DISINFO: Ukrainian Community of Crimea urged Zelenskyy to abandon Crimea claims

The Ukrainian Community of Crimea mentioned in the news is an "organisation with a stolen name". The original Ukrainian Community of Crimea existed long before the annexation of the peninsula and now it continues to exist on the "mainland" Ukraine.

After the annexation of Crimea, there were two attempts to "recreate" this organisation. The second time in 2018, it was founded under the leadership of a member of the "Young Guard of United Russia". The other founders include a member of the Simferopol branch of "United Russia" party and a deputy chairman of the Belarusian organisation.

"They [the new Ukrainian Community of Crimea] participate in the many official events of the current Crimean authorities, in the reception of foreign delegations. All this time they glorify Putin and say how the Crimean authorities are looking out for the rights and development of Ukrainians in Crimea," a journalist from Crimea Anna Andrievska told RFE/RL.

No international body recognises the illegal referendum, announced on the 27th of February 2014, and held on 16th of March 2014. The EU's policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol includes a set of restrictive measures against entities and individuals responsible for actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity. In March 2019, on the fifth anniversary of Crimea's annexation, the EU reiterated its position of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol. The EU continues to stand in full solidarity with Ukraine, supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

See similar cases: Crimea regained its Russian identity at the will of its people and the US recognised Crimea as Russian.