On the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea, the Mission of the President of Ukraine organises the forum “26-2-14: The War Began in Crimea” to remind and emphasise that the Russian aggression against Ukraine began in late February 2014 with the occupation of Crimea and that only with the liberation and reintegration of Crimea will the war be over. 

The forum was opened by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his online statement, he said: “Wars are truly over when the evil that gave rise to them is extinguished. That is why the sense of justice and the desire for peace must go together. This requires, in particular, not forgetting about Crimea and fighting for it”.

Volodymyr Oleksandrovych noted that Ukraine should continue to increase its resistance to Russia at all possible levels and fight for people in all occupied territories. 

In particular, it is extremely important to ensure that Crimean Tatars, as an indigenous people of Ukraine, have the opportunity to live in their homes. Tamila Tasheva, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, also addressed the participants and guests of the forum. “This is not only an opportunity to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in this struggle, but also an occasion to highlight the problem again, to unite everyone in the struggle for a free Crimea.,” Tamila Tasheva said. 

The Permanent Representative addressed everyone in the hall and emphasised that everyone here plays an important role in accelerating Ukraine’s victory. Tamila Tasheva also noted those who are not able to speak today, but whose voices are no less important – our fellow citizens who remained in the occupied Crimea. 

Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament, also delivered a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the forum “26-2-14: The War Began in Crimea”. Mr Stefanchuk noted that on 26 February we pay tribute to those who resisted and continue to fight against the occupation of Crimea. 

“The war began 10 years ago, in the Ukrainian Crimea, where Russian occupation troops illegally set foot on Ukrainian soil for the first time. On that day, February 26, our citizens gathered in the main square of Simferopol to say no to the occupation and support the territorial integrity of Ukraine. This is how the resistance began,” said the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament. 

The next speaker was Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories. “10 years ago, Russia occupied Ukrainian Crimea in a vile and shameful way, without any chevrons. Despite December 1991, when Russia was one of the first countries to recognise the Ukrainian referendum on independence, Ukrainian sovereignty and independence of the Ukrainian state,” said Ms Vereshchuk. 

Iryna Vereshchuk emphasised that Russia, feeling impunity and the weakness of the Western world, decided to enter and occupy Ukrainian Crimea. Ms Vereshchuk noted that it was precisely because of the insufficient response and consequences for Russia after the occupation of Crimea that the aggressor state decided to launch a full-scale intervention in February 2022.  

Martin Harris, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Ukraine, also joined the opening of the forum with a welcoming speech. The Ambassador highlighted the importance of honouring those who have resisted and are resisting the occupation of Crimea. Mr Martin Harris noted the resistance of those citizens who are still demonstrating resistance to the occupation in Crimea by listening to Ukrainian songs or distributing patriotic symbols. “We remember and are inspired by their courage, their desire for freedom, and their commitment to Ukrainian Crimea,” the Ambassador said. Mr Martin Harris assured of the UK’s continued support for Ukraine in the liberation of Crimea. 

Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, said in his speech the following: “In February 2014, the Kremlin was confident that at its first command, a powerful network of Russian agents in state bodies and judicial structures, with the help of a fifth column of local residents, would provide the image desired by Moscow that they were supported in Crimea.   On 26 February 2014, about 20,000 participants of the Crimean peaceful demonstration in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, organised by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, with their determination and courage thwarted the Kremlin’s plans, confirming to the whole world that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine and the homeland of the Crimean Tatar people.” 

His Beatitude Epifamiy, Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, gave a speech to the participants and guests of the forum. The religious leader emphasised that over the 10 years of occupation of Crimea, Russians have committed a number of crimes, violating people’s rights to freedom of conscience and religion. He noted that after occupying the peninsula, Russia began to interfere in the lives of all religious communities, demanding that they register in accordance with Russian law. 

“Our church refused to comply with such demands of the occupiers, as registration would mean recognition of the Russian authorities on the peninsula. Subsequently, the occupiers confiscated our Cathedral of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Volodymyr and Olga in Simferopol,” Epifaniy pointed out.

Finally, he reminded: the only way to restore respect for fundamental human rights in Crimea is its de-occupation and the resumption of Ukrainian rule there.