On 20 March, Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko delivered closing remarks after the screening of the documentary film “Crimea: The War Before the War” by The Kyiv Independent.

The film tells the story of the preconditions for the occupation of Crimea and proves that Russia’s attempts to establish control over the peninsula began immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991. The film covers the struggle for the Black Sea Fleet, the pressure on the Ukrainian military, attempts to undermine Ukrainian control over Crimea, and the first signs of future Russian aggression.

In her speech, Olha Kuryshko emphasised that the events of 2014 were not sudden but the result of a long-standing policy of the Russian Federation.

“The occupation did not happen suddenly. Russia implemented a plan that had been maturing for years — methodically, consistently, using all available tools,” she noted.

The Permanent Representative also highlighted that temporarily occupied Crimea serves as an example of Russia’s policy towards other countries, and the actions of the aggressor state are a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other nations.

The screening of the film marked another step in conveying the truth about Russian aggression and the importance of the de-occupation of Crimea as a component of restoring justice and international law.