On March 16, 2014, a significant event unfolded in Crimea as a referendum, widely criticized as a sham, took place under the direction of Russian secret services led by Igor Girkin. This referendum, which occurred after Russian forces stormed the regional parliament and coerced deputies at gunpoint, led to the annexation of Crimea by Russia, an action orchestrated by Vladimir Putin. The incident marked the beginning of an ongoing conflict in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, further exacerbated by Russia's deployment of mercenaries. Ten years later, the international community, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, continues to denounce the annexation as brutal and illegal. Trudeau reaffirmed Canada's support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Crimea remains the sovereign territory of Ukraine and underscoring the commitment to support Ukraine's sovereignty for as long as necessary. He also highlighted that Russia's war against Ukraine began not on February 24, 2022, but ten years ago with the annexation of Crimea. The information was captured in images by @PierreCrom for @GettyImages.
🇨🇦🇺🇦 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: "Today is a reminder that Russia’s war against Ukraine began not on February 24, 2022, but ten years ago. While Putin is again trying to redraw the map as he pleases, our position remains unequivocally clear: the territory of Ukraine… https://t.co/FVZBAoRsW7
Canada reiterated that occupied Crimea remains the sovereign territory of Ukraine "The territory of Ukraine will remain the territory of Ukraine, and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized. https://t.co/lOhJxKyIu5
Ten years ago, through a brutal and illegal campaign, Vladimir Putin tried to annex Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Today, as Putin still tries to redraw the map as he pleases, we remain unequivocally clear: Ukraine’s territory will remain Ukraine’s. https://t.co/k3wWOiUm8m
Ten years ago today, Russia held a sham referendum at gunpoint in Ukraine's Crimea. A few weeks later, the Kremlin would send a few dozen mercenaries to initiate the ongoing war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. © @PierreCrom @GettyImages #Crimea #Ukraine #Europe #Russia https://t.co/fUopPdmu67
On March 16, 2014 a sham referendum was held in Crimea on joining Russia The decision was taken by Russian secret services under Igor Girkin, which stormed the regional parliament on Feb. 27th and forced deputies to vote under gunpoint Crimea is Ukraine https://t.co/PbzSipDBRu