Russia launches naval base in Crimea.

• December 22, 2014 10:59

The naval base in Crimea, which was once part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, has been fully restored and is now operational.

This announcement was made by a representative of the Black Sea Fleet command on December 21st.

Tàu khu trục Nga ở cảng Sevastopol. Ảnh: Ria Novosti

Russian destroyer in Sevastopol port. Photo: Ria Novosti

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The TASS news agency quoted a representative as saying that the base's headquarters are located in Sevastopol, the capital of Crimea, and that Navy Colonel Yuri Zemsky – who previously commanded a Russian Navy division in the Mediterranean – will assume the position of head of the base.

The representative added that the new units have been integrated with Russian forces to counter enemy vessels in the Black Sea.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet, since its founding more than 200 years ago, has been stationed in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. The Crimean Peninsula was formerly part of the Russian Federation but was ceded to Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, in May 1954.

In May 1992, the Supreme Council of Crimea (Parliament) declared independence from Ukraine and proposed a referendum on the issue, but this was rejected by Ukrainian authorities. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea held two referendums in 1991 and 1994 to gauge voter sentiment regarding whether Crimea should remain part of Ukraine with greater autonomy or join Russia.

Following the referendum held on March 16th, in which an overwhelming majority of people in Crimea supported returning to Russia, the Crimean Peninsula and the city of Sevastopol have officially been annexed by Russia.

According to VNA