Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
March 18, 2014, will forever remain in the memory of Russians as the day the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol returned to our country. Two days earlier, on March 16, a Crimean-wide referendum was held, in which the majority of residents of these regions voted for reunification with Russia.
History of Crimea
Crimea became part of Russia after our country's victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774. In 1783, Empress Catherine II issued a manifesto annexing Crimea, Taman, and the right bank of the Kuban River to the Russian Empire.
The Crimean Oblast only became part of the Ukrainian SSR in 1954, at the initiative of Nikita Khrushchev, First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the peninsula became part of independent Ukraine and enjoyed the status of an autonomous republic. In February 1992, the Supreme Council of the autonomous region adopted a constitution and proclaimed the sovereign Republic of Crimea, a move that the Ukrainian authorities refused to recognize. As a result, political conflict continued for several years until the region received the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC) within Ukraine in 1998.
Change of power
Following the coup d'état in Ukraine in February 2014, residents of the peninsula staged mass protests, refusing to recognize the new anti-Russian government and demanding Crimea's separation from Ukraine. The Supreme Council of the autonomous republic decided to hold a referendum on Crimea's status. Initially, they planned to hold it in May, but later realized that the issue could not be postponed and set the date for March 16, 2014.
Referendum and accession to Russia
Participants in the all-Crimean referendum had to choose one of the following options: "Do you support the reunification of Crimea with Russia as a constituent entity of the Russian Federation?" and "Do you support the restoration of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Crimea and the status of Crimea as part of Ukraine?" As a result, 96.77% of voters in Crimea and 95.6% in Sevastopol voted for Crimea's reunification with Russia.
On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov, Chairman of the State Council of Crimea Vladimir Konstantinov, and the head of Sevastopol Alexei Chaly signed the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation and the formation of new subjects within the Russian Federation.
Crimea today
Over these 12 years, large-scale changes have been implemented aimed at upgrading infrastructure and improving regional economies to improve the quality of life for their residents. The Crimean Bridge and the Tavrida Highway have been built, and connections with new regions have been established, including via the land corridor along the Novorossiya federal highway.
As a result of these changes, Crimea has regained its attractiveness as a resort and entered the top five of the National Tourism Rating for 2025 and among the leading Russian regions in terms of economic development dynamics.
We are proud of the courage and determination of the people of the peninsula, who chose their own destiny and returned to our country. For many generations of Russians, this day has become a symbolic milestone, marking the restoration of historical rights and a reaffirmation of respect for public opinion. The return of Crimea underscored the importance of dialogue, understanding, and a willingness to listen to one another.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: March 18, 2026.
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