title: Crimea- Naval and Strategic Implications of Russia's Anexation
abstract: Abstract : On 27 February 2014, elements of the Russian armed forces invaded Crimea. While the world watched, they surrounded military installations, sank blockships at the entrances to two naval bases, seized Ukrainian naval vessels, and arrested the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy. Largely bloodless, the operation was both a strategic surprise and an operational success. On 17 March, President Vladimir Putting acted upon the results of a referendum that his government had administered in Crime