History of Crimea in Timeline

Crimea is a peninsula located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, connected to mainland Ukraine by the Isthmus of Perekop and linked to Russia via the Crimean Bridge. It's bordered by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. With a population of 2.4 million, its largest city is Sevastopol. Crimea is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine but has been under Russian occupation since 2014.

1917: Short lived regimes after the Russian Revolution

Following the 1917 Russian Revolution, Crimea experienced many short lived regimes.

1917: October Revolution

In 1917, the October Revolution occurred, which transformed the Russian Empire into the Soviet Union, initiating a difficult period for minorities in Russia.

1918: Establishment of Taurida National University

In 1918, the Taurida National University was established by the Crimean Regional Government.

1921: Creation of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

In 1921, the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created as part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

1921: Soviets replace Tavricheskaia oblast with Krym

Since 1921 the Soviets replaced Tavricheskaia oblast with Krym, depriving it of official status.

1925: Establishment of Artek camp

In 1925, Artek, a Young Pioneer camp, was established on the Black Sea in the town of Hurzuf.

1936: Start of the Great Purge

Between 1936 and 1938, during Joseph Stalin's Great Purge, many Italians were accused of espionage and were arrested, tortured, deported or executed.

1938: Continuation of the Great Purge

Between 1936 and 1938, during Joseph Stalin's Great Purge, many Italians were accused of espionage and were arrested, tortured, deported or executed.

1939: Population of Crimea Germans

In 1939, the number of Crimea Germans was 60,000.

1942: German Occupation

From 1942 to 1944 Crimea was occupied by Germany during the Second World War.

1944: Deportation of Greeks, Bulgarians, and Italians

In 1944, Stalin deported 70,000 Greeks, 14,000 Crimean Bulgarians and 3,000 Italians of Crimea.

1944: Deportation of Crimean Tartars

In 1944, after the Soviets regained control of Crimea, they deported the Crimean Tartars and several other nationalities to elsewhere in the USSR.

1945: Crimea Downgraded to Oblast

In 1945, Crimea was downgraded to an oblast within the Russian SFSR.

1945: Dissolution of Autonomous Republic

In 1945, the autonomous republic was dissolved, and Crimea became an oblast of the Russian SFSR.

1954: Transfer to Ukrainian SSR

In 1954, Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian SSR on the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Pereyaslav.

1959: Founding of the Simferopol-Yalta trolleybus route

In 1959, the longest trolleybus route in the world, stretching from Simferopol to Yalta, was founded in Crimea.

1963: Name of Tavriya Simferopol football club

In 1963 the Tavriya Simferopol football club was named.

1969: Expansion of Artek camp

By 1969, Artek camp had an area of 3.2 km and consisted of 150 buildings.

1991: Decline of Artek's prestige

After the breaking up of the Young Pioneers in 1991 Artek's prestige declined, though it remained a popular vacation destination.

1991: Reorganization as Autonomous Republic of Crimea

In 1991, following Ukrainian independence, most of the Crimean peninsula was reorganized as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

1997: Treaty on Basing Russian Fleet

In 1997, a treaty allowed Russia to continue basing its fleet in Sevastopol.

1997: Partitioning of Soviet Black Sea Fleet

In 1997, a treaty partitioned the Soviet Black Sea Fleet, allowing Russia to continue basing its fleet in Sevastopol.

2001: Ethnic makeup of Crimea

According to the 2001 Ukrainian population census, 60% of the population of Crimea are ethnic Russians and 24% are ethnic Ukrainians.

2001: Crimean Inhabitants language data

According to the 2001 census, 77% of Crimean inhabitants named Russian as their native language; 11.4% Crimean Tatar; and 10.1% Ukrainian.

2001: Ukrainian Census Data

In 2001, the Ukrainian Census reported the population of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to be 2,376,000 (Autonomous Republic of Crimea: 2,033,700; Sevastopol: 342,451).

2001: Census of ethnic Germans

The 2001 Ukrainian census reports just 2,500 ethnic Germans (0.1% of population) in Crimea.

2010: Extension of Lease for Russian Fleet

In 2010, the lease for Russia to base its fleet in Sevastopol was extended.

2012: Record number of tourist arrivals

In 2012, the number of tourist arrivals reached a record of 6.1 million in Crimea.

2013: Crimea as a top travel destination

According to National Geographic, Crimea was among the top 20 travel destinations in 2013.

2013: Merchant Seaports in Crimea

As of 2013, according to the International Transport Workers' Federation, there were at least 12 operating merchant seaports in Crimea.

2013: Religious composition of Crimea

In 2013, Orthodox Christians made up 58% of the Crimean population, followed by Muslims (15%) and believers in God without religion (10%).

