine Berkut Militsiya (Ukraine) Party of Regions Titushky Night Wolves Don Cossacks Antimaidan Lead figures Viktor Yanukovych Mykola Azarov Serhiy Arbuzov Vitaliy Zakharchenko Oleksandr Yefremov Andriy Klyuyev Hennadiy Kernes Mykhailo Dobkin Viktor Pshonka Olena Lukash Yuriy Boyko Leonid Kozhara Dmytro Tabachnyk Oleksandr Klymenko

• Current events from March 2014
• Articles to be merged from March 2014
• 2014 in Ukraine
• 2014 in Russia
• Russia–Ukraine relations
• History of Crimea
• 2014 Crimean crisis
• Conflicts in 2014
• 2014 in international relations
• Post-Soviet conflicts