Crimea: Eight Years After Illegal Annexation

February 20, 2022 marks the eight anniversary of Russia’s illegal annexation and armed seizure of the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC), which marked the beginning of a long Russian-Ukrainian war for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Ukraine. Now the main goal of the capture of Crimea by the Russian aggressor has become clear – the beginning of the forcible conquest of Ukraine by force in violation of international law and existing intergovernmental treaties and legislation.

Since 2014, the Russian Federation has been a violator of the world security order and international law. Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and some districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of the Russian Federation violated: bilateral agreements and treaties between Ukraine and Russia, in particular: the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership (1997), the Agreement on the Status and Conditions of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine (1999), the Treaty on Ukrainian-Russian state border ”(2003), which certify the sovereignty of Ukraine; international treaties, including: the UN Charter (1945), the Helsinki Final Act on Security and Cooperation in Europe (1975), the Budapest Memorandum (1994), the Code of Crimes against Peace and Security (1996), the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (2006), the Fourth Hague Convention (1907), the Third Geneva Convention (1929), etc.

In addition to the above-mentioned agreements, the Russian Federation systematically violates the “Minsk Agreements” (Protocol of September 5, 2014, Memorandum of September 19, 2014 and Package of Measures of February 12, 2015). Numerous bilateral agreements to establish a “full and comprehensive ceasefire” were almost immediately violated by Russian forces and illegal armed groups controlled and subordinated to the Russian Federation.

At the same time, Russia is trying to shift responsibility for these mass violations to Ukraine, NATO and its member countries. This follows from the drafts of the two agreements on security guarantees, which Russia proposed for consideration on December 17, 2021, and through which it portrays itself as a “victim”. In addition, the Russian leadership has made constant accusations against Ukraine of its alleged “unwillingness to achieve peace.” Thus, during his December 2021 press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine was allegedly preparing a “military operation” in the Donbas, which is not true.

Crimea: Eight Years After Illegal Annexation

Putin’s aggression in Ukraine claimed more than 48 000 lives (14000 died, 34 000 injured). The war in Europe, which was planned and resolved in advance by Russia in Ukraine on February 20, 2014 with the seizure of the sovereign territory of Ukraine – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, has been going on for eight years. During these years, the losses caused by Russian military aggression in Ukraine amounted to 42,500-44500 people, of whom 13200-13400 were killed (including 3,901 civilians, including 298 killed on board the flight MH-17 “Malaysian Airlines”, who fell victim to Russian military (who used SAM “BUK”) and 29600-33600 wounded (of which 7000 – 9000 civilians, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as of June 30, 2021).

Russia’s aggression has led to the loss of more than 6 million able-bodied people in Ukraine, forcing more than 2 million Ukrainians to leave their homes.

Putin’s government is trying to establish a “new order” in Europe, to offer the world a so-called “redistribution of spheres of influence” in the name of its own goal – building a neo-imperial state – a symbiosis of power structures and the Russian Orthodox Church under the slogan of “Russian peace”.

Russia’s aggression, its violation of fundamental norms of international law, UN statutes and resolutions, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, cyber and gas blackmail in European countries – must not go unpunished.

The civilized world did not recognize the illegal change of the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine and the change of the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The definition of Russia as an occupying power is enshrined in UN General Assembly Resolutions 68/262 “Territorial Integrity of Ukraine”, 71/205 “Human Rights Situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol”.

Crimea: Eight Years After Illegal Annexation

In order to effectively deter the aggressor, ensure peace and stability in Europe, prevent violations of sovereignty and state borders established with the establishment of the UN in 1945, the world community must take active and effective political-diplomatic, socio-economic and military measures. A powerful element in deterring Russian aggression is the provision of international military assistance to Ukraine and its Armed Forces.

The legitimate Ukrainian government of the ARC was seized by armed terrorists in Russian military uniforms without insignia, as later recognized by President Putin as Russia’s special forces, and local lawmakers were effectively assembled under machine guns to hold a so-called “vote” for alleged “independence.” Crimea and to ensure an openly unconstitutional and manipulative illegal “referendum” for the return to some “harbor”, ie the absorption of Russia.

