Crimea- Naval and Strategic Implications of Russia's Anexation
Abstract
On 27 February 2014, elements of the Russian armed forces invaded Crimea. While the world watched, they surrounded military installations, sank blockships at the entrances to two naval bases, seized Ukrainian naval vessels, and arrested the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy. Largely bloodless, the operation was both a strategic surprise and an operational success. On 17 March, President Vladimir Putting acted upon the results of a referendum that his government had administered in Crimea the day before and formally announced that the Russian Federation had annexed the territory. In examining these events, a June 2014 report by Sweden's Defence Research Agency asserts the "[t]he crisis in Ukraine has already gone so far that there is no way back to the status quo ante. The implications will be far reaching and go on for many years to come. There is merit in that assessment, because Russian actions have seriously challenged, if they have not undermined, the post-Cold War order in Europe and could be the harbinger of significant strategic concerns elsewhere.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 22, 2014
- Accession Number
- AD1017642
Entities
People
- Ben Lombardi
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada