Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Crimea was formed in 1992, although the republic was abolished in 1995, with the Autonomous Republic of Crimea established firmly under Ukrainian authority and Sevastopol being administered as a city with special status.

Crimea, autonomous republic, southern Ukraine. The republic is coterminous with the Crimean Peninsula, lying between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In 2014 Russia covertly invaded and illegally annexed Crimea, a move that was denounced by the international community.

A decade ago, President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine, a bold land grab that set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022.

The annexation of Crimea—as well as the West’s response to it—became a point of pride in Russia; Putin’s domestic popularity soared, and international condemnation only served to stoke Russian nationalism.

Crimea lies on a peninsula stretching out from the south of Ukraine between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is separated from Russia to the east by the narrow Kerch Strait.

Crimean Peninsula, peninsula coterminous with the autonomous republic of Crimea, Ukraine, lying between the Black Sea and Sea of Azov and having an area of 10,400 square miles (27,000 square km).

Early in the war, Russian troops surging from Crimea seized swaths of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions that remain the key to Russia’s occupation of southern Ukraine.

With its airbases, troop concentrations, training grounds and the Black Sea fleet, Crimea has been a key target since Russia's full-scale invasion last year.

Russia blames US for Crimea deaths and vows response Russia says US-made missiles programmed by American specialists were used in an attack which killed four. 24 Jun 2024