I love Crimea. I have lived here since I was small and it is a lovely area. We are like a very big community. Everyone knows everyone and if anything happens everyone knows about it.  That’s how we knew about the war.

One day school was cancelled. I went down past my school to get some milk at the shop. As I got to the corner of the street my mouth fell open. There was a lot of shouting and pushing. A stone was thrown in my direction and it hit my leg. The pain was unbearable and I hopped back to my house to tell everyone what I saw.

A few days later my mother and father were brought into the town hall to vote. They came home looking sad and I went to bed straight away.

The next day I was back at school. Instead of our colours, blue and yellow, the Russian colours were up the flag pole, fluttering proudly over everyone, warning them to be careful of what they did.

We were no longer taught Ukrainian history. Russia was our history, our language, and, as it seemed no, our ruler. I walked home, sad that the place I grew up in was changing. For better or worse, I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t like this change. And if this was permanent, I didn’t know what I would do. My home was disappearing, just like the flag. And I didn’t like it.

The End
By Aoibhinn

 

 

On February 27th, gunmen seized control of government buildings in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine. They raised a Russian flag over the headquarters of the Crimean Parliament. This began a series of events that has resulted in Crimea under Russian control and furious diplomatic efforts underway between Ukraine, the European Union, the United Nations, NATO, Russia, and the United States.

On Sunday, Crimean’s voted to break with Ukraine and join Russia. President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty making Crimea part of Russia. Putin says he does not plan to seize any other regions of Ukraine. Putin claims bringing Crimea back into the Russian fold is “reunification”. He cheekily said that the Germans would understand the Russian people’s quest for reunification, just as Russia had supported German reunification in 1990.

In 1997, Crimea and Russia signed treaty allowing Russia to maintain their naval base at Sevastopol, on Crimea’s south-western tip. The base is Russia’s primary means to extending military force through the Mediterranean. But Putin didn’t just ask permission to use the military on Crimea. Russia’s parliament authorized Russia’s military forces to enter “Ukraine,” giving themselves a legal cloak to target more than Crimea.

President Obama and some European leaders have warned Russia against the use of military intervention in Ukraine and have accused Russia of violating another nation’s sovereignty. Obama has even pulled out of attending an international summit in Russia this summer, has stopped trade talks with the country.

Sinéad

 

 

 

Hello, my name is Maria. I am twelve years old. I live in Yalta in the east of Crimea. Crimea is surrounded completely by the Black Sea. The energy situation in Crimea and Ukraine is very complicated and even tricky. Crimea relies on Ukraine for much of its electricity and Europe relies on Russia for approximately twenty-five percent of its natural gas according to CNN.

Life is really tough for my three sisters and me here in Crimea. We are very poor, but hard-working and proud of our identity.  Our climate here is Mediterranean, whereby the weather in Ireland is temperate. The capital of my country, Crimea is Siniferopol, which is quite a nice, but a really busy city. Some people here speak Russian and others speak Ukrainian. At school we all have to learn the Russian language, so that’s why I am able to speak and understand Russian.

Ukraine used to be part of Russia but, not any longer. But people are not at all happy with this change. I suppose at the end of the day nobody likes change. People want to go back to Russia and others don’t. I don’t ever want to go back to Russia because I would prefer to be independent and eventually aligned with the EU. But most people do want to be back as part of Russia. Recently there was a referendum to join the Russian Federation. People had to vote on where they would rather be part of, Ukraine or Russia. I don’t understand now whether I should call Russia or Ukraine my home.

Aoilbhe

 

 

 

Marko Wasyl is a seven-year-old boy who lives in Ukraine. Over the last few months, he has noticed a change in the atmosphere. Every night he hears gunshots and explosions outside. When he wakes up in the morning, he walks to school. He noticed that they have to learn Russian now. When he was walking home from school one day he saw roughly ten men with guns. The teacher doesn’t let the kids go outside anymore and they don’t know why. Marko heard that one of the teachers didn’t teach Russian and that the men with guns shot him. His mum came home from work one day crying, his dad then told him to go upstairs. A lot of people are unhappy and he wants to find out why.

