Russia certainly did not expect to see thousands of activists outside the Crimean parliament on February 26. It did not expect the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar flags, and it certainly did not foresee the strength of the resistance of Ukrainian citizens. Therefore, it had to follow the usual terrorist path of sending regular military units to the Ukrainian peninsula. Nevertheless, February 26 is remembered as loud and cold, but powerful and united.

By a decree of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2020, February 26 was officially recognized as the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. It was then that almost 15 thousand activists spoke with one voice. Now, millions of other voices from all over the country and the world are speaking with them.

The resistance has not left the occupied peninsula for 9 years. From rallies to single demonstrations, from protests to heroic deeds of the Ukrainian military, who, despite the threat, managed to keep the defense of the navy and even take some military equipment from the invaders. It was not only an occupation, which was already an unprecedented phenomenon for Europe in the twenty-first century, but it was the beginning of a war.

The incredible citizens of our country fought and continue to fight, without compromising their identity and the territorial integrity of our homeland. In 2014, Russia tried to take away not only our territory, but also our people. But despite its “neocolonialist” policy, Crimea was Ukrainian.

And it will always be so.

Every day, clandestine resistance movements, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar activists remind the occupiers that they have no place in Crimea. Cars with stickers of racist symbols are burning beautifully, walls are covered with Ukrainian inscriptions, yellow ribbons and the letter “Ї” appear in different cities, and all the necessary information about collaborators and war criminals is easily found.

The information struggle, distribution of leaflets, coverage of true events on the occupied Crimean Peninsula, listening to Ukrainian music, shouting “Glory to Ukraine” – all these things are normal for a democratic country, but in Russia, they are considered “terrorism” and “extremism”. We are deeply grateful to every citizen who continues to fight despite threats, criminal prosecutions and illegal verdicts of the occupation courts.

We know that Ukraine’s victory is coming soon, but it is impossible without a free Crimea. After all, the war began with its occupation, and it will end with its liberation. All illegally convicted citizens of Ukraine will return to their families, kiss their loved ones and hug their children. And we will all meet on the beaches, in the mountains, in the middle of the streets of free Crimea.

We have one road, and it leads to freedom, independence and sovereignty. Yes, we have a lot of work ahead of us to eliminate all the consequences of the occupation of the peninsula and return it to normal life as part of a European country with democratic values. But we can definitely see that Crimea misses Ukraine as much as Ukraine misses it. We are going home very soon!

Meanwhile, we stand, fight and believe. Crimea is Ukraine!