Russian occupation of Crimea

Overview

Since 2014, Russia has occupied the Crimean Peninsula, a part of Ukraine. On 27 February 2014, Russia sent soldiers in unmarked uniforms to Crimea to take control of it, starting the Russo-Ukrainian war. This military occupation paved the way for the Russian annexation of Crimea on 18 March 2014. While the Russian government deems Crimea to be part of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and most of the international community see it as an occupied territory of Ukraine.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Russia's deployment of soldiers in unmarked uniforms to Crimea in February 2014 marked the opening of the Russo-Ukrainian War and established physical control over the peninsula without a conventional declaration of hostilities. The occupation created the conditions for Russia's formal annexation of Crimea on 18 March 2014. The operation produced a lasting political fracture: Russia regards Crimea as part of the Russian Federation, while Ukraine and most of the international community treat it as Ukrainian territory under occupation. This disputed status became a foundational issue of the broader conflict, shaping the political and legal framework through which subsequent phases of the war were contested.