UWC commemorates the Day of Crimean Resistance to Russian Occupation

On February 26, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) stands in solidarity with Ukraine in commemorating the Day of Crimean Resistance to Russian Occupation. We honor the courageous people of Crimea who valiantly protested the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russian forces in 2014.

We also pay tribute to members of the Crimean resistance who continue their underground struggle against the Russian occupiers today. Their dedication and bravery in defending Ukraine’s integrity and sovereignty inspire Ukrainians worldwide. It serves as a resounding reminder to the international community that Crimea is, and always will be, an integral part of Ukraine.

Eleven years ago, as the world witnessed the dramatic events of the Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv, Russia launched a covert invasion and occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

On February 26, 2014, up to 15,000 Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians rallied outside the parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to thwart Putin’s unlawful plan. The next day, heavily armed Russian saboteurs, often referred to as ‘little green men,’ seized Crimea’s parliament and government buildings, unleashing the annexation scenario. This was the first armed invasion to change Europe’s borders since World War II.

Throughout the years of occupation, Russia has transformed Crimea into a significant military base, which it utilized in 2022 to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have perpetrated widespread human rights abuses, targeting Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian communities based on ethnicity, faith, and language. The international community has unequivocally condemned Russia for its reprehensible acts of abducting Ukrainian children, engaging in ethnic cleansing, and establishing indoctrination camps in Crimea.

Despite these challenges, Ukrainians remain steadfast in their belief that Crimea must return to Ukraine, just as any other Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation. They resolutely reject, under any circumstances, the Russian occupation of Crimea.

Together with the international democratic community, the UWC continues to support and amplify the voices of those who fight for their rights and for the future of a free, sovereign, and independent Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Crimean resistance fighters!