Crimea and the surrounding region from Google Maps. Crimea is marked in red. Ukraine is to the north, and Russia is to the east.
Here are some sources that helped give me some good context for the current Crimean Crisis:
1. "Crimea" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimea
For history and geography, see especially sections "In Independent Ukraine" to understand how Crimea became a part of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union and "2014 Crimean Crisis and Russian Military Intervention” to get a summary on what has happened since February 2014.
2. "Legislation on Languages in Ukraine" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislation_on_languages_in_Ukraine
We find from those sections of the previous Wikipedia article that there are populations of Russian and Ukrainian speakers in Crimea and that disputes between which should be recognized as a state language have been central to the conflict. Following this link leads to more information about that topic.
3. "2014 Crimean Revolution" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Ukrainian_revolution
This source (linked to from the first Wikipedia article) leads to more information about the revolution that illegally ousted Viktor Yanukovitch (see the article on him as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yanukovych), and which happened just prior to Russian troops entering Crimea.
4. New York Times articles: Now that you have the context, read recent New York Times articles (or current articles from another news outlet) for information about elections that were held on Sunday, March 17, about whether Crimea should secede from Ukraine:
- Crimea votes to Secede from Ukraine as Russian Troops Keep Watch http://nyti.ms/1fATTGR - Voters in Crimea were at the polls Sunday to vote on secession.
- Lawmakers in Crimea Move Swiftly to Split from Ukraine - http://nyti.ms/1nxdu4o Parliament of Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on Monday after a 97% vote in Sunday's election to secede.
1. "Crimea" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimea
For history and geography, see especially sections "In Independent Ukraine" to understand how Crimea became a part of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union and "2014 Crimean Crisis and Russian Military Intervention” to get a summary on what has happened since February 2014.
2. "Legislation on Languages in Ukraine" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislation_on_languages_in_Ukraine
We find from those sections of the previous Wikipedia article that there are populations of Russian and Ukrainian speakers in Crimea and that disputes between which should be recognized as a state language have been central to the conflict. Following this link leads to more information about that topic.
3. "2014 Crimean Revolution" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Ukrainian_revolution
This source (linked to from the first Wikipedia article) leads to more information about the revolution that illegally ousted Viktor Yanukovitch (see the article on him as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yanukovych), and which happened just prior to Russian troops entering Crimea.
4. New York Times articles: Now that you have the context, read recent New York Times articles (or current articles from another news outlet) for information about elections that were held on Sunday, March 17, about whether Crimea should secede from Ukraine:
- Crimea votes to Secede from Ukraine as Russian Troops Keep Watch http://nyti.ms/1fATTGR - Voters in Crimea were at the polls Sunday to vote on secession.
- Lawmakers in Crimea Move Swiftly to Split from Ukraine - http://nyti.ms/1nxdu4o Parliament of Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on Monday after a 97% vote in Sunday's election to secede.