Since September 20, Crimean Tatar activists and other demonstrators mainly from 'Right Sector' have been blocking the flow of goods from Ukraine to Crimea.
The Ukrainian government does not support or criticize this move. Reactions among analysts, observers, and bloggers are mixed.
Mustafa Jemilev, the leader of the Crimean Tatars who has advocated for the blockade of Crimea for several months, warned that 80 percent of trucks heading to the peninsula ultimately went to Russia. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko eventually heard Jemilev's message and decided to indirectly support the blockade.
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Jemilev has recently been appointed head of the Anti-Corruption Council; he was also seen in the front row of Ukraine's delegation at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Thus, the Ukrainian government has actively used the blockade in its recent diplomatic offensive against the Kremlin.
But what is the blockade meant to achieve? Apart from direct economic effects, it also aims to pursue several political goals.
One of them was the desire to draw international attention to the annexation of Crimea and the human rights violations, including the persecution of Crimean Tatars. The blockade aims to support the Tatars living in Crimea, whom Russia is attempting to politically divide.
Furthermore, Ukrainian media reported that food prices have risen by 150 percent within the first week of the blockade. Even if Russia managed to reroute food supplies, it is assumed that prices will continue to rise due to the blockade.
For the Ukrainian government, the blockade was a short-term emergency aid in the fight against smuggling and corruption associated with trade flows on the gray market in Crimea.
Nevertheless, formally, the blockade reduces the actual volumes of Ukrainian-Russian trade. Representatives of the Ukrainian government are cautious in discussing this issue. Anton Gerashchenko, deputy prime minister under Arseniy Yatsenyuk, believes that a law regulating the goods sold in Crimea should be adopted.
Another key aspect of the blockade is Ukraine's internal politics. The informal support of activists by the government has a positive influence on society. There is also a downside. 'Right Sector', which has recently lost considerable popularity, may benefit from the blockade - public support for the group has risen to 6 percent.
Meanwhile, the Crimean government has made several symbolic political gestures. On October 1, Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksenov visited the construction site of a new bridge across the Kerch Strait, which will connect Crimea and Russia. However, the bridge will not be fully operational, if all goes according to plan, until June 2019.
Activists have stated that the protest action may last for many years. But if they disrupt the supply of electricity, which is already partially happening, it could mean significant economic, political, and even military risks for Ukraine.