Ukraine’s Bold Moves to Reclaim Crimea from Russia

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia over the disputed peninsula of Crimea has reached a new level of intensity, as Kyiv’s forces have launched a series of daring attacks on Russian military targets in the region. Ukraine, which considers Crimea as part of its sovereign territory, has shown its determination to challenge Russia’s illegal annexation of the peninsula in 2014. In this blog post, we will examine the latest developments and the implications of Ukraine’s offensive.

A Brief History of the Crisis

Crimea is a strategic and historic region located on the northern coast of the Black Sea. It has a population of about 2.3 million people, most of whom are ethnic Russians. Crimea was part of the Russian Empire until 1954, when it was transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Crimea became an autonomous republic within independent Ukraine, but retained strong cultural and economic ties with Russia.

In February 2014, following a popular uprising that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, Russia intervened in Crimea and orchestrated a referendum that resulted in a vote for secession from Ukraine and integration with Russia. The referendum was widely denounced by the international community as illegitimate and illegal, and Ukraine refused to recognize the outcome. Russia then formally annexed Crimea and deployed thousands of troops and military equipment to the region.

The annexation of Crimea triggered a war in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists, backed by Moscow, declared independence from Kyiv and formed two self-proclaimed republics: Donetsk and Luhansk. The war has claimed more than 13,000 lives and displaced more than 1.5 million people. Despite several ceasefire agreements, the fighting has continued sporadically along the front line.

Ukraine’s Recent Attacks on Crimea

In July 2023, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence said that Kyiv’s forces have in their sights the peninsula that Russia seized in 2014. He said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) “will soon enter Crimea”, without specifying a timeframe or giving any other details.

Since then, Ukraine has stepped up its efforts to regain control over Crimea, using long-range munitions, some of which are domestically produced, such as the Neptune cruise missiles. Ukraine also uses drones to take out Russian radars and air defenses. Here are some of the most notable attacks that Ukraine has carried out on Crimea in the past month:

• On August 22, 2023, Ukraine launched a major attack on the port of Sevastopol, the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, using 10 missiles. Ukrainian officials claimed that two Russian naval ships sustained serious damage and 24 people were injured. Russia confirmed the attack but did not provide any details on the casualties or damages.
• On August 23, 2023, Ukraine reported that it successfully destroyed a Russian S-400 air defense system in occupied Crimea, using cruise missiles. The attack was carried out by the security service (SBU) and the navy, targeting a Russian military facility near Yevpatoriya. Video footage on social media showed a fire and smoke near the site. Russia did not directly comment on the attack, but said that it shot down several Ukrainian aerial drones and thwarted a separate attack on a naval patrol vessel.
• On August 24, 2023, Ukraine claimed that its troops briefly landed on the western shore of Crimea, near the settlements of Olenivka and Mayak, in a joint operation with the navy. The Ukrainian defense ministry said that the special forces clashed with the Russian units and destroyed enemy equipment, while raising the national flag. The Russian-appointed authorities in Crimea did not respond to the claims .

The Implications of Ukraine’s Offensive

Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea have shown that Kyiv is not willing to give up on its claim over the peninsula, despite Russia’s overwhelming military superiority in the region. Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to strike at strategic targets and inflict damage on Russia’s forces. However, these attacks also carry significant risks and challenges for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s offensive could provoke a harsh response from Russia, which considers Crimea as part of its territory and has vowed to defend it at all costs. Russia has a strong military presence in Crimea, with extensive air defenses and missile sites, including advanced systems such as Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles and Bastion-P coastal defense missiles. Russia could retaliate by launching counterattacks on Ukrainian positions or escalating the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Conclusion

Ukraine’s bold moves to reclaim Crimea from Russia have shown that the conflict over the disputed peninsula is far from over. It has demonstrated its resolve and capability to challenge Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.