Ben

 

 

 

Crimea
My name is Olga. I live in Simferopol the capital of Crimea. This last month has been immensely confusing and a bit frightening for me. There have been many loud and serious fights in our local shops. Yesterday as I was collecting bread for my mother, I saw five men shouting hysterically at a lone Tartar man. The Tartars are a little bit different from us because we are Russian. Our Grandparents come from Russia and theirs came from Turkey. I was so upset after seeing this i ran home and asked my Father why this was all happening.
He sat me down and gave me a warm traditional cake (a sasma) and a mug of warm cocoa. He then tried to explain everything that was happening. He told me that Crimea was once in fact part of Russia, but then Crimea was made part of Ukraine. People in the capital and west of Ukraine wanted to be closer to Europe. So they began to protest for their right. Their President Yanukovich fled Ukraine. Russia was not happy. Meanwhile the Russians had offered Ukraine cheap oil so Ukraine was now friendly with Russia. Then Russia encouraged Crimea to join Russia. Crimea held a referendum. Crimea had not decided what to do yet.
I slumped in my chair, bewildered. It sounded like a game of cards but i knew it was very serious. The next few days I thought hard on the situation. I decided i wanted to become part of Russia. Most people in Crimea are Russian anyway. I think it is where we belong. One day when i came home from school, my mom and dad sat on the couch staring at the television. This was unusual. The news was on, i flumped down beside them. “We really are” my dad said. “Wow” my mom said. “What” I said “Were becoming part of Russia, Darling.” Mom said.

Ciara A

 

 

 

Crimea : What’s Going On?

The peninsula of Crimea in southern Ukraine is at the centre of what is being seen as the biggest crisis between Russia and the west since the Cold War. Troops loyal to Russia have taken control of Crimea, and the pro-Russian parliament has voted to join the Russian Federation, confirmed in a referendum.
Russia has been the dominant power in Crimea for most of the past 200 years. But it was transferred by Moscow to Ukraine – then part of the Soviet Union in 1954. Some ethnic Russians see that as a historical wrong.
On March 16th there was a referendum in Crimea. Before the referendum, posters were put up and they were biased towards Russia because, on the right side of the poster there was the map of Crimea with a Russian flag inside it, and on the other side of the poster, there was the map of Crimea but this time with a swastika inside it. In the end 97.6% of the voters voted to join Russia. Maybe they were scared of what the Russians would do to them if they chose to stay with Ukraine, or maybe they were brainwashed by the Russians like Hitler brainwashed the Germans to hate the Jews?
Is it good or bad that the Russians now own Crimea? It’s good because maybe if Ukraine had got Crimea, Russia may have been angry and invaded Ukraine, potentially starting World War Three. But it’s also bad because now the Russians might think they’re great and try to invade Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and other areas with a Russian population, again potentially starting World War Three.

Cillín

 

 

 

 On February 27th gunmen seized control of government buildings in Crimea, Ukraine. They raised a Russian flag overhead and since that there has been a referendum in Crimea. On the 28th the Ukranian president was ousted after months of bloody demonstrations.
The referendum was to see would Crimea join Russia or the European Union. The majority of the people wanted to join Russia, so, a few days later, Russian military moved in to take control of Ukrainian military bases in Crimea. About a week ago there was a contract signed to sqay that Crimea would join Russia. There were big celebrations in Moscow that day.
That is all fine but now people are worried that other places in Ukraine might want to join Russia as well, and that Russian forces would move in. Now, you would think that Europe or the US would do something about it but Ukraine is not a full member of NATO, meaning that they are not obligated to do so.
The Russian President has said that he does not want any part of Ukraine, so it is unlikely that any military action will be taken by any side.

Conchubhair

 

 

   This is reporter Alice Hussey and I am going to fill you in on what is happening in Crimea. Crimea is located in the South of Ukraine on the Black Sea.
   
The Crimean Crisis is an international crisis involving Russia and Ukraine but mainly the Crimean Peninsula. This Crisis started in late February 2014. There were months of protests by Ukraine’s and violent clashes between protesters and police in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital. These protests were because the president would not sign a deal with the Europe to get money but instead wanted to sign a deal with Russia as they would give more money and cheap gas. As least eight-eight people were killed including seven police.
  
 President Yanukovych of the Ukraine signed a deal that was made by foreign ministers of France, Poland and Germany but this became redundant and Yanukovych left the capital with gods and riches. On February 28th pro-Russian forces took over the Crimean Peninsula. Russian said the uniformed men were local defence forces but others thought they were Russian military. Then on the 11th of March the supreme Council of Crimea said they wanted to be independent from Ukraine and they wanted to join the Russian Federation. Now Russia has reclaimed Crimea, and the Untied States and the European Union say they think the vote is illegal and there may be a backslash for the Crimea ballot.
    
This is Alice Hussey signing off from Sevastopol in Crimea.
Ailís!

 

 

 

My name is Lucia. I am seven years old.
I love school my friends and baking with my mom. Recently it is been very different and I do not like it at all. School is very strange I do not understand the new language that we have to speak. My mother and father always look so stressed and worried. I have no one to tell me what on earth is going on. I asked my older brother. He just shoved me and said that I would not understand. There have been tons of riots going on. To me it looks very scary. I wish that things could be normal again. I heard something about Crimea being in turmoil. I didn’t know what that meant. Today I listened in on my parents conversation from what I gather there is some kind of battle going on between Russia and Ukraine and the Crimea has something to do with it. All I know is that I am sick of this why can we not all be friends?

Emma

 

 

 

The Crimea: What’s Going On?

“They say we violate international law. Good they remember international law exists. Better late than never.”
These words Vladimir Putin said on a historical day that will be remembered for years to come.
Crimea is a peninsula at the south of Ukraine, with a population of 2.4 million people. Many of its inhabitants are Russian (60%), and with this Russia have taken it over. Now many former members of the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) are worried that their homeland could be the next to bear the brunt of Putin’s armies.
However, there is one clause that may well protect a lot of the countries in worry, the North Atlantic Treaty.
The North Atlantic Treaty is a contract stating that basically if any country attacks a participant of the treaty, the other participants will go to war with the offender.
Ukraine are not a part of NATO or the EU, therefore, the countries of them organisations were not officially provoked and did not go to war.
Ukraine, the G8 and others have called the referendum that legally brought Russia and Crimea together as illegitimate, whereas Russia are calling some of these countries hypocrites.
Crimea has been colonised by many groups, such as Ukraine, Russia and the Byzantine Empire (modern day Turkey).
Crimea’s economy mostly consists of tourism and agriculture; this could decline if a military outbreak occurs.
Many conspiracy theories are currently spreading, such as whether or not Russia will attempt to take over another country, and what country could be next in the firing line.
Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are all likely targets for Putin, but which is the million dollar question, only time will tell…

Oisín

 

 

 

Troubles in Ukraine

Life was great here in Ukraine with lots of fun stuff to do with my friends and family. Playing soccer, having a chess tournament, playing tip the can- the list just keeps on going- on and on. I remember when Russian wasn’t a big subject in school but now you’re forced to learn it in every school in Ukraine.
Sebastian woke up. He suddenly remembered that he had to go through another boring day learning Russian at school. A couple of days ago the Russian soldiers came marching into Ukraine holding rifles and grenades. There were even a few tanks there as well. Our teacher (Miss Elkadar) explained to us that Russia wanted Ukraine to join NATO-Russia Council (NRC) but most of Ukraine wanted to stay an independent country. That was two weeks ago- now if the teachers taught us any history on Ukraine or spoke in Ukrainian he or she would be in big trouble with the Russian soldiers.
Two weeks later……..
On my way to school I passed by two tall, scary looking Russian soldiers. One of them had a pistol, white hair and a mug of hot coffee. Both of them dressed up in their impressive Russian uniforms. They spoke in Russian while scanning the street to see could they spot any trouble going on. At school Miss Elkadar introduced my class to two new boys who had recently come from Omsk to Kiev. She told us that their father had just recently got a job in Kiev working for a Russian Company of course. In the Crimean Peninsula, most of the shops (that had been owned by Ukrainians) have been forced to cede ownership to a Russian.
Life now is awful. For example one of the soldiers attacked our school bus driver outside our house. The thing that’s most disturbing is that he didn’t do anything wrong. He is now badly injured in the hospital. I hope things go back to the way they were, but it’s not likely to happen anytime soon!

