Ukraine observes Day of Resistance to Occupation of Crimea
On February 26, Ukraine commemorates the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, a memorial date established to honor the large pro-Ukrainian rally held in 2014 in Simferopol.
On this day in 2014, thousands of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians gathered near the building of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and oppose attempts to change the status of the peninsula, according to Ukrinform.
The day before, on February 25, a pro-Russian rally was held outside the Crimean parliament, organized by the Crimean Front movement and so-called Cossack groups. Participants demanded Crimea’s separation from Ukraine. At that time, the head of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, announced an extraordinary parliamentary session scheduled for February 26, which media reports indicated might consider Crimea’s exit from Ukraine.
On February 26, two rallies took place simultaneously outside the Crimean parliament: a pro-Ukrainian rally, organized by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, the Euromaidan Crimea movement, and other pro-Ukrainian organizations, which drew up to 10,000 participants; and a pro-Russian rally of around 700 people, initiated by the Russian Unity party.
Due to insufficient security measures, clashes broke out between the participants, resulting in two fatalities. Pro-Russian activists were pushed into the inner courtyard of the parliament, and the extraordinary session was cancelled.
The following day, February 27, 2014, Russian armed forces without insignia seized the buildings of the Verkhovna Rada and Council of Ministers of Crimea in Simferopol, marking the start of the open phase of Russia’s occupation of Crimea.
In 2020, Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree establishing February 26 as the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as an annual commemorative date.
The day honors Ukrainian citizens who first openly stood against Russian aggression and demonstrated resistance to the attempts to occupy the peninsula.
Photo: Archive of Ukrinform