2013: Status of the Crimean Tatar Language

In 2013, the Crimean Tatar language was estimated to be on the brink of extinction, being taught in Crimea in only about 15 schools at that time.

2013: Tourist industry statistics in Crimea

In the first half of 2014 over the same period of 2013, the flow of holidaymakers dropped 35 percent in Crimea.

March 2014: Crimean Clubs Withdraw from Ukrainian Leagues

Following Crimea's vote to join Russia and subsequent annexation in March 2014, the top football clubs withdrew from the Ukrainian leagues. Some clubs registered to join the Russian leagues, but UEFA ruled that Crimean clubs could not join the Russian leagues but should instead be part of a Crimean league system.

December 2014: Visa and MasterCard stopped service in Crimea

In December 2014, Visa and MasterCard temporarily stopped service in Crimea due to sanctions imposed following Russia's annexation of Crimea.

2014: Russian census language data

According to the 2014 Russian census, 84% of Crimean inhabitants named Russian as their native language; 7.9% Crimean Tatar; 3.7% Tatar; and 3.3% Ukrainian.

2014: Tourist industry losses after the Russian annexation

After the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, the tourist industry suffered major losses. The flow of holidaymakers dropped 35 percent in the first half of 2014 over the same period of 2013.

2014: Ukrainian Orthodox Church After Russian Annexation

Following the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, 38 out of the 46 Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate parishes in Crimea ceased to exist; in three cases, churches were seized by the Russian authorities.

2014: Russian Annexation of Crimea

In 2014, Crimea experienced demonstrations against the removal of the Russia-leaning Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and protests in support of Euromaidan. Russian forces occupied parliament and government buildings, and the Russian-organized Republic of Crimea declared independence following an illegal referendum. Russia then annexed Crimea, although most countries continued to recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine.

2014: Water Shortage Crisis

In 2014, Crimea faced an unprecedented water shortage crisis following the blocking of the North Crimea Canal by Ukraine.

2014: Economic indicators of Crimea

In 2014, the republic's annual GDP was $4.3 billion, the average salary was $290 per month, and the budget deficit was $1.5 billion.

2014: Population of Crimea and Sevastopol

In 2014, the total population of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol was 2,248,400 people (Republic of Crimea: 1,889,485; Sevastopol: 395,000).

2014: Crimea Railway operation

Since 2014 the railways are operated by the Crimea Railway.

2014: Russia occupies Crimea

Since 2014, Crimea has been occupied by Russia, but Ukraine has not relinquished its claim to the territory, and it is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.

2014: Cisdneper Directorate of the Ukrainian Railways

Until 2014 the network was part of the Cisdneper Directorate of the Ukrainian Railways.

May 2015: Construction began on the Kerch Strait bridge

In May 2015, work began on a multibillion-dollar road-rail link (a pair of parallel bridges) across the Kerch Strait.

2015: Halting of tram line operation

In 2015, the operation of a 1.6 km tram line in Molochnoye was halted.

2016: Rebound of tourist arrivals in Crimea

By 2016, tourist arrivals in Crimea rebounded to 5.6 million after dropping to 3.8 million in 2014.

2016: Nominal GDP of Crimea

In 2016, Crimea had a Nominal GDP of US$7 billion and US$3,000 per capita.

2016: Jamala wins Eurovision

In 2016, Crimean Tatar singer Jamala won the Eurovision Song Contest representing Ukraine with her song "1944", about the historic deportation of Crimean Tatars in that year by Soviet authorities.

2017: Construction of the Tavrida federal highway

From 2017 the Tavrida federal highway was built under Russian occupation.

May 2018: Opening of the Crimean Bridge road section

In May 2018, the road bridge of the Kerch Strait crossing opened.

2018: Opening of the Crimean Bridge

In 2018 the new Crimean Bridge opened connecting Crimea to the Taman Peninsula.

2018: Crimean Bridge Construction

In 2018, the Crimean Bridge was constructed across the Strait of Kerch, linking Crimea with Krasnodar Krai in Russia.

December 2019: Opening of the Crimean Bridge rail section

In December 2019, the rail bridge of the Kerch Strait crossing opened.

August 2022: Zelenskyy calls for liberation of Crimea

In August 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that it was "necessary to liberate Crimea" from Russian occupation and to re-establish "world law and order".

October 8, 2022: Attack on the Crimean Bridge

On October 8, 2022, the Crimean Bridge was damaged by an attack.

2022: Restoration of Water Flow

After the 2022 Russian invasion, the flow of water through the North Crimea Canal was restored, however the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam could lead to problems with water supply again.