Séaghan

 

 

 
Hello my name is Seba and I live in Ukraine.  Things are not going to well here in Crimea. The Russians are fighting with us Ukrainians and invading our country. My father is one of the brave Ukrainian men protecting our country.
About one week ago when I was walking home from school I noticed that the town was very quiet. Half way home from school my mother met my on the street and she rushed me back home. I asked her what was happening. She replied ‘I knew this would happen.’ ‘You knew what would happen’, I said. ‘The Russians’, she said, ‘They’re taking over’. ‘Is that why father is out of the house?’ I asked. ‘Yes’, she replied.
 I didn’t go to school for the next few weeks. My brother, my little sister and I hid in the basement for the majority of every day. We were extremely worried about my father because we hadn’t heard from him. We were all hoping for the best.
The next week I went back to school and there was an awkward tension in the classroom. Even at lunchtime when everyone would usually be running around having fun and playing games, everyone was standing around all alone with depressed expressions on their faces. In class we learned the Russian language but nobody was acting very enthusiastically about it, including our teacher. I hope changes will be made soon but I doubt that will happen.

Afraic

 

 

Crimea
Hello my name is Yuri, and I live in Crimea. Today it was very different in school. We were only allowed to speak Russian and our original language was a normal subject. We saw a huge amount of soldiers running to armed vehicles, and stopping protesters.

Every once in a while, we felt a large rumble. I think that was because tanks came in to stop the protest. My friend and my father got shot while escaping the conflict. My mother is the only one left in my family now and nothing can change that.

The next day after my father’s death more tanks bombers and planes came in. I was worried because a big amount of dead bodies were out the window.

I wonder what life would be like if this conflict hadn’t broken out.

Daithí

 

I don’t really get it. I live in Crimea but I learn Russian, and I think I’m meant to be Russian. That doesn’t make sense. We’ve been taught to think that Russians are better, so in order for me to be a better person I must become Russian. That’s what our teacher tells us.
My father says this is a war, like the one where Adolf Hitler invaded Russia. Except it’s “NATO”, not Germany, threatening Russia this time, according to Father. Mother thinks Mr Putin is a great man and will make Russia powerful again.
I was horrified when I found out about the riots. I shouldn’t have. Mother and Father didn’t want me to know. But I saw it on our small television. They told me not to be scared. They made me promise not to tell Dmitri, my three-year-old brother.
I wish it would all stop. Mother tried to explain it to me. There was this election to decide whether we should “join” Russia or not. I don’t know how we can join Russia. Are we not our own free country?
But not everyone wants to join Russia. Mother wants to join because she thinks it will stop the fighting. Father doesn’t want to because he is “his own man and Crimea should be its own country”.

The end…. or the beginning?

 

Deirdre

 

 

CRIMEA
Crimea is a peninsula attached to Ukraine. There are 2 million people living in Crimea. It is 26,100km2.
In 1783 Crimea was part of the Sevastapol Russian Empire. In 1921 the Crimea Automous Soviet Socialist Republic was created. It broke up in 1945 and Crimea became the province to join the USSR in 1945. After 9 years, it joinedthe Ukrainian SSR   1954 -1991. Since 1991 was an Autonomous Republic.
The Russian Federation want to have control over Crimea again mostly because of its military base. This base was founded on May the 13th by Prince Potemkin. This base is beside the Black Sea and you can go to Mediterranean Sea using the straits which go by Istanbul.
Recently there was a referendum to decide would Crimea join Russia. The majority voted in favour.
Now that Crimea has joined Russia the currency will be different. They will be using rubles. The retirement age will drop five years to 60 for men and 55 for women. In schools and hospitals, workers won’t lose their jobs in fact they are going to get raises.
I hope Crimea will be happy with the change and that this is the end of Russia expanding.
Lúsaí

