Crimea Secession

Crimea Votes to Secede From Ukraine as Russian Troops Keep Watch

Crimean citizens recently voted to secede from Ukraine and rejoin Russia. Russia wanted control of Crimea because it is strategically located and because many people there are ethnically Russian. 93% of the people who voted voted to rejoin Russia, an overwhelming number, obviously greatly in the favor of the Russians. Unfortunately, Western leaders are not happy with this decision which they had previously declared illegal and punishable by economic sanction. Even the population of Crimea is split up by this. Young Crimean citizens who were born after Ukrainian independence want to remain Ukrainian because it is the ethnicity they were born into. Older citizens say they are "going home" to Russia. However, the younger voices are clearly being outspoken on this decision since only 12% oppose the secession. 

Herzenhorn, David. "Crimea Votes to Secede From Ukraine as Russian Troops Keep Watch." New York Times. n. page. Print. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/17/world/europe/crimea-ukraine-secession-vote-referendum.html?_r=0>.