[6.1] Crimea, Ukraine, and Russian Expansion

Mon Mar 07, 2022 6:54 pm

6.1 - Crimea, Ukraine, and Russian Expansion

Instructions: Read, or watch the video of, this lesson and answer the questions in the assignment attached in the yellow box at the bottom of this post!

Geography:

[6.1] Crimea, Ukraine, and Russian Expansion 20190608_EUM987

Looking at this picture, you see Ukraine in Orange and Russia in Green, between them is Crimea, or the Crimean Peninsula. This is a very strategic piece of land because of its position in the Black Sea (at the bottom of the picture) and its natural resources like natural gas and oil fields.

Having access to the Black Sea is very important as it is a warmer port with less chance of freezing over like Russia’s northern seas. It connects to the Mediterranean Sea, which connects into the Atlantic Ocean, so from the Black Sea you can sail to anywhere in the world. However, to get out of the Black Sea you have to pass through the most famous city in Turkey, Istanbul, as one of the straits (a river connecting two bigger bodies of water) flows through the city. In Late February, Turkey closed to the strait to Russian warships saying that they did not want warships sailing through their land.

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The History:

In 2008, Russia invaded the country of Georgia claiming it was there to defend independent nations of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which used to be part of the Soviet Union. Russia provided these places with weapons and then claimed to be invading for “peace keeping” and kicked out over 192,000 Georgians from their homes in twelve days. Hundreds of troops and civilians were killed.

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In 2014, Russia helped to start a revolution in Crimea – then a Ukrainian territory – before once again moving in troops for “peacekeeping.” This was largely done without much bloodshed, but still six people died.

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The United Nations, an international committee where countries can go to voice their concerns, voted to condemn (declare it bad) the invasion, with only Russia, Belarus, and 8 small countries voting in favour of Russia’s actions. New Zealand voted saying the stealing of the territory was illegal. Furthermore, the United Nations still recognises Crimea as belonging to Ukraine.

Within the United Nations is the Security Council which is the party responsible for international sanctions and military action, it has five permanent members: China, France, Russia, The United Kingdom, and America. If one of the permanent members vetoes (votes against) something, then it cannot go ahead. Therefore, Russia is able to veto any action against themselves.

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All of this has caused increasing tensions with Ukraine, and caused them to begin building up a stronger defense force including the buying of javelin missiles. Javelin Missiles are carried on the shoulders of a soldier and are used to destroy tanks, something Russia has a lot of. In 2018, America agreed to sell 210 javelin missiles and 37 launchers to the Ukraine for 68 million dollars (NZD). Donald Trump, then President of America, initially withheld sending these missiles unless Zelenskkyy would spy on Trump’s opponents for him, Zelenskkyy declined

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