 

 

Crimea

I’m walking around now staying inside my city. Father told me I shouldn’t go near the strangers with guns on the outskirts or the city. “I am eight years of age” I told myself. I shouldn’t be scared of them. If any thing they should be scared of me. A feisty 8 year old, I was the strongest and fastest person in 2nd class.  I walked past the strangers. Father said not to look at them. But I gathered up all my confidence and built up the courage to look at them. I saw one of them covered in tomato sauce but thicker. 
I walked a while longer until I was at the school. Another day of Russian for me! I thought school was boring back then but compared to what is now I’d go back in a heartbeat. I was a good reader. Every day I would pick out a book in the class, but now all are books have been scrapped. I was just about to open door... I braced myself, but then I heard a bang; loud enough to burst your eardrum. I noticed a big white cloud coming my way very fast. When it came close, I got a searing pain everywhere in my body. Then it started coming closer and it engulfed me. For the few seconds I had left I thought of my life and how it changed. Then i realised it was for the best. No life or life of depression. No life was by far the best choice. Come to think about it i nearly jumped of a building yesterday.For the first time since the Russians came I felt happy.

Donall Seoighe

 

 

My name is Seba, and I live in Crimea. I’m seven years old. Everything’s changing where I live – it’s different than before. Ma said that the Russians were taking over or something but I don’t really understand. At school, we are speaking more Russian and learning more about Russia as well. The teacher said it was for our own good......
About a week ago, I was walking  home from school when a crowd gathered in a circle, crying and mourning. I stopped and looked closer – and then walked over. Some people had signs saying “FREE US” or “SAVE US”. I carried on looking in, getting deeper in the crowd. That’s when I discovered, six dead bodies......
Ma said that we wouldn’t see Pa for a while. He doesn’t work so I thought he might have found a job, but who knows? Ma’s a house-wife, and she cleans the house all the time.
Our house is very small and made out of crumbling stone. We are poor, but we can still afford food and education.
I hope things change around here. I hope to see father again and I hope my country returns to the way it was......
by Raicheal.

 

 

 

My name is Vladimir. I am tall, blue-eyed, blond, twelve year old boy. I live in “Bakhchisaray”, Crimea. My father’s name is Borris and he is an oil oligarch. He owns a helicopter and a five storey house. He is a Ukrainian. However, a few months ago, there was a revolution, and the Russian army came in their tanks and attacked Bakhchisaray.
I will never forget my birthday this year. It was meant to be the best day of the year but it was the worst, because five Russian soldiers broke into our house and shot my father right in front of my eyes. I screamed in terror, while my father lay dying in my arms. My sisters, mother and I had to flee Crimea for the Ukraine.
We all now live in grandma’s apartment. We are very poor now but at least we’re alive.

Paidí

 

 

My name is Sebastian I am 12 years old and I attend the local primary school in a small town in Crimea.
We live on the Crimea peninsula located south of the Ukrainian mainland. My dad is a Ukrainian naval officer as the Crimea is part of the Ukraine. One day when I got back from school, my mum explained to me that the Russian President Mr. Putin wanted us to be part of Russia and we would be taken over by Russian forces. However my dad believed that he was not going to let this to happen, so off he went with his comrades to the naval headquarters in the Crimea part of Sevastopol to stop Russia’s military from taking Crimea.
I was so proud of my dad’s bravery and I told everyone at school about this, but alas, when I got back from school that afternoon, my dad was sitting on his chair in the kitchen, looking very sad, I asked him why, did he not send the Russian military back to Russia from Crimea. He replied in a very sad voice ‘’ There is the belief among some people, that bigger nationals can bully smaller ones to get their way. Mr Putin’s determination to be master in his own house, means we should not be surprised that he also intends to be the master of his back garden too and he sees us as back garden to move the fence or boundary where he wants to have it. I listened to my dad and said "I know how I can help. I will send a letter to France, Germany, Britain and Italy and ask them for help’’. Then again my dad explained to me in a quiet voice he said. "Sebastian, this will not help Crimea, because all the countries individual responses are all decided by the degree to which their economies are hindered if they tell the Kremlin’’. I said, "but I must write  and ask for help’’ my father’s reply was. "Germany is not going to help, as they worry about their gas supply being cut off. France will not help because it has a big contract with Russia, building war ships and this helps France’s economy. Britain will not help Crimea because it wants to protect the city of London."
My dad no longer works now as a naval officer and Crimea will never be returned to Ukraine again. So I am a Russian now.

