March 16, 2025, marked eleven years since the disputed local referendum that Russia organized in 2014 to legitimize the annexation of Crimea. The outcome of the referendum was not recognized by the international community. The occupation of Crimea was followed by the outbreak of armed conflict in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in April 2014 and paved the way to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Learn more about Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea from the infographic below and explore the Kennan Institute’s publications on the topic.
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Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region through research and exchange. Read more
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