The illegal "referendum" was called by the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea on 27 of February, when the parliament was already occupied by the Russian military. Initially, the "voting" was scheduled for May 25, later the date was postponed to March 30, and then - to 16 of March. The "referendum" raised two questions: the restoration of Crimea's 1992 constitution and the "entry" of Crimea into Russia. None of the international organizations sent their official observers.

The illegal "voting" lasted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on 16 of March. According to the occupiers, 1,205 polling stations were established in Crimea and Sevastopol. No polling stations were set up in the Crimean Tatar settlements in the Bakhchisaray district, as there were no volunteers to work in the election commissions. The UN did not recognize the results of the occupation "referendum".

During the "vote" many violations were revealed by the occupiers. For example, on the day of the "referendum" in the Crimea there were many billboards and city lights with campaign materials calling for a vote for "reunification" with Russia. The Crimean branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine noted that voting takes place on outdated voter lists. 474,137 people from Sevastopol supported the illegal "accession" to the Russian Federation, although the population of the city, according to the city statistics department, was 383,499 people as of 1st of November, 2013; that is, 123% of the city's residents "voted" for it.

On 18 of March, Russian President Vladimir Putin, together with representatives of the occupying Crimean "government" Sergei Aksyonov, Vladimir Konstantinov and Russian citizen Alexei Chaly, signed an agreement on the "accession" of Crimea to the Russian Federation.

This decision was previously approved by the State Duma of Russia, which adopted a statement "On the situation in the Republic of Crimea", submitted for consideration by Speaker Sergei Naryshkin and leaders of all parliamentary factions of the Russian Parliament.

The occupiers continued to block military units throughout Crimea. The Ukrainian military has officially given permission to Acting President of Ukraine Turchynov to use weapons to protect the lives and health of servicemen.

On 18 of March, during an assault by the Russian occupiers on the APU photogrammetric center in Simferopol, Ukrainian serviceman Ensign Kokurin was killed by a direct hit to the heart, Captain Fedun was wounded in the neck and arm, and another serviceman was severely injured in the legs and head. and other subjects".

On 2March 21, the Council of the Russian Federation "ratified" the so-called agreement on the "entry" of Crimea into Russia, signed by Vladimir Putin on March 18: all 155 senators voted for the "acceptance" of Crimea as a new subject of the federation.

The occupation had serious economic consequences for Ukraine, for Russia and for Crimea itself. The United States and the European Union have implemented a three-tier sanctions plan against Russia. The most serious consequence for Crimea was problems with water and electricity supply. As of September 2020, the Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine estimates the losses from the occupation at 3.97 trillion hryvnias. As a result of Russia's aggression in Crimea, the G8 (G8) has ceased its activities and Russia's membership has been temporarily suspended. This international club of highly developed economies of the world is again working in G7 format.

Ukraine has filed many lawsuits against Russia in international courts. On 9 of May, 2018, a court in The Hague sentenced Russia to pay Ukraine $ 159 million in compensation for confiscated property and losses of the Ukrainian side due to the occupation of Crimea.

At least 5 lawsuits against the Russian Federation have been filed by Ukrainian companies in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Russian Federation "On Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments" and three under the Energy Charter. In particular, the Permanent Chamber of the Arbitration Court of The Hague in the case of Naftogaz of Ukraine against the Russian Federation recognized its jurisdiction and recognized the violation of the Agreement on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments by the Russian Federation. Ukraine's Naftogaz has sued Russia's Gazprom in international courts. Despite all the Russian efforts, the Ukrainian company has won most cases in international courts. Russia was forced to pay compensation to Ukraine in the amount of 4 billion dollars. As of early 2021, Russia has paid $2 billion to supply gas to Ukraine.

On the seventh anniversary of the occupation, the G7 foreign ministers expressed strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of Russia's attempt to occupy Crimea.

"Today, seven years after Russia's attempt to illegally annex the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, we reaffirm our unwavering support and commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders", - informed in the statement.

The foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union also added that they were united in condemning Russia's further actions to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

"We condemn Russia's violation of human rights on the peninsula, especially by Crimean Tatars. We call on Russia to respect its international obligations, allow access to international observers and release immediately all those who have been unjustly detained. We welcome Ukraine's initiative to establish an International Crimean Platform to consolidate the international community's efforts on Crimea", - informed in the statement.