“NATO provoked Russia to invade Ukraine”
Although Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2014, the first attempts were made in 2003.
This is a thread about a brazen attempt by Russians to seize the island of Tuzla despite good neighbourly relations with Ukraine at the time ⬇️
Although Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2014, the first attempts were made in 2003.
This is a thread about a brazen attempt by Russians to seize the island of Tuzla despite good neighbourly relations with Ukraine at the time ⬇️
At the start of the 20th century, Tuzla Spit was part of the Taman Peninsula, where locals fished and grazed cattle.
A storm in 1925 washed away the thin isthmus, turning Tuzla into an island. Fishermen widened the waterway, and the gap between Tuzla and the mainland has since grown.
In 1941, the island was transferred from Krasnodar Territory to Crimea, and in 1954, it became part of the Ukrainian SSR. The final border with Krasnodar was settled in 1973.
A storm in 1925 washed away the thin isthmus, turning Tuzla into an island. Fishermen widened the waterway, and the gap between Tuzla and the mainland has since grown.
In 1941, the island was transferred from Krasnodar Territory to Crimea, and in 1954, it became part of the Ukrainian SSR. The final border with Krasnodar was settled in 1973.
On May 31, 1997, President Leonid Kuchma and Boris Yeltsin met in Kyiv and signed a major treaty on “Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership,” which established the principle of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.
Another treaty that Russia threw into the trash.
Another treaty that Russia threw into the trash.
In 2002, the Russians practiced the future Tuzla scenario on Kazakhstan, stealing the uninhabited islands of Ukatnyy, Zhestky and Malyy Zhemchuzhnyy in the Caspian Sea.
The islands have several rich oil and gas fields and sturgeon.
The islands have several rich oil and gas fields and sturgeon.
2002 was declared the Year of Ukraine in Russia. 2003 - Russia in Ukraine.
On September 19, 2003 in Yalta, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on forming a single economic space.
Amid these events, the conflict over Tuzla Island began.
On September 19, 2003 in Yalta, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on forming a single economic space.
Amid these events, the conflict over Tuzla Island began.
On September 2 and 3, 2003, Kuchma held talks with Putin in Moscow and presented the book “Ukraine is not Russia”.
As soon as Kuchma departed, Putin flew to Rostov-on-Don and declared that the Sea of Azov should be an inland sea of Russia and Ukraine without demarcation.
As soon as Kuchma departed, Putin flew to Rostov-on-Don and declared that the Sea of Azov should be an inland sea of Russia and Ukraine without demarcation.
On September 16, Putin announced a plan to enhance Russia's military and diplomatic presence in the Black Sea-Azov region.
Two days later, Krasnodar authorities approved the construction of a dam in the Kerch Strait.
Two days later, Krasnodar authorities approved the construction of a dam in the Kerch Strait.
Even before the work started, on September 27, a boat with Russian reporters approached the fishing pier on the island.
The reporters asked the locals if they wanted to become Russian citizens.
Doesn't it remind you of anything?
The reporters asked the locals if they wanted to become Russian citizens.
Doesn't it remind you of anything?
On September 29, bulldozers and trucks arrived on the Taman Peninsula, and workers began building a dam toward Tuzla Island, advancing about 150 meters per day.
On September 30, 2003, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a protest note to Russia but received no response.
On September 30, 2003, Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a protest note to Russia but received no response.
Ukraine sent border guards to Tuzla, and by mid-October, the garrison grew to 100. They established a border post, marked waters with buoys, and Ukrainian patrol boats appeared.
Military drills began in Crimea, and a National Guard brigade was deployed to Kerch.
Military drills began in Crimea, and a National Guard brigade was deployed to Kerch.
Ihor Voronchenko, the commander of the 501st separate mechanized regiment from 2000 to 2003, recalled in an interview in 2016:
Mykhailo Koval, first deputy head of the State Border Guard Service from 2003 to 2011, said in an interview:
On October 6, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov assured Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko that Russia would not violate treaty obligations regarding the border.
By then, the dam had reached 15 kilometers in length.
By then, the dam had reached 15 kilometers in length.
On October 17, 2003, Krasnodar Governor Tkachev told officials and Cossack representatives that halting the dam's construction was "inexpedient," adding that "the people will not forgive us" with upcoming State Duma elections.
On October 19, Putin said that Russia “reserves the right to launch preventive strikes in case the principle of using force without the sanction of the international community prevails in the world.”
October 22, 2003 The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine holds hearings on Ukrainian-Russian relations, and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma interrupts his visit to Latin America and heads to Tuzla to take part in the conflict resolution.
On October 22, the head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Dmitry Rogozin, said:
On October 22, a pro-Russian rally was held in Simferopol in front of the Crimean parliament building, where participants declared their readiness to hand over the entirety of Crimea to Russia, along with the island of Tuzla.
The rally was organized by the odious organizations “Russian community of Crimea”, “Russian bloc”, and the “Rescom of the Communist Party of Ukraine”.
The rally was organized by the odious organizations “Russian community of Crimea”, “Russian bloc”, and the “Rescom of the Communist Party of Ukraine”.
On October 23, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted two resolutions supported by all parliamentarians except the Communists: “On Eliminating the Threat to the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine Arising from the Construction of a Dam in the Kerch Strait by the Russian Federation”
On October 23, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma visited Tuzla Island and later announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin to halt the dam's construction.
At that point, only 100 meters remained between the Ukrainian border and the Russian builders.
At that point, only 100 meters remained between the Ukrainian border and the Russian builders.
I was able to find a lot of material on the Ukrainian channel History Without Myths. I strongly advise you to subscribe, as there are videos with English subtitles and even English voice acting.
The 2003 Tuzla Island incident highlights Russia's long-standing imperialist attitudes.
The invasion of Ukraine was not provoked by NATO, the EU, or the U.S., but stemmed from Russia's own ambitions.
The invasion of Ukraine was not provoked by NATO, the EU, or the U.S., but stemmed from Russia's own ambitions.
Thank you for reading this important thread!
I'd be happy if you could follow me for more threads or support my project, which provides cool flashlights to the Ukrainian military for free ⬇️
I'd be happy if you could follow me for more threads or support my project, which provides cool flashlights to the Ukrainian military for free ⬇️
https://x.com/ri_not_ri/status/1833794079940821198
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