Eleven years have passed since Russia’s abrupt and bloodless acquisition of Crimea from Ukraine on March 18, 2014. This event not only triggered a significant deterioration in Moscow’s relationships with Western nations, unseen since the Cold War, but also laid the groundwork for Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, during which it annexed additional territories.
Strategically positioned in the Black Sea, Crimea is highly valued by both Russia and Ukraine due to its naval bases and scenic beaches. Historically, the peninsula has been a coveted area for its strategic importance, with numerous conflicts centered around its control. Crimea was originally inhabited by Turkic-speaking Tatars until the Russian Empire first annexed it in the 18th century. Although it briefly regained independence as a Tatar republic in the 20th century, it was later incorporated into the Soviet Union. In 1944, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin forcibly deported around 200,000 Tatars, about a third of Crimea’s population, to Central Asia, attributing their expulsion to allegations of collaboration with Nazi Germany, accusations largely discredited by historians.
In a symbolic gesture in 1954, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine, both then part of the USSR, commemorating the unification of Moscow and Kyiv. Following the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, Crimea became part of independent Ukraine. Despite this, Russia maintained significant interests: its Black Sea Fleet remained stationed in Sevastopol. Beyond military considerations, Crimea held considerable cultural and historical significance to Russian leadership over the years.
When Ukraine evolved into an independent nation, Crimea secured its status as a key strategic component and part of Ukrainian identity, having been integrated within its boundaries for 60 years by 2014. Ukrainian investment in Crimea was substantial, with approximately $100 billion directed towards its development from 1991 to 2014. Crimea’s control remains crucial for Ukraine’s ability to oversee Black Sea activities.
The Russian annexation of Crimea followed significant political unrest in Ukraine, where a populist uprising unseated the pro-Moscow president, Victor Yanukovich. Taking advantage of the instability, Russia deployed troops to Crimea, initially unmarked, and organized a disputed referendum for its accession into Russia—a move widely condemned by Ukraine and the West as unlawful. International recognition of the annexation was scarce, with countries like North Korea and Sudan among a few exceptions. Domestically, the annexation bolstered patriotic sentiment and significantly elevated President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings.
Post-annexation, Putin has maintained a firm stance on Crimea, prosecuting individuals contesting its annexation and facing backlash over continued oppression of the Crimean Tatars. Though Moscow denies discrimination, an estimated 30,000 Tatars left Crimea between 2014 and 2021 due to these tensions. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has consistently pledged to reclaim Crimea, asserting that it remains inseparable from Ukraine.
Russia’s seized Crimea sharpened tensions with Western nations, leading to sanctions from the US and the EU, among others. Protracted conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine shortly thereafter, with Moscow accused of backing pro-Kremlin insurgents, despite repeated denials of direct involvement. Notably, a Dutch court later identified a Russian-supplied missile system responsible for the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, heightening international scrutiny. Critiques emerged within Russia, questioning Putin’s decision not to extend territorial acquisitions across all of Ukraine at the outset, given its then-unstable political landscape.
The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine persisted with intermittent flare-ups until 2022 when Russia initiated a full-scale invasion by officially acknowledging the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions before further military advances. Crimea’s role in Russia’s broader military strategy against Ukraine intensified, as it facilitated rapid territorial gains for Russian forces early in the conflict. Russia’s objectives, reportedly including establishing a corridor to Crimea, underscored the strategic significance of the peninsula.
Following Russia’s broad invasion, Ukraine’s strategic assessments shifted, considering military action to reclaim Crimea. This led to increased military engagements in the area, with Ukraine conducting targeted strikes aimed at weakening Moscow’s hold on the region. Key operations targeted the Russian Black Sea Fleet, infrastructure such as the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea to mainland Russia, and various military installations within the peninsula.
