DISINFO: Crimea decided to leave Ukraine

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative aimed at justifying the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine and redrawing the events that took place in Ukraine in 2014.

While the disinformation claim alleges that Crimea unilaterally decided not to remain as part of Ukraine and join Russia instead through a referendum, this is no more than an attempt to divert attention from the Russian involvement in how the Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia.

There is irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in Ukraine. The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that “the information available suggests that the situation within the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This international armed conflict began at the latest on 26 February 2014 when the Russian Federation deployed members of its armed forces to gain control over parts of the Ukrainian territory without the consent of the Ukrainian Government."

NATO called on Russia to stop fueling the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs in eastern Ukraine. "We strongly condemn and will not recognise Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, and denounce its temporary occupation," stated the latest NATO summit Communiqué, issued in Brussels 14 June 2021. No international body has recognised the so-called Crimea referendum, announced on 27 February 2014, and held on 16 March 2014. Thirteen members of the United Nations Security Council voted in favour of a resolution declaring the referendum invalid. On the 27th of February 2014, when it was announced, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that stated that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On December 18 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.

On the seventh anniversary of Crimea's annexation, the EU reiterated its position of non-recognition of illegal annexation and continues to stand in full solidarity with Ukraine, supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Russian President Putin recognised on 17 April 2015 that [in reference to the anonymous 'little Green Men'] "our soldiers were deployed in Crimea to help the inhabitants express their opinion." Putin admitted that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum.

For more cases about Crimea, click here.