2013
December 2 The State Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea convenes an urgent meeting and calls on Viktor Yanukovych to "restore public order"
December 12 А former MP for the Party of Regions Vadym Kolesnichenko announces the establishment of the "self-defense" groups that are to go to Antimaidan in Kyiv
RELATED ARTICLE: Kyiv-Crimea: Has Ukraine learned the lessons of annexation?
2014
January 21 Crimean MPs asks Yanukovych once again "to restore order in the country" and to prevent "extremists" from seizing power
January 27 The General Meeting of the Association of Local Governments of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol resolves to create "volunteer corps" in Crimean regions
February 4 Crimean Parliament announces the establishment of a work group to make amendments to the Constitution of Crimea and promises to consider a "referendum" on the status of the peninsula. An appeal is made to Russian President and State Duma to guarantee the preservation of Crimean autonomy
February 20 Vladimir Konstantinov, Head of Crimean Parliament, announces in Moscow the need to denounce the resolution of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on the transfer of Crimea to Ukraine
February 23 In Sevastopol, during a pro-Russian rally, separatists "decide" not to transfer taxes to Kyiv. Businessman Alexei Chaly is proclaimed the new "mayor" of Sevastopol
February 26 Outside of the Crimean Parliament building, rallies of thousands of supporters of the united Ukraine and of pro-Russian separatists are held. Some clashes occur
February 26 The State Council of Crimea tries to convene to discuss the resignation of Anatoliy Mogilev's government and the situation in Crimea. The quorum is not reached, only 40 out of 100 deputies are present in the session room
February 27 Gunmen seize Crimean government and Parliament buildings
February 27 Crimean deputies at a closed meeting set the date of the "referendum" on Crimea’s autonomy for March 16. Sergei Aksenov becomes the "Head of the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea"
February 28 Belbek military airfield near Sevastopol is seized, and Simferopol airport is blocked. Telephone connection to Ukraine is interrupted
March 1 Sergei Aksenov, the self-proclaimed "Head of the Council of Ministers of Crimea" appeals to Putin to help establish "peace and tranquility" on the peninsula. With Putin's blessing, the Russian State Duma adopts the law that allows sending troops to Crimea
March 2 Russian military without insignia ("little green men") start the blockade of the Ukrainian troops. Some commanders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Navy defect to the enemy
March 4 Several hundred Russians come to the building of the Ministry of Defense in Moscow to rally against the invasion of Crimea with the slogan "Hands off Ukraine!"
March 6 The Russian fleet starts blocking Ukrainian ships in Donuzlav bay
March 8 Crimean women rally against the war and Russian occupation, for peace and unity of Ukraine
March 11 The "State Council" of Crimea adopts the "Declaration of Independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol"
March 14 The Constitutional Court of Ukraine rules unconstitutional the decision of the State Council of the ARC on the "referendum"
RELATED ARTICLE: Ex-premier of Crimea Serhiy Kunitsyn: “The only thing that forced Crimean elite to support Moscow was the presence of 20,000 Russian troops”
March 15 Russian assault troops land from helicopters near the village of Strilkove (Arabat Spit, Genichesk District, Kherson Oblast)
March 16 The "referendum" takes place in Crimea. According to organizers, the turnout is 89.5%, according to independent estimates it is 32%. The highest voter turnout is observed in Sevastopol: 123%.
March 18 During the storm by the Russian invaders of the photogrammetric center in Simferopol, warrant officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Serhiy Kokurin is killed
March 18 Acting Supreme Commander Oleksandr Turchynov and acting Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh allow the military in Crimea to use weapons
March 18 The Agreement on the Accession of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation is signed in Moscow. The Security Service of Ukraine institutes criminal proceedings against all "Crimean signatories"
March 18 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine voices protest against the recognition by Russia of the illegitimate "Crimean Republic" and the signing of the annexation agreement
March 20 The Russian Duma ratifies the agreement on "the accession of Crimea" almost unanimously: only Ilya Ponomarev votes against it, while four MPs abstain
March 20 Russians in Sevastopol start seizing Ukrainian ships
RELATED ARTICLE: David Kramer: "We have an obligation to help Ukraine defend itself"
March 24 The assault of a Marines base in Feodosia. 200 troops land on the territory of the military base from four helicopters and seize it. Several dozens of Ukrainian marines are taken captives and brought from there to the port of Feodosia
March 24 Ukraine’s Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov signs a decree enacting the National Security Council’s decision on the redeployment of the military and law enforcement agencies from Crimea to other regions of the country
March 27 A meeting of the UN General Assembly adopts a Resolution in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. This date may be considered the beginning of the official recognition of the occupation of Crimea
April 4 The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Crimea is completed
RELATED ARTICLE: Andrii Klymenko: “One of Ukraine’s most important tasks is to ensure that sanctions for Crimea and Donbas are not separated”
