Where is Crimea? Crimea, formerly known as the Tauric Peninsula, is a peninsula in Eastern Europe surrounded by the northern coast of Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Simferopol is the capital city of the Crimea, officially part of Ukraine. Here are five things to know about Crimea, a strategic area of outstanding beauty that has played a central part in the conflict between – and history of – Russia and Ukraine. The Crimean parliament quickly proclaimed independence from Ukraine and on March 18, became the Republic of Crimea, a federal subject of Russia. However, Ukraine and most other countries in the world continue to recognize that Crimea is part of Ukraine. Crimea is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The Isthmus of Perekop connects the peninsula to Kherson Oblast in mainland Ukraine. After Ukrainian independence in 1991, most of the peninsula was reorganised as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The Soviet fleet in Crimea was in contention, but a 1997 treaty allowed Russia to continue basing its fleet in Sevastopol. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Crimea was formed in 1992, although the republic was abolished in 1995, with the Autonomous Republic of Crimea established firmly under Ukrainian authority and Sevastopol being administered as a city with special status. Russian-occupied Crimea cuts off civilian fuel sales after Ukrainian strikes By CHRIS LUNDAY 07:24 AM EDT Crimea, autonomous republic, southern Ukraine. The republic is coterminous with the Crimean Peninsula, lying between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In 2014 Russia covertly invaded and illegally annexed Crimea, a move that was denounced by the international community. While the takeover of Crimea was nearly bloodless, the situation in eastern Ukraine quickly descended into a state of open warfare that claimed more than 10,000 lives over the next four years. La Crimea, occupata dai bolscevichi nel novembre 1920, entrò a far parte della Russia sovietica e l'anno seguente fu costituita in territorio autogestito come Repubblica Socialista Sovietica Autonoma di Crimea all'interno della Repubblica Socialista Federativa Sovietica Russa.