February 20—a date that forever changed the course of Ukrainian history and is etched in the memory of every citizen of our nation. On this day, the Russian Federation committed its first act of unprovoked aggression—a criminal assault on Ukraine’s territory, initiating the occupation of Crimea. That day, Russia blatantly disregarded the fundamental principles of international law, violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and unlawfully crossed its state borders.

It was on this day that the first documented instances of Russian armed forces crossing Ukraine’s state border were recorded. Military units began arriving through the Kerch Strait, while unmarked trucks and the so-called “little green men”—Russian soldiers without insignia—appeared across Crimea.

Special forces of the Russian GRU and marine units of the Black Sea Fleet stationed in Sevastopol were deployed to Crimea. Under the guise of so-called “local self-defense,” Russian armed groups entered the peninsula, blocking Ukrainian military units and gradually seizing control of key strategic sites.

At the same time, Russian intelligence agencies launched an information and psychological operation aimed at inciting anti-Ukrainian sentiments among the population. Pro-Russian activists frequently propagated narratives about the so-called “protection of the Russian-speaking population” and a supposed threat of retaliation from the Kyiv government and “Maidan militants, banderivtsi.” However, no factual evidence existed to support claims of persecution against Russian-speaking citizens on the peninsula.

Notably, even Russia itself documented the exact date of the occupation. The Kremlin “proudly” awarded its occupation forces with the “For the Return of Crimea” medal, on which the start date of the operation—February 20, 2014—was clearly engraved. By doing so, Russia effectively admitted to violating all possible international norms and agreements.

The events in Crimea were neither accidental nor spontaneous—they were years in the making. Long before 2014, Russian intelligence agencies systematically expanded their influence on the peninsula, recruited pro-Russian forces, undermined Ukrainian governance, and laid the groundwork for the eventual occupation.

One of the earliest signs of Russia’s aggressive intentions was the 2003 Tuzla Island conflict, when Russia began constructing a dam in the Kerch Strait from the Taman Peninsula. This move aimed to shift the border and undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.

From the very first day of Russia’s presence in Crimea, those who supported Ukraine—Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, independent journalists, and civic activists—found themselves at risk. Crimea, once an integral part of a multiethnic Ukraine, was transformed into a territory of repression, forced assimilation, and systematic intimidation of anyone who opposed the policies of the occupation administration.

Oleh Sentsov, a Crimean filmmaker and activist, was among the first to openly oppose the occupation. On February 20, 2014, he and his friends took to the streets of Simferopol, holding a Ukrainian flag and urging people not to fall for Russian propaganda. However, just a few days later, Sentsov was abducted by FSB officers, falsely accused of “terrorism.” He was brutally interrogated, subjected to violent methods to extract a confession, and ultimately sentenced to 20 years in a maximum-security penal colony.

On the same day that Russian troops began their invasion of Crimea, Kyiv witnessed the climax of the Revolution of Dignity—an event that defined Ukraine’s future path and marked the beginning of open resistance to Russian aggression. For months, Ukrainians gathered on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, fighting for their right to democratic development and standing against attempts to turn Ukraine back toward Russia and derail its democratic course. However, February 20, 2014, became a day of bloodshed—snipers opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing 48 civilians on that day alone. In total, 104 people lost their lives during the Revolution of Dignity, paying the ultimate price for Ukraine’s freedom.

Among those killed that day was Serhii Kemskyi—an activist, journalist, and political scientist from Kerch, Crimea, who had supported the Revolution of Dignity from its very beginning. 

At the very moment when activists were being shot on the streets of Kyiv, Russian troops were already crossing Ukraine’s border, preparing for further escalation. The events of that day became a symbol of a dual battle—one against internal tyranny and the other against an external invader—a war that continues to this day.

The Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred defended their country without weapons or body armor. They took to Maidan not for political ambitions but for Ukraine’s future. They believed that change was possible, that corruption and lawlessness should not govern the state, and that Ukraine must follow its own path, free from the Kremlin’s influence.

However, the events of 2014 were not the end of a chapter—they were merely the prologue to a greater catastrophe. The occupation of Crimea was the first strike in the war. 11 years ago, the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred became a symbol of defiance against tyranny within the state, just as today, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are proving our resilience against the aggressor.

Eternal Glory to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and all who have fallen in the fight for Ukraine’s freedom and territorial integrity!