March 2014 became a period of unprecedented resistance by Crimeans against the Russian occupation. Despite the presence of armed Russian military forces, the residents of the peninsula did not surrender, demonstrating their loyalty to Ukraine and their opposition to the occupation.

The events of February 26, 2014, proved that the people of Crimea were ready to resist the occupation and defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The mass rally near the building of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, organized by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, showcased the determination of the local population to protect their homeland from Russian aggression. However, the very next day, on February 27, Russian special forces seized administrative buildings in Simferopol, marking the beginning of the open phase of the occupation and the onset of war. Despite this, resistance did not cease—Crimeans continued to fight for their rights, standing against repression, intimidation, and political persecution.

On March 3, 2014, Crimean Tatar activist Reshat Ametov staged a protest in the center of Simferopol, opposing the Russian occupation. His peaceful resistance became a symbol of defiance, but within less than an hour, the occupiers abducted him from the square. On March 15, his body was found bearing signs of brutal torture. His courage went down in history as the first open protest against the occupation of Crimea, and in 2017, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

On March 8, International Women’s Day, thousands of women across the Crimean Peninsula took to the streets to express their protest against the occupation. The “Women of Crimea for Peace” demonstration became one of the largest in March, gathering over 15,000 participants. Women carried Ukrainian flags, flowers, and banners with slogans such as “Crimea is Ukraine!” “We stand for peace!” and “No to war!” demanding an end to the occupation and the withdrawal of Russian troops. The participants of the protest emphasized that they took to the streets to defend their rights, the rights of their children, and the future of Ukraine.

The following day, March 9, on the 200th anniversary of Taras Shevchenko’s birth, rallies in support of Ukraine’s unity took place across Crimea. The demonstrations in Simferopol and Sevastopol were particularly large. Protesters recited Shevchenko’s poetry, sang Ukrainian songs, raised national flags, and chanted patriotic slogans. They stated that they came out to show that Crimea is Ukraine and that they do not accept the Russian occupation.

The mass protests of March 9, 2014, demonstrated that no pseudo-referendums or threats of force could overpower the strength of Ukrainian resistance. Hundreds of people in Sevastopol and nearly a thousand in Simferopol stood together to declare this in unison.

On the same day, March 9, at a rally in Sevastopol, Russian occupiers arrested Maidan activist Mykola Shyptur. However, despite this, throughout March, people across many cities and villages in Crimea continued to gather for demonstrations in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, forming “human chains” as a sign of unity.

Despite repression, Crimeans continued their resistance, but as the occupiers escalated pressure and intimidation, mass protests eventually ceased. However, the resistance did not disappear—it went underground.

These events are a powerful reminder of the courage and resilience of our citizens in their struggle against occupation. March 2014 became a symbol that our people did not surrender and continue to fight for their freedom, bringing the inevitable de-occupation of Crimea closer.

Resistance has persisted for 11 years and continues even today despite the occupiers’ repression. The anniversary of Taras Shevchenko’s birth has become a symbol of this resistance, as his words remain prophetic, inspiring the ongoing fight for freedom and independence.

We must stand together and support those who remain under occupation. Our people continue to resist: they bring flowers to monuments of Taras Shevchenko and other Ukrainian poets, demonstrating their courage and unwavering loyalty to Ukraine. Their actions are a symbol of unity and a testament to their commitment to Ukraine’s liberation and ultimate victory.