Russia's Annexation of Crimea

By cmfaith

  • Events in Capital of Crimea

    Pro-Russian gunmen seize key buildings in the Crimean capital, Simferopol.

  • Putin's Request Approved

    Russia's parliament approves President Vladimir Putin's request to use force in Ukraine to protect Russian interests. Pro-Russian rallies are held in several Ukrainian cities outside Crimea.

  • Putin Signs Bill

    President Putin signs a bill to absorb Crimea into the Russian Federation.

  • Arseniy Yatsenyuk

    Ukraine's Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk offers to devolve more powers to the eastern regions, as pro-Russia occupations in Donetsk and Luhansk continue.

  • Geneva

    Russia, Ukraine, the US and the EU say they have agreed at talks in Geneva on steps to "de-escalate" the crisis in eastern Ukraine. Three people are killed when Ukrainian security forces fend off a raid on a base in Mariupol.

  • Russian Policy

    In an apparent shift in Russian policy, President Putin calls for referendums in eastern Ukraine to be postponed to encourage dialogue. He also describes Ukraine's presidential elections scheduled for 25 May as a move "in the right direction".

  • Russian Rebels

    Pro-Russian rebels shoot down a military helicopter near Sloviansk, killing 14 people including a general.

  • NATO Takes Action

    Nato pledges to bolster its defence capabilities in response to Russian actions in Ukraine.

  • Ukrainian Bases

    Separatist rebels take two Ukrainian military bases in the eastern region of Luhansk.

  • Russian Tanks

    Ukraine says three Russian tanks have entered rebel areas in the east. Russia denies the allegations.

  • Russian Embassy

    A violent protest outside the Russian embassy in Ukraine leads to windows being smashed and cars being overturned. Pro-Russia separatists shoot down a military plane in the east, killing 49 people.

  • Plane Crash

    Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam is shot down near the village of Grabove in rebel-held territory close to the border with Russia. A total of 298 people are killed including 80 children. Western nations said the plane was hit by a Russian-supplied SA-11 missile fired by rebels.

  • Sanctions

    The EU and US announce new sanctions against Russia with focus on oil sector, defence equipment and sensitive technologies.

  • Luhansk

    Ukrainian forces have virtually surrounded the city of Luhansk. The city's supplies of power and water supplies run low and communications are down.

  • Dutch Experts

    Dutch experts find that Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 broke up in mid-air after being hit by "objects" that "pierced the plane at high velocity" in July. Correspondents say this matches claims that MH17 was hit by missile shrapnel. The 5 September ceasefire is largely holding, but the EU formally adopts new sanctions on Russia, with no word on when they will be put in place.