What to know about Crimeathe Black Sea peninsula seized by Russia from Ukraine over a decade ago

Russia’s illegal seizure of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in March 2014 was quick and bloodlessand it sent Moscow’s relations with the West into a downward spiral unseen since the Cold War.

It also paved the way for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022during which Moscow illegally annexed more land from its neighbor.

A look at the diamond-shaped peninsula in the Black Seacoveted by both Russia and Ukraine for its naval bases and beaches:

The seizure followed Ukrainian political turmoil

In 2013-14a massive popular uprising gripped Ukraine for weekseventually forcing pro-Moscow President Victor Yanukovych from office. Amid the turmoilRussian President Vladimir Putin pouncedsending armed troops without insignia to overrun Crimea.

Putin later called a referendum in Crimea to join Russia that Ukraine and the West dismissed as illegal.

Russia’s relations with the West plummeted to new lows. The United Statesthe European Union and other countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and its officials.

Moscow’s illegal annexation of Crimea on March 182014was recognized only by countries such as North Korea and Sudan. In Russiait touched off a wave of patriotismand “Krym nash!” — “Crimea is ours!” — became a rallying cry.

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The move sent Putin’s popularity soaring. His approval ratingwhich had declined to 65% in January 2014shot to 86% in Juneaccording to the Levada Centeran independent Russian pollster.

Putin has called the peninsula “a sacred place” and has prosecuted those who publicly argue it is part of Ukraine — particularly the Crimean Tatarswho strongly opposed the annexation.

Fighting followed the annexation

After the annexationfighting broke out in eastern Ukraine between pro-Kremlin militias and Kyiv’s forces. Moscow threw its weight behind the insurgentseven though it denied supporting them with troops and weapons. There was abundant evidence to the contraryincluding a Dutch court’s finding that a Russia-supplied air defense system shot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014killing all 298 people aboard.

Russian hard-liners later criticized Putin for failing to capture all of Ukraine that yeararguing it was easily possible at a time when the government in Kyiv was in disarray and its military in shambles.

The fighting in eastern Ukraine continuedon and offuntil February 2022when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Crimea has strategic importance

Crimea’s unique location makes it a strategically important assetand Russia has spent centuries fighting for it.

The peninsula was home to Turkic-speaking Tatars when the Russian empire first annexed it in the 18th century. It briefly regained independence two centuries later before being swallowed by the Soviet Union.

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea from Russia to Ukraine in 1954when both were part of the USSRto commemorate the 300th anniversary of the unification of Moscow and Kyiv. In 1991when the Soviet Union collapsedthe peninsula became part of newly independent Ukraine.

Russia kept a foot in the doorhowever: Its Black Sea Fleet had a base in the city of Sevastopoland Crimea — as part of Ukraine — continued to host it.

By the time Russia annexed it in 2014it had been within Ukraine for 60 years and was part of the country’s identity.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to retake it and said Russia “won’t be able to steal” the peninsula.

For either sidepossession of Crimea is key to control over activities in the Black Sea — a critical corridor for the world’s grainamong other goods.

Crimea has been key in Russia’s war in Ukraine

Ahead of its full-scale invasionMoscow deployed troops and weapons to Crimeaallowing Russian forces to quickly seize large parts of southern Ukraine early in the war.

A top Russian military official later said that securing a land corridor from Russia to Crimea by holding the occupied parts of Ukraine’s DonetskLuhanskZaporizhzhia and Kherson regions was among the key goals of what the Kremlin called its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Before the invasionZelenskyy focused on diplomatic efforts to get Crimea backbut after Russian troops poured across the borderKyiv began publicly contemplating retaking the peninsula by force.

The peninsula soon became a battlegroundwith Ukraine launching drone attacks and bombing it to try to dislodge Moscow’s hold on the territory.

The attacks targeted the Russian Black Sea Fleet thereas well as ammunition depotsair fields and Putin’s prized asset — the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea to Russiawhich was struck in October 2022in July 2023 and in June 2025.

Crimea factors into peace efforts

Putin listed Ukraine’s recognition of Crimea as part of Russia among Moscow’s demands for peace in 2024. Those also include Ukraine ceding the four regions illegally annexed by Russia in 2022dropping its bid to join NATOkeeping the country’s nonnuclear statusrestricting its military force and protecting the interests of the Russian-speaking population.

Kyiv has rejected ceding any territory.

Russia currently holds roughly 20% of Ukrainian landincluding Crimeaso any deal that freezes the lines more or less where they are would benefit Moscow