Putin Builds a Kind Of New Russian Empire Backed by Special Services and Church with the main ideology – bringing “Russian World” Ukrainian state, public and private property in the ARC was virtually looted in the interests of the Kremlin leadership, its oligarchs and the puppet local “government”, which includes many criminals and traitors. Moreover, Moscow is brazenly trying to use and trade other people’s property, even at the international level, which is also an international crime. In Crimea, the Russian practice of illegal seizure of private property and other assets of the public and local population on the valuable Crimean Black Sea coast, in Simferopol, Sevastopol, as well as in other attractive places.

Russia continues measures to militarize the occupied Crimean peninsula and the entire Black Sea region:

As of February 2, 2022, the number of Russian troops in the occupied Crimea is about 37 thousand people. In 2021, the strike capacity of the Russian Black Sea Fleet increased 5 times, and the landing capacity – almost 2 times: about 30 landing ships and boats;

On the territory of Crimea there are 6 additionally transferred Battalion Tactical Groups from the formations of the Southern Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. A new assault regiment was created in Feodosia; The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea is also not ruled out.

The “New Order” by Putin

The Russian Federation is taking measures to restrict free navigation in the Black Sea and the Azov Seas:

The completion of the illegal the Kerch Bridge led to full Russian control over the Kerch Strait and restrictions on the passage of ships to the Sea of Azov; Russia continues to create obstacles for ships bound for and from Ukrainian ports on the Azov coast. Thus, according to the results of 2021, the average delay of civilian vessels at the entrance to the Sea of Azov was 23.1 hours, which is almost equal to the corresponding average in 2020 (23.5 hours). The duration of delays at the exit from the Sea of Azov in 2021 increased to 39.8 hours (against 29.6 hours in 2020).

Crimea: Eight Years After Illegal Annexation

Russia’s practice of closing down areas in the Black and Azov Seas around the occupied Crimea under the guise of conducting exercises continues.

Russia is abusing the Agreement between Ukraine and Russia on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Its warships are approaching a few miles to the Ukrainian coast in the Sea of Azov. At the same time, the Russian Federation impedes the free passage of Ukrainian military and civilian vessels.

By doing so, Moscow is grossly violating the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Russia’s illegal military activities pose a direct threat not only to regional but also to international security. Examples include the armed attack and seizure of Russia in violation of international law on Ukrainian ships and servicemen in the Kerch Strait, and numerous armed provocations, including during Ukraine’s military exercises with NATO partners. The scale, content and direction of Russian military exercises in the region directly threaten the continental territory of Ukraine by initiating the possibility of a sudden armed aggression by the Russian Federation.

Another serious consequence of Russia’s militarization of the ARC is the inevitable decline of the local economy, tragic consequences for the resort sector and civilian production. The priority is to direct resources, including energy and water management, to meet the military needs of the contingent of the RF Armed Forces, which reduces the opportunities for development of the civil sector, especially agriculture.

On Alert: Russia Brings you “Russian World” Regardless of Whether You Call it or Not.

The socio-political situation in the ARC is determined by a high degree of repression against vulnerable groups in the ARC. First of all, this applies to the indigenous people – Crimean Tatars and local residents who have remained loyal to Ukraine. Their antagonists are modern Russian immigrants who seize attractive positions, have tacit preferences from the occupying power, and a large number of antisocial and criminal elements, mainly from the Russian Caucasus region, who literally seize attractive business in the ARC. All this leads to an increase in social tensions in the direction of “local residents – Russian immigrants.”

The only real way out of the tragic situation for Crimea is joint coordinated actions of the world’s leading civilized countries to restore international law, justice and, as a result, restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, pay compensation and reparations by Russia for moral and material damage to Ukraine and Ukraine. .

In order to effectively counter Western democracies in diplomacy, it must be borne in mind that any official word from Moscow (which is in fact carefully prepared by the Russian secret services and part of active hybrid measures) is not credible, as it will inevitably be violated. Indeed, the situation has not changed at all since the time of Otto von Bismarck: “Any agreement with Russia is not worth the paper on which it is concluded.” Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Kazakhstan have fully felt it. Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and other countries of the former “Soviet sphere of influence” are still very well remembered.

The Russian Federation must bear international legal responsibility for the crimes committed as a state, and its top leadership must bear international criminal responsibility.

Ukraine’s Democracy Needs Western Support, Supporting Ukraine is a real way to stop Russia.