10 Ways Russians and Ukrainians Reacted to Crimea Annexation Speech · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

On March 18, 2014, two days after Crimeans voted in a referendum to join the Russian Federation, President Vladimir Putin gave a speech [ru] in which he announced that he would bring Crimea and the port city of Sevastopol into the fold as two new federation members. Until this announcement was made, it was not clear whether Russia would annex the new territories outright, or if it would leave them as an independent, contested region like Abkhazia, South Ossetia, or Transnistria.
Regardless of how one feels about the Crimean question, it was a landmark speech, and one that bloggers reacted to the way they usually do on the Internet. Through memes. Here are some of them:
1.
Putin as Tony Stark. The caption reads “Got Crimea back.” Anonymous image found online.
Many Russians reacted with glee. After all, even according to opposition polls [ru] a majority supports the “re-acquiring” of the picturesque peninsula.
2.
Anonymous image found online.
For others, the feelings were more mixed. If Putin “stole” Crimea, is it still a good thing? Perhaps it's hip, like a video game.
3.
-“Must not sleep, must not sleep”
-“Zzzzzz”
Anonymous image found online.
You can depend of PM Dmitry Medvedev to provide a sense of stability and narrative. His falling asleep during public functions has certainly been a common thread over the last couple of months of Russian policy-making.
4.
Anonymous image found online.
“Starting today I get rid of all American products in my life. Friends, join me! #StopUSA” tweeted Mikhail Dvorkovich, a Russian businessman and brother to a Medvedev adviser, as a response to threat of American sanctions [Global Voices report] against Russian officials. Many people pointed out the irony of him tweeting from an iPhone, and, indeed, using an American founded service to reach out to his audience.
5.
President Obama dressed in an FSB (Federal Security Bureau) uniform. Anonymous image found online.
Some Russian bloggers seem to view weak American sanctions as a sign of US tacit support of President Putin's actions. Hence this rather delicate photoshop of him in a Russian security forces uniform. “Thanks comrade Obama!”
6.
On the other hand, Ukrainians are demonstrably upset with President Putin's speech. This particular reaction seems as vehement as it is futile.
Users of the public Facebook group “This is Kiev, baby” are making their displeasure known. Collage from kievtypical [ru].
7.
Left: “Hitler announces the annexation of Austria to the Reichstag” Right: “Putin announces the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Parliament.” “Find 10 differences.” Anonymous image found online.
Nazi comparisons have been a mainstay of the discourse between Ukrainians and Russians for the last few months, and now, post a new “Anschluss,” it is no different.
8.
Anonymous image found online.
An even less charitable Nazi parallel, if that's at all possible.
9.
“Crimea, Summer of 2014″ Anonymous image found online.
An image of North Caucasian youth dancing in a Russian street. “If you aren't careful, Crimea,” says the author of the image, “Russia's ethnic minorities will take over!” This is especially ironic will all the accusations of Nazism flying around.
10.
G8 logo. Russian flag has been replaced with the Ukrainian one, on the lower left. Anonymous image found online.
Some Ukrainians remain hopeful that the USA and the EU will take decisive action to punish Putin and Russia. And if the Russian Federation does get kicked out of the G8 this year, who better to take its place but Ukraine?