History of Crimea in Timeline

Crimea is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, situated on the northern coast of the Black Sea, connected to mainland Ukraine by the Isthmus of Perekop. The Crimean Bridge links it to Russia across the Strait of Kerch. 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. Its strategic location has made it a historically significant region.

1917: Short-lived regimes after Russian Revolution

Following the 1917 Russian Revolution, Crimea experienced multiple short-lived regimes due to its strategic position.

1917: Beginning of minorities repressions

With the October Revolution of 1917, the Russian Empire became the Soviet Union, marking the beginning of a harsh period for minorities in Russia, including the Italians of Crimea.

1918: Establishment of Taurida National University

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

1921: Creation of 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: Deprivation of official status

Since 1921, The Soviets replaced Taurida with Krym (Ukrainian: Крим; Russian: Крым) depriving it of official status.

1925: Establishment of Artek Camp

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

1936: The Great Purge

Between 1936 and 1938, during Joseph Stalin's Great Purge, many Italians in Crimea were accused of espionage, leading to their arrest, torture, deportation, or execution.

1938: The Great Purge

Between 1936 and 1938, during Joseph Stalin's Great Purge, many Italians in Crimea were accused of espionage, leading to their arrest, torture, deportation, or execution.

1939: Crimea Germans population

The number of Crimea Germans was 60,000 in 1939.

1942: German Occupation

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

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, 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 Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

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 Trolleybus Route

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

1963: Establishment of Tavriya Simferopol football club

In 1963, the Tavriya Simferopol football club was so named.

1969: Artek Camp Expansion

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

1991: Decline of Artek Camp'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

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

1997: Partitioning of Soviet Black Sea Fleet

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

1997: Treaty allows Russia to base its fleet in Sevastopol

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

2001: Population of Crimea

According to the 2001 Ukrainian population census, 60% of the population of Crimea are ethnic Russians and 24% are ethnic Ukrainians, and 12.1% are Crimean Tatars.

2001: Crimean native languages in 2001

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

In 2001, according to the Ukrainian Census the population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea was 2,033,700 and Sevastopol was 342,451 which makes the total population of Crimea 2,376,000.

2001: First official census in Crimea

In 2001, the first official census in Crimea held by Ukraine.

2010: Extension of Russian Fleet Lease

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

2012: Record Tourist Arrivals

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

2013: Crimea among top travel destinations

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

2013: Operating Merchant Seaports in Crimea

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

2013: Religious beliefs

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

2013: 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. Turkey provided the greatest support to Tatars in Ukraine, which had been unable to resolve the problem of education in their mother tongue in Crimea, by bringing the schools to a modern state.

2013: Record Tourist Arrivals

In 2013, the number of tourist arrivals reached a record of 6.1 million.

March 2014: Football 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.

December 2014: Visa and MasterCard Temporarily Stopped Service

In December 2014, Visa and MasterCard temporarily stopped service in Crimea following the Russian annexation and subsequent sanctions.

2014: Russian census in Crimea

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 Suffers Major Losses

After the Russian annexation of Crimea in early 2014 and subsequent sanctions, the tourist industry suffered major losses. Tourist arrivals dropped to 3.8 million in 2014.

2014: Crimea population

As of 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: Ukrainian Orthodox Church parishes

Following the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, 38 out of the 46 Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate parishes in Crimea ceased to exist.

2014: Blocking of the North Crimea Canal

In 2014, Crimea faced a water shortage after Ukraine blocked the North Crimea Canal.

2014: Crimea's Annual GDP, Average Salary, and Budget Deficit

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: Operation by Crimea Railway

Since 2014, the railways in Crimea have been operated by the Crimea Railway, with local and long-distance train services connecting various cities within Crimea and to destinations in Russia.

2014: Railway Network Until 2014

Until 2014, the railway network in Crimea was part of the Cisdneper Directorate of the Ukrainian Railways, providing long-distance connections to major Ukrainian cities and other destinations.

May 2015: Construction Begins on Kerch Strait Road-Rail Link

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

2015: Halted Tram Line Operation

Since 2015, the tram line in Molochnoye has halted operation.

2016: Rebound in Tourist Arrivals

By 2016, tourist arrivals in Crimea rebounded to 5.6 million, according to the Russian administration.

2016: Crimea's Nominal GDP

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

2016: Jamala won the Eurovision Song Contest

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: Tavrida Federal Highway Construction

Construction of the Tavrida federal highway began under Russian occupation in 2017.

May 2018: Opening of the Road Bridge

In May 2018, the road bridge across the Kerch Strait opened.

2018: Crimean Bridge Construction

In 2018, the Crimean Bridge was constructed, spanning the Strait of Kerch and linking the Crimean peninsula with Krasnodar Krai in Russia.

2018: Opening of Crimean Bridge

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

December 2019: Opening of the Rail Bridge

In December 2019, the rail bridge across the Kerch Strait opened.

August 2022: Zelenskyy calls for Crimea liberation

In August 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of liberating Crimea from Russian occupation to restore world law and order.

October 8, 2022: Damage to the Crimean Bridge

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

2022: Restoration of Water Flow and Destruction of Kakhovka Dam

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 water supply problems again.