Crimea Is Ukraine: Ukrainian initiative Strichka launches global campaign for 11th anniversary of occupation

Crimea is not forgotten: the Ukrainian initiative Strichka launches a global campaign in honor of the 11th anniversary of the occupation. 

Rubryka explains how Ukrainians worldwide can contribute to de-occupation efforts and restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity.

What is the problem?

Rumors are circulating in the global press that the Trump administration is considering officially recognizing Crimea as part of Russia as part of a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukraine has never wavered—Crimea was, is, and will remain Ukrainian.

What is the solution?

A new large-scale initiative by Strichka—a digital platform for Ukrainians operating abroad—is designed to remind the world of this. The campaign "Crimean Street, Ukraine," dedicated to the 11th anniversary of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, starts on March 17 and will last until March 24, 2025.

"We will not let you forget what started the occupation of Ukraine, and we strive to remind the world of the need to restore the territorial integrity of our state," Strichka notes.

How does it work?

Crimea is Ukraine! Russia is the occupier

^{Infographics: Strichka}It was the occupation of Crimea that marked the beginning of the Russian Federation's large-scale aggression against Ukraine. Despite the propaganda and the beautiful image of beaches and "happy locals," the unique recreational area has been transformed into a military base, from where deadly missiles regularly fly over Ukrainian cities. The occupiers are forcibly Russifying and assimilating residents, destroying Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar culture, violating human rights: torturing, holding activists in pre-trial detention centers for years (dozens of them have disappeared), illegally mobilizing the population, and creating "re-education camps" for thousands of Ukrainian children who are forcibly taken out of the occupied territories.

According to human rights organizations, since 2014:

• 70 thousand residents of Crimea have left the peninsula, while 700 thousand Russians have entered in return;
• 10 thousand human rights violations have been recorded, of which almost 7 thousand were against representatives of the Crimean Tatar people;
• 371 political prisoners and those prosecuted in criminal cases, most of whom are Crimean Tatars.

"We are convinced: Crimea was, is, and will be Ukrainian. Even if the path to de-occupation is difficult, we have no right to remain silent. History knows many examples of countries restoring territorial integrity after 20, 30, 40, and even 50 years. Germany – our key partner today – is one of the most striking examples of such reunification. We must constantly remind the world about the crimes of the occupiers and clearly declare –  we will never accept the occupation of our territory. And we must remember: Crimea is not just a territory. These are our people who, even after 11 years of occupation, continue to resist despite repression, torture, and attempts to destroy culture and national identity. This is our voice that must be heard," the Strichka team notes.

What will happen during the rally?

Offline events:

• Activists will go to the central squares of cities in different countries of the world with symbolic signs, posters, and infographics bearing street names related to Crimea.
• It is planned to create photo and video content against the background of temporary signs with the inscriptions "Crimea Street," "Free Crimea," or "Crimea is Ukraine."

Online campaign:

• Publication of photos and videos from offline events on social networks with the key hashtag #CrimeaIsUkraine.
• Distribution of information materials (posters, infographics) and videos on social networks.

How to join the "Crimea Street, Ukraine" campaign?

• Go out with posters to the central square in your city.
• Publish photos and videos from the campaign on social networks with the hashtag #CrimeaIsUkraine.
• Download the Strichka app, complete unique tasks, and spread the word about the campaign.
• Support the information campaign by involving your friends, foreign acquaintances, and the media in highlighting the issue of Crimea's occupation.

"Each sign with the inscription "Crimea Street" or "Crimea is Ukraine" is a reminder of 11 years of occupation. For our team, the streets of Crimea are places where we first saw the sea; places where we met the dawn, admiring the beauty of the Crimean mountains; streets where we felt the unique aroma of Crimean herbs; embankments where we walked in the evenings, listening to the sound of the waves… This is part of our history, our life. We want the campaign participants not to let the world forget that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine with their actions, posts, and actions," Dmytro Sholomko, co-founder of Strichka, comments.

The campaign will run from March 17 to 24, lasting a full week. To reach the widest possible audience, Strichka hopes for active participation from Ukrainians worldwide, especially online. To support this, the Strichka team has prepared informational materials for sharing on social media.

• Infographics about Russian crimes in Crimea;
• Video;
• Visual materials (posters, signs, etc.);
• Additionally, Strichka offers special quests: participate in rallies or events with a campaign poster, share the truth about Crimea's occupation, and express what Crimea means to you.

The Strichka app provides detailed information about the campaign. Representatives of Ukrainian communities abroad can join by emailing partners@strichka.org.ua.

For reference:

About Strichka: It's a coordination platform and digital community dedicated to uniting active Ukrainians abroad committed to defending Ukraine's interests. Launched in May 2024, Strichka now connects over 9,000 engaged Ukrainians across more than 70 countries and has been a key initiator or partner in numerous global initiatives.