The Crimean Anschluss

"This new Russian nationalism is being blended mostly out of Soviet revivalism, and the feelings of nostalgia for the times when the USSR was an empire that ruled big parts of the world," says Nikolai Svanidze, a famous Russian TV personality in the same vein as Bill Moyers. "The taking of Crimea is perceived, and presented, as a step toward the restoration of the USSR. Even if it's a kind of USSR-lite, it's being used to stir public moods, and it's dangerous."

Ukraine was always a buffer state of Russia, the Kremlin now had a problem since the most Ukrainians wanted a more pro-Western (EU) stance. Of course Russia couldn't allow that.

Following start of Euromaidan movement in late November 2013 leadership of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea took decisive stance on supporting President Yanukovych and Azarov Government and condemned actions of Ukrainian opposition as "threatening political stability in the country". Supreme Council of Crimea supported the Government's decision to suspend negotiations on Ukraine-EU Association Agreement and urged Crimeans to "strengthen friendly ties with Russian regions". Some time later, on 22 January 2014, Supreme Council condemned actions of Ukrainian opposition and stated that it neither "give up Crimea to extremists", nor recognise "illegitimate elections"


On 4 February 2014, the Presidium of the Supreme Council considered holding a referendum on the peninsula's status and asking President of Russia and State Duma to ensure its holding. Because of that, the Security Service of Ukraine opened a criminal case on "subversion of territorial integrity of the Ukraine".

On 22 February 2014 Verkhovna Rada voted to remove Viktor Yanukovich from his post on the grounds that he was unable to fulfill his duties although the legislative removal lacked the required votes according to the constitution in effect at the time. This move was regarded as a coup d'état by the Russian authorities.

Revolutionary removal of Viktor Yanukovich from Ukrainian presidency and certain actions of a new government (such as attempted repeal of 2012 language law) triggered 2014 Crimean crisis, which started as demonstrations against new central authorities, but would later quickly evolve into international crisis, because, unlike 1992-1994 movements, this time pro-Russian movements were actively supported by the Russian Federation.

On 27 February, unidentified forces seized the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea (the regional parliament) and the building of the Council of Ministers in Simferopol. Russian flags were raised over these buildings, which were barricaded after takeover.On same day unidentified forces, assisted by Crimean Berkut units, established security checkpoints on Isthmus of Perekop and Chongar Peninsula, separating Crimea from rest of Ukraine.This meant effective loss of control by central Ukrainian government.

On same day the Supreme Council of Crimea dissolved the old Council of Ministers of Crimea and designated Sergey Aksyonov, leader of the Russian Unity party, to be a new prime minister, this appointment was declared illegal by Ukrainian authorities.[39] Both Aksyonov and speaker Vladimir Konstantinov stated, that they view Viktor Yanukovich as de jure President of Ukraine, trough whom they were able to ask Russia for assistance.

On 1 March 2014 de facto Prime Minister of Crimea Aksyonov proclaimed that all armed structures in the republic shall be subordinated to de facto Crimean authorities and asked Russian president Vladimir Putin for "assistance in ensuring peace and public order" on the republic's soil. On same day Putin requested Federation Council of Russia to authorize use of the Russian Armed Forces in the Ukraine "until normalization of a socio-political environment in the country". Authorization was granted on same day, causing protests of intelligentsia and demonstrations in Moscow. By 2 March, Russian troops had complete control over Crimea.

According to Russian Minister of Defense Shoygu, Russian military actions were undertaken by forces of the Black Sea Fleet and were justified by "threat to lives of Crimean civilians" and danger of "takeover of Russian military infrastructure by extremists". These claims are contested by Ukrainian sources, which report that other contingencies were drawn into conflict (such as Baltic and Northern Fleets), in violation of 1997 Black Sea Fleet agreements.

On 17 April 2014 President of Russia acknowledged Russian military backing of self-defense units, stating that it was necessary to "to ensure proper conditions for the people of Crimea to be able to freely express their will".Ukraine and other nations argue that such intervention is a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. and, in particular, violation of terms of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, by which Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine


After the referendum, Crimea became part of Russia though most of the world doesn't accept this.