The Crimean Occupation: How It Began on February 26, 2014, and the Current Reality

A Rally for Ukraine's Territorial Integrity

According to МЗС: On February 26, 2014, a rally in support of Ukraine's territorial integrity was held in Simferopol. This event occurred against the backdrop of Russia's aggressive war, which led to the temporary occupation of the Crimean Peninsula. The rally was a pivotal moment as Russian military forces began seizing administrative buildings and blockading Ukrainian military units in Crimea, marking the start of a major European security crisis.

The Situation in Crimea Since Occupation

Eight years after these events, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. To date, on the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, 1,684 individuals have been persecuted, with 284 facing prosecution. The ban on the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, along with widespread repression, has become a grim reality of life under occupation.

The occupation and militarization of Crimea have destabilized the security situation across the Black Sea region. The tools used to maintain the occupation regime include:

• Illegal searches and detentions
• Politically motivated convictions
• Persecution on religious and ethnic grounds
• Forced mobilization
• Indoctrination of children and youth
• Persecution of journalists and human rights defenders

In this context, the international community is called upon to refuse recognition of the Crimean occupation and to increase pressure on the Russian Federation.

The events of 2014 laid the groundwork for a prolonged crisis in Ukraine that continues to this day. The confrontation with Russia has intensified, and the international community increasingly recognizes the necessity of supporting Ukraine's fight for sovereignty. Given the systematic human rights violations in Crimea, it is crucial for the world to maintain focus on the region and respond more decisively to the aggressor's actions.