What is Crimea?

Crimea is a peninsula which belongs to Ukraine and lies on the Black Sea. It has a population of over 2 million people and its surface area is comparable to that of Belgium at over 10,000 square miles. To the east, it is separated from the Russian Tamar Peninsula by the Kerch Strait. According to a 2014 census carried out by Russia, 59% of Crimeans identify as Russian, compared to just 22% of Ukrainians. The rest of the population belong to the nomadic Turkish-speaking community of Tatar Muslims, who Stalin deported en masse in 1944. Between 80% and 90% of people currently living in Crimea are Russian speakers.

So was the peninsula originally a Russian territory? Why is Crimea at the heart of the Russia-Ukraine conflict? How did things escalate from then? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

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