Two annexations of Crimea. How Crimeans fought against the russian invaders.

The first annexation.

In 1774, after the end of the Russo-Ottoman war, the Crimean Khanate received independence. According to the peace agreement, neither the Ottoman nor the russian empires had the right to interfere in the internal affairs of Crimea.

However, the russian empire positioned Khan Shakir Geray who had pro-russian views and helped suppress uprisings of those disagreeded with the khan’s policies. Shakir Geray abdicated in 1783, which was the first time russia annexed the peninsula.

At that time, Crimeans also faced one of the first deportations.

In 1778, on the order of Ekaterina II, more than 30,000 Crimean Greeks and Armenians were deported to the Azov province, around Mariupol, under the pretext of “constant oppression by the Crimean Tatars”.

Deportation in 1944.

After the liberation of Crimea from Nazi Germany, on Stalin’s order, the Soviet authorities carried out a mass deportation of Crimean Tatars. The official reason was alleged mass desertion and collaboration with the German invaders.

According to various sources, between 190,000 and 420,000 people were deported.

The second annexation.

The narrative of the “primordially russian Crimea” dates back to 1991, when the peninsula gained autonomy as part of independent Ukraine.

In 2014, despite the resistance of the local population, russia managed to seize the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea and hold a referendum. russia annexed Crimea for the second time.

As it did almost 300 years ago, russia began destroying historical monuments, banning languages (“krymly” and “ukrainian”), persecuting and imprisoning those who support Ukraine.

However, this did not stop the Crimean struggle. The singing of the Ukrainian national anthem by schoolchildren in 2014, sabotages in 2022, the protest and hunger strike by artist Bohdan Ziza, and a student’s message to Iryna Farion that he was waiting for the Ukrainian army are all signs that the resistance movement is alive.

Crimea is Ukraine.
It was.
It is.
It will be!

The history of Crimea is similar to the history of Ukraine: russian occupation, language interdictions, persecution of intellectuals, renaming of settlements and streets, and the destruction of references to identity. Crimeans have been living in this reality for 10 years, just like other Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories.

We believe in the courage and strength of Crimeans.
We know that Crimea is Ukraine.
We are certain that soon two flags will fly freely over the peninsula – the Crimean and Ukrainian flags.