Sean P

 

 

My name is Seba and I live in Crimea. My family and I are currently in a crisis. We are worried about what will happen to us. Our school has changed our language from Ukrainian to Russian which is a lot harder. We haven’t been taught much about Russian until now and we are starting to learn Ukrainian as a second language. We have been all learning it off by heart. Half of us don’t know it, well in my school anyway.
I’m worried that I won’t survive here in Crimea and I’ll be homeless. I might be able to join the army. My grandpa always said that our former president was dodgy and that he was not to be trusted. I can’t deal with anymore soldiers and why don’t they show their identity, it freaks me out.
If we can get a chance we will flee to Moldova. Their language can’t be that hard. At the moment the plan is get the hell away from here. I must go now back to learning Russian. Seba.

Le Ciarán  

 

 

Crimea

The Russian soldiers are everywhere guarding every inch of the wall. They’re shooting innocent pedestrians of the streets, laughing and slugging a drink out of a flask.
My name is Serge. I am 14 years old, living in a city called Kharkiv near Russia. It is the year 2017. We’ve been under the power of Russia since 2014. Life was beautiful ‘til then. The park’s grass was bright green. But now it's brown and yellowy orange. Some parts of it were blown up. The buildings used to stand tall but know parts of them are also blown up. All this blowing up was done during a war between Crimea and Russia in 2016.
My family and I were watching TV one evening. The TV only had 1 channel and that’s our political party channel.
They said there was going to be another war and you had no choice but to fight if you were between the ages of 14-35 years old. Just my luck ;(
My family was really sad watching me leave the small apartment we lived in.
We were to meet at the centre were we could be taken away by helicopter.
A week later we were looking at where we would attack Moscow. We were going to be on every building across the city. And when there ready we’d come in by helicopter and attack all soldiers and make our way up the plan was set.
This all happened a week later.
We were dropped and all the Russian soldiers attacked us but we ran for cover killing everyone we could. Grenades flew everywhere. We finally got to the centre of the city to plant a huge bomb. But the next thing I knew I was shot in the leg.
I then fainted. But I survived. They tell me I was found and carried to hospital an hour later and that was when they planted the bomb. It exploded, a new president was elected and Crimea was free.

Seán Ó

 

 

My name is Maria. I live in Crimea. I have no idea what is going on around here anymore. At home it is different. My mother and father are always stressed. At school is it strange too, we have to learn a new language, Russian. I have asked my mother and father many times why we have to learn this and what is going on, but they will not tell me. I don’t want anything to be different.
My brother knows what’s going on, but he refuses to tell me. He insists that I am too young to understand. I am ten years old, and more responsible than he thinks. No one thinks to tell me anything. My brother is not happy at all to be learning Russian. He gets in a lot of trouble at school.
New Russian flags decorate our flag poles, our old flags disappearing. My brother has gotten into big trouble in school. He has not said anything to Mother and Father, but I heard him getting yelled at by a teacher in the hallway at school.
‘You are disrespecting our country, refusing to learn the language!,’ his teacher shouted. ‘It’s not my country, is it?,’ Seba shouted back. ‘Well it is now, and you are going to have to live with it!’

Ciara M