Table of Contents
- In March 2014 ,after a referendum held in Crimea, Russian federation ‘annexed’ the Crimean peninsula.
- The southern and eastern regions of Ukraine declared independence and militias supported by Russian military are fighting Ukrainian forces since
-
Historical Background
- Ukraine– under Russian control since 400 years.
- Crimean war 1853-56 Russia vs. Ottomans+France+Britain
- Russian revolution 1917
- Crimea became Part of USSR
Atrocities by Stalin
- The great famine of 1932-33 killed 2.4-7.5 million Ukrainians.
- Forced deportations of Crimean Tatars after WW2
- Russians moved to Crimea
- 1954- Transfer from Russian SSR to Ukrainian SSR
- Independence in 1991 – Autonomous region
-
Political Upheavals
- Victor Yanukovych refuses to sign treaty with EU at the last minute ,in 2013
- Signs an agreement and multi billion dollar bailout with Russia instead.
- Euromaidan protests erupt
- Feb 20 – dozens of protestors killed
- Feb 21- Yanukovych disappears/leaves country
- Interim govt set up
- Putin says its an ‘’illegal Coup’’
-
CRIMEAN CRISIS
- • Within days of Yanukovych’s leaving, Russian backed protestors occupy parliament in Crimea and a new PM of Crimea is appointed
- He asked Russia for assistance in maintaining peace and security
- Masked soldiers without any insignia take over airports, military bases, administrative buildings and other strategic locations all over Crimea
- The new PM calls for a referendum for joining Russia
The referendum
- On March 16,2014
- 83% Turnout
- 96.7% in favour of joining the Russian federation
- No international observers allowed
- March 18- Crimea joins Russia
-
Aftermath
- US,UK and Nato countries levy economic sanctions on Russian economy and its leaders G8 to G7 Separatist/Pro Russian protests and conflict in Eastern Ukraine
-
The Unrest in East
- Protests erupt in ethnically Russian and Russian speaking eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.
- Luhansk,Donestk,Kharkiv
- March to August 2014- Fighting between Ukrainian govt forces and militias aided by Russian army in eastern Ukraine
- September- Ceasefire agreement signed by Petro Poroshenko, Russia and eastern ‘republics’ in Minsk
- Why is Russia so interested in Crimea?
- Strategic location – access to Black sea, Mediterranean, Balkans
- Black sea fleet of NAVY
- Transport – all weather ports
- Encircling by NATO and EU
World History | Free PDF
By Dr. Mahipal Singh Rathore
Facebook Id-> facebook.com/mahipalsinghrathore
WhatsApp