Invaders turned Crimea into a Russian military base, – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukrain

Russia seized Crimea by armed aggression and attempted to illegally annex it, citing an illegal and falsified referendum. Since the beginning of the occupation, Russia has been pursuing a criminal policy of colonization and assimilation of the peninsula.

This is stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry recalled the repressions in Crimea, in particular the persecution of the Crimean Tatars. Back in 2016, Russia banned the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people (the representative body of the Crimean Tatar people), and all of its members were outlawed.

"Russia is also conducting an intensified militarization of Crimea. The peninsula, which before the occupation was known as a resort zone of Ukraine, has been transformed into a Russian military base, which poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to other states in the region, including NATO and the EU," said in a statement.

Ukraine asks the international community to increase political and sanctions pressure on Russia.