Day of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea: why the celebration of this date needs rethinking and what is happening on the peninsula
Kyiv • UNN
On January 20, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, occupied by Russia. Crimeans resist, suffering from repression and militarization. The Russian Federation has turned the peninsula into a military base.
Today, January 20, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. UNN has gathered information on how Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars "survive" on the peninsula under Russian occupation, and the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the ARC stated that the celebration of "ARC Day" needs rethinking.
Considering the common economy, territorial proximity, close economic and cultural ties, on January 25, 1954, the Crimean Oblast was transferred from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. At the all-Crimean referendum on January 20, 1991, the status of Crimea within Ukraine was determined, which was enshrined at the legislative level by the Law of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR "On the Restoration of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic".
According to Section X of the Constitution of Ukraine, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine. However, contrary to the norms of international law, in February 2014, Russia occupied the territory of the ARC. The international community has not recognized the occupation of Ukrainian territory and has imposed sanctions against the Russian Federation. On December 9, 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted an enhanced resolution against the militarization of Crimea, "The problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine), as well as parts of the Black and Azov Seas," which indicates the unwavering position of the world community in support of Ukraine, its readiness to further consolidate support on the path to ensuring respect for the rights of Ukrainian citizens in the temporarily occupied territories of the Russian Federation.
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The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea emphasizes that the celebration of "ARC Day" on January 20 needs rethinking and explained why. Key points:
⦁ The roots of "ARC Day" go back to Soviet times, when on January 20, 1991, a referendum was held on the restoration of the Crimean ASSR. The initiative for this referendum belonged to the Central Committee of the CPSU in Moscow, which wanted to maintain Russian influence in the region, continue the presence of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea. And most importantly – to keep both Ukraine and Crimea under its control.
⦁ This day is used by the Russian occupation administration as part of its propaganda. Already after the start of the occupation in December 2014, this date was "approved" by the occupation administration as "Republic of Crimea Day". The occupiers call the 1991 referendum the first stage of "Crimea's annexation to Russia", linking this event with the illegal "referendum" of 2014.
⦁ It is the occupiers who hold mass celebrations, official events, conferences, and information campaigns on "ARC Day", promoting the idea of "reunification with Russia."
"Instead, on January 20, it is worth honoring the memory of the defenders of Donetsk Airport and the heroism of the military, volunteers, and medics who selflessly defended the airport from the Russian occupiers," the Presidential Representation states.
Crimea under occupation
For over 10 years, Crimea has been occupied by Russia and suffers from the Kremlin's crimes. However, as emphasized by the Presidential Representation, Ukrainian citizens in temporarily occupied Crimea do not cease their resistance to the Russian invaders, steadfastly demonstrating an unbreakable spirit and confidence in the future de-occupation of the peninsula. The occupation administration systematically persecutes residents of Crimea for supporting Ukraine, displaying Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identity, and for any criticism of the Russian occupation and military aggression. As early as 2022, Russia amended its criminal and administrative legislation, introducing punishment for so-called "discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation." This became an additional tool for suppressing activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens.
As of January 13, the Russian occupation administration illegally detains 218 people, 132 of whom are representatives of the Crimean Tatar people, on charges of fabricated crimes such as terrorism, extremism, and treason. All of this is part of Russia's broader repressive campaign aimed at Crimean Tatars and all those who oppose the occupation and try to preserve their cultural and national identity.
The increase in the number of illegal administrative proceedings in the occupation "courts" under the article on the so-called "discrediting of the armed forces of the Russian Federation" also testifies to the strengthening of resistance to the occupation in Crimea. As of January 9, 2025, 1139 cases of materials drawn up under Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation have been registered in the so-called "courts" in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and other competent authorities. Of these, in 1022 cases, a decision was made to impose an administrative penalty in the form of a fine or was attached to another case under another article and a cumulative decision was made. In 20 cases, the consideration of materials continues.
By gender, 466 (46%) decisions were made regarding women, and 555 (54%) regarding men. In total, the cumulative amount of applied fines already amounts to at least 33 million Russian rubles.
Militarization of Crimea
Russia has turned Crimea into a military base. Eskender Bariev, Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Head of the Department of External Relations and Human Rights Activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, stated that the Russians continue to use the occupied Crimean peninsula for training their military. In 2024, 124 occupier trainings took place.
The ATESH partisan movement reported that the occupiers began to further strengthen air defense in occupied Crimea. Also, since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Russian authorities have been using recreation centers in occupied Crimea for the rehabilitation and treatment of Russian military personnel. The report on the results of the activities of the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea for 2022-2024 states that since the beginning of the occupation of the peninsula, about 50,000 residents of Crimea have been mobilized into the Russian army.
Another painful topic is the militarization of Ukrainian children in Crimea. Russia continues its attempts to draw more and more Ukrainian children into its military training system.
The publication Crimea.Realities reported in October 2024 that about 45,000 children in Crimea are members of "Yunarmia" and other organizations related to Russian patriotic education. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine does not recognize any occupied territory as Russian, including those seized since 2014, and is not ready to cede Crimea in a peace agreement. He emphasized that Crimea can be returned through diplomatic means, without significant human losses.