The general attitude of Crimeans to the occupation forces is dramatically different from what it was five years ago, the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people said.

Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, noted the change in the mood of the population in the occupied Crimea five years into the Russian occupation of the peninsula.

In an interview with Pryamiy TV channel, Chubarov stressed that the general mood of Crimeans is drastically different from what it was five years ago.

“Those who believed in Russia are now sobering up. And those who initially understood that Russia was coming in with their troops not to bring something good, they are now convinced that they had taken the right position. In particular, the Crimean Tatars have such an understanding,” noted Chubarov.

Read alsoCrimean Tatar leader explains why Moscow resettles Russians from mainland to occupied Crimea

UNIAN memo. Russia occupied the Ukrainian Crimea by deploying its troops on the peninsula and organizing in March 2014 a pseudo-referendum on self-determination. The self-proclaimed Crimean government stated that 96.77% of Crimea residents were in favor of acceding to the Russian Federation.

On March 18, 2014, the Kremlin signed the so-called “agreement” on the admission of Crimea and Sevastopol to the Russian Federation.

Western powers did not recognize the annexation of Crimea and imposed sanctions against Russia.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially announced February 20, 2014, the date of the start of the temporary occupation of Crimea.