Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, declared that Crimea had been fully integrated into Russia. Until 2016 these new subjects were grouped in the Crimean Federal District. On 8 August 2016, Ukraine reported that Russia had increased its military presence along the demarcation line. In response to this military buildup Ukraine also deployed more troops and resources closer to the border with Crimea. The Pentagon has downplayed a Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling Russian troops along the border a regular military exercise. On 10 August, Russia claimed two servicemen were killed in clashes with Ukrainian commandos, and that Ukrainian servicemen had been
Reaction of Russian intelligentsia to the 2014 annexation of Crimea Reaction of Russian intelligentsia to the 2014 annexation of Crimea 2014 Russian intelligentsia reaction on events happened in Crimea refers to the reaction of the Russian intelligentsia to the Russian annexation of Crimea. Over 100 cultural figures signed a letter supporting Russia's return of Crimea. Among those who signed it were conductor Yuri Bashmet, film director Fyodor Bondarchuk, director Stanislav Govorukhin, film director Karen Shakhnazarov, actor Sergey Bezrukov, singer Lev Leshchenko, sculptor Alexander Bourganov, sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, and actor Dmitry Kharatyan. The letter was kept open to add signatures and eventually reached 511. The name of the famous theatre and