2 Years Under Russian Rule: Crimea's Annexation in Pictures

Unidentified gunmen on patrol at Simferopol Airport in Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, Feb. 28, 2014.



Russia's flag is flying across Crimea on the anniversary of what President Vladimir Putin calls the region's historic "return home" after Russian troops seized control of it from Ukraine and the people backed annexation in a referendum.

A Cossack soldier guarding the? Crimean Parliament in Simferopol,  March 14, 2014.

A happy crowd of pro-Russian Crimeans celebrated the preliminary outcome of Sunday's referendum which saw residents voting for unification with Russia, on March 16, 2014.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (2nd R), Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov (L), Crimean parliament speaker Vladimir Konstantionov (2nd L) and Alexei Chaly, Sevastopol's new de facto mayor (R), sign a treaty on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula becoming part of Russia, in the Kremlin, Moscow, March 18, 2014.

Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Crimea's Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov (L) and Sevastopol Mayor Alexei Chaly at the Kremlin on March 18, 2014.

People roll up an 18-meter-long Russian national flag during a meeting to celebrate the first anniversary of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, in central Simferopol on March 16, 2015.

A girl with Russian national flags painted on her cheeks takes part in celebrations marking the first anniversary of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.

Head of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov (L), Crimean State Council speaker Vladimir Konstantinov (R) and Oleg Belaventsev (C), Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy to Crimea, walk past performers during a meeting to celebrate the first anniversary of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, in central Simferopol.
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Valery, 30, a member of the People's Militia of Crimea, shows a medal, which was presented to him for merits while serving in a self-defense unit, with his son Kirill saluting in the background, inside their house on the first anniversary of the Crimean referendum, in Simferopol.

Russian navy sailors take part in a festive ceremony marking the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing in Sevastopol, March 18, 2015.

Members of pro-Russian self-defense units drink alcohol as they take part in celebrations for the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing in Sevastopol.

People react while watching Russian servicemen and navy sailors who take part in a festive procession and ceremony marking the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing in Sevastopol.

People listen to Russian President Vladimir Putin delivering a speech during a festive concert marking the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing near St. Basil's Cathedral in central Moscow.

People walk away after attending a festive concert marking the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing, with flowers left at the site where an opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was murdered on Feb. 27, near St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin wall in central Moscow.

Russian Cossacks attend a rally marking the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing in Stavropol, southern Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (front) addresses the audience during a festive concert marking the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing, with St. Basil's Cathedral seen in the background, in central Moscow.

Fireworks explode over the city center during the celebrations for the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing in Sevastopol.

A man holding a Russian flag looks out of the car window during the celebrations for the first anniversary of the Crimean treaty signing in Sevastopol.