Russia's annexation of Crimea has cost Ukraine at least $83 billion, according to Ukraine's acting Justice Minister.
"The losses from the [Russian] occupation of Crimea run to 950 billion hryvna ($83 billion), and that does not include forfeited benefits," Pavel Petrenko announced Monday, RIA Novosti reported.
The assessment "does not include the value of [the region's] natural resources, in particular those buried in the offshore sea shelf," he said, but are costs stemming exclusively from the "illegal seizure of territory and the erection of artificial barriers to the use of Ukrainian property."
Russia annexed Crimea after 96 percent of the population voted to join Russia in a rushed referendum on March 16 that Western nations branded illegal. Two weeks before the vote, Russian military personnel took control of the peninsula, barricading Ukrainian forces inside their bases.
Petrenko also announced that Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council supported filing additional claims to the European Court of Human Rights over the violation of rights of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
