– ‘ We’re going home’ –
Alcohol-fuelled celebrations swept cities across the Black Sea peninsula, where thousands waved Russian flags and sang Soviet-era songs
“We’re free of the occupation!” Lucia Prokorovna, 60, said in Sevastopol, strategic home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet. “Ukraine was attached to Crimea like a sack of potatoes.”
Crimea’s self-declared premier Sergiy Aksyonov hailed the referendum as an “historic moment”.
“We’re going home. Crimea is going to Russia,” he told those gathered on Lenin Square.
However, not everybody in the peninsula was happy at the prospect of a return to Kremlin rule.
Crimea’s indigenous Muslim Tatar community – deported to Central Asia en masse by Stalin – largely boycotted the referendum.
“Of course we won’t vote,” said Dilyara Seitvelieva, the community’s representative in the historic Tatar town of Bakhchysaray.
Ukraine’s interim President Oleksandr Turchynov – who is not recognised by Russia and will be replaced after May 25 elections – said the results had been “pre-planned by the Kremlin as a formal justification to send in its troops”.
The choices facing voters were either to join Russia or go back to a 1992 constitution that effectively made Crimea an independent state within Ukraine.
Retaining good relations with Kiev was not an option.
What this means for the economically devastated region – which relies on the mainland for electricity, heating and water – as it waits to join Russia, is unclear.
“Crimea’s access to gas, electricity, water and food staples is in danger – and Russia will not be able to compensate,” said Penta institute analyst Volodymyr Fesenko.
Seemingly unmoved by the torrent of international condemnation, Putin told Obama that Sunday’s poll fell “completely in line with the norms of international law,” according to the Kremlin. READ: Russia stares down UN pressure on Ukraine.
Moscow also said Putin intended to “respect” the outcome.
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