Detachable Subdivision
"Rivne Professional College of
National University of Life
and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine"
Today in Ukraine is the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. The seizure of the peninsula eleven years ago marked the beginning of the modern Russian-Ukrainian war.
This memorable date was established in 2020 by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 58 to honor the courage and heroism of Ukrainian citizens living in the temporarily occupied territory - in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, marking the anniversary of the February 26, 2014 rally in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the city of Simferopol with the participation of Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians, and representatives of other nationalities.
On February 20, 2014, Russia's active armed aggression against Ukraine began. with the movement of Russian military units in Crimea and in the Kerch Strait area. This date is recorded on the departmental medal of the Russian Ministry of Defense “For the Return of Crimea”. And in the statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dated April 21, 2015 and in the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Determination of the Date of the Beginning of the Temporary Occupation” February 20, 2014 is determined as the day of the beginning of the Russian aggression.
In February and March, the conflict developed in Crimea. Russian military personnel entered there without insignia; irregular mercenary formations were created and armed from local residents, and they were used together with units of the Russian Armed Forces deployed in Crimea. A regime of military occupation was established on the peninsula.
Russia's war against Ukraine began with Crimea. The temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by Russian regular units and units subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, units and special formations subordinate to other law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation, their advisers, instructors and irregular illegal armed formations, armed terrorist gangs and mercenary groups created, subordinated and financed by Russia, and the attempt to annex it, which has been going on for over 10 years, is an act of blatant violation of the norms and principles of international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
February 24, 2014 Russian Navy ships guarding the sea area in the Sochi Olympics area took on board "little green men" (Russian military personnel without the insignia of the Russian Armed Forces) in Novorossiysk along with military equipment and headed for Sevastopol.
On February 26, at the call of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, thousands of Crimean Tatars came to the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea, Ukrainians and representatives of other nationalities to resist the Russian occupation and declared to the world the integrity of Ukraine. The rally gathered from 5 to 10 thousand participants. The next day, at 5 am, regular Russian military units entered the parliament and government of the ARC and seized the buildings.
On February 28, the Supreme Council of Crimea, under the "supervision" of Russian military personnel, voted to hold a referendum on the status of Crimea. On the same day, Russian military units began blocking Ukrainian military units and facilities on the peninsula, seized the Belbek and Simferopol airports, and land entrances to Crimea from the Kherson region.
March 16, 2014 a pseudo-referendum on the status of Crimea was held. This event, orchestrated by Russia, was boycotted by Crimean Tatars and other pro-Ukrainian residents of the peninsula. On March 25, the last military unit flying the Ukrainian flag in Crimea was captured - the Ukrainian Navy's sea minesweeper Cherkasy. Since then, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol have been occupied by Russian armed forces.
Today, our citizens in Crimea are subjected to repressions only for their pro-Ukrainian position, for patriotic symbols, for wearing yellow and blue colors in their clothes, for listening to Ukrainian songs. But neither fines nor the risk of imprisonment stop our people. They demonstrate again and again that Crimea is UkraineThe fight against the occupation continues, because with joint efforts we will be able to restore the territorial integrity of our state and return our citizens to a normal peaceful life.
More information is available at the thematic exhibition in the reading room.
Lyudmila, BURYACHYNSKA
Head of the BIC
