Crimea cancels Victory Day events amid security concerns

The Russian representative in occupied Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, has announced that the traditional Victory Day celebrations, set for May 9, "will not be organized for security reasons".

"There are no plans to organize a military parade or the 'Immortal Regiment' march in the Republic of Crimea on May 9. This is due to security reasons. Nevertheless, we will pay tribute to our veterans, honour the memory of the fallen, and organize ceremonies in various formats. In essence, Crimea will fittingly celebrate Victory Day," Aksyonov wrote on Telegram.

In light of the situation in Crimea, it is pertinent to revisit the words of Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who, in an interview with "The Economist" in January, predicted that by 2024, Crimea and the Black Sea would become central points of conflict.

Zelensky highlighted that isolating occupied Crimea and diminishing Russian military strength in the region is crucial for Ukraine. He stated this as a strategy to decrease the frequency of attacks from Russia originating from this area. The President of Ukraine pointed out that Russia should realize the military significance of Crimea to Ukraine.