Crimea

Crimea is a peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea, connected to the Ukrainian mainland by the Isthmus of Perekop. It covers about 27,000 square kilometers and features a varied landscape that includes the Crimean Mountains, fertile southern coast, and resort towns such as Yalta.

Politically, Crimea's status is disputed. Russia regards it as the Republic of Crimea within the Russian Federation and Sevastopol as a federal city. Since 2014, most countries and international organizations consider Crimea to be Ukrainian territory, and the United Nations affirms Ukraine's territorial integrity; the annexation led to sanctions against Russia.

Historically, the region has been part of many states. It was colonized by Greeks in antiquity, later incorporated into the Crimean Khanate, and annexed by the Russian Empire in 1783. In 1954 it was transferred from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian SSR. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Crimea remained part of independent Ukraine until 2014, when Russia annexed the peninsula after a contested referendum.

Demographically, the population is around 2.4 million. The area has a plurality of ethnic Russians, with Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar communities also present. Russian is the most widely spoken language; Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian are used by minority communities, with some recognition in local administration.

Economy and infrastructure center on tourism, agriculture (notably viticulture and fruits), and fishing. Since 2014, energy and transport infrastructure has been integrated with Russia, including the Kerch Strait Bridge completed in 2018 and power lines from the Russian mainland. Simferopol is the administrative center; Sevastopol is a major port and historic naval base.