Explaining complex things in simple words: Resistance in Crimea, int’l support for Ukraine, AFU’s battlefield achievements

1. RESISTING RUSSIAN OCCUPATION IN CRIMEA

On February 26, Ukraine marks the Day of Resistance to Russian Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The date is timed to a large-scale rally in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine under the walls of the Verkhovna Rada of the ARC in 2014.

▪ For ten years, Crimeans have peacefully managed to prevent the adoption of separatist decisions by members of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Civil society has demonstrated with its own actions that Crimea is Ukraine.

▪ On this day, we remember and honour the courage of thousands of residents of the Crimean Peninsula who resisted and continue to resist the invaders. Crimeans are waiting for the liberation by the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

▪ Russia has turned Crimea into a springboard for aggression and uses the civilian population of the peninsula as a human shield and “cannon fodder,” illegally mobilizing Ukrainian citizens for the war.

▪ Crimeans have become hostages of the occupation.

▪ Russia brought politically motivated persecution, enforced disappearances, murders, deprivation of freedom of speech and religion, militarization of childhood, destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage, environmental danger to Crimea.

▪ Russian aggression began 10 years ago with the occupation of the peninsula. The Russian- Ukrainian war must end where it began—in the liberated Crimea.

2. INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

On February 24, a delegation of Western leaders arrived in Kyiv to express solidarity with Ukraine and mark two years of the Russian invasion.

▪ On the day marking two years since the full-scale Russian aggression, Ukraine was visited by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission; the Prime Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni, Canada Justin Trudeau, Belgium Alexander De Croo, former Prime Ministers of Britain Boris Johnson and Sweden Carl Bildt.

▪ A delegation of Western leaders held a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Hostomel, where the battle for the Antonov airfield determined the fate of Kyiv in February 2022.

▪ World leaders paid tribute to the fallen defenders near the Wall of Remembrance in Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv.

▪ Ukraine has signed new security agreements: with Denmark, Canada, and Italy.

▪ We appreciate the reliability of our partners who continue to support Ukraine two years after the beginning of the full-scale invasion and are not “tired of the war.”

3. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DEFENSE FORCES OF UKRAINE

Against the background of disturbing news from the front, great achievements of the Defense Forces that bring our victory closer are worth mentioning.

▪ As a result of successful drone attacks over the past two months, Russian exports of petroleum products, the revenues from which provide 55% of the Russian military budget, have been reduced by a third.

▪ The Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant, which produces components for Russian missiles, artillery, drones, etc., has been disabled. Damage to the units for primary cooling of untreated coke oven gas will stop the entire production cycle for a long time.

▪ During the week, record-breaking downing of the newest Russian Su-34 and Su-35 fighters took place.

▪ Another A-50 long-range early warning and control aircraft was shot down, Russia’s “eyes” in the sky (it observes the situation in the air, on land, and at sea, and helps warplanes make precision strikes). The cost of the aircraft is USD 350 million, and the enemy has only a few of them.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security