Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation Yanukovych. At the end of the meeting Putin remarked that "we must start working on returning Crimea to Russia". On 23 February, pro-Russian demonstrations were held in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. On 27 February masked Russian troops without insignia took over the Supreme Council (parliament) of Crimea, and captured strategic sites across Crimea, which led to the installation of the pro-Russian Aksyonov government in Crimea, the conducting of the Crimean status referendum and the declaration of Crimea's independence on 16 March 2014. Russia formally incorporated Crimea as two federal subjects of the Russian Federation with effect from 18 March
Highway M18 (Ukraine) Highway M18 (Ukraine) Highway M18 is a Ukrainian international highway (M-highway) connecting Kharkiv to the southern coast of Crimea in Yalta. The highway is also has an alternative route (M29) which runs parallel and designed as an expressway between Kharkiv and Novomoskovsk. The section from Novomoskovsk to Yalta is part of European route E105. The section from Kharkiv to Krasnohrad was previously P51. The section between Yalta and the border of Crimea belongs to Crimea which has been annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia does not use the designation M18. Main route and connections to/intersections with other highways in Ukraine.