The Role of Military Aviation in the Occupation of Crimea (2014)

Paper title:	*The Role of Military Aviation in the Occupation of Crimea (2014)*
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.4316/CC.2021.02.005
Published in:	Issue 2, (Vol. 27) / 2021
Publishing date:	2021-12-31
Pages:	397-416
Author(s):	Andrii Kharuk, Andrii Shumka
Abstract:	The occupation of Crimea has become one of the most severe military-political crises of the last decade. The Russian Federation carried out this operation as hybrid war. Along with the widespread use of methods and tools of information warfare, Russia used the units of the Black Sea Fleet stationed in Crimea and the forces additionally transferred to the peninsula. One of the main ways of moving those forces was by aerial military transport. In addition, helicopters were deployed to block the Ukrainian garrisons in Crimea. During the Crimean crisis, Ukrainian military aviation, much like other components of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, remained utterly passive. The only manifestation of active resistance was the relocation of several aircraft and helicopters from the Saki-Novofedorivka airfield to the mainland of Ukraine (the equipment was removed until early June 2014). Instead, the Russian Federation’s Armed Forces promptly stationed a powerful aviation group (three Air Force regiments and two Navy aircraft) in occupied Crimea.
Keywords:	Air Forces, Crimea, hybrid war, military aviation, Russia, Ukraine.

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