2014 Simferopol incident
On 18 March 2014, a Ukrainian soldier and a Russian Cossack paramilitary were killed in the first case of bloodshed during the Russo-Ukrainian War and the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.
Battle of Simferopol | |||||||
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Part of the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Ukraine |
Russia Crimea | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Col. Andriy Andryushyn (Defected to Russia) Serhiy Kokurin † |
Maj. Gen. Alexey Dyumin (SOF commander) Col. Alexander Popov Col. Igor Strelkov | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
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Russian Armed Forces
Supported by:
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Strength | |||||||
20, including civilians |
15 masked operators (SOF commandos) Unknown number of Crimean self-defense forces | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1 serviceman killed, 2 wounded, 18 captured (later released) |
1 killed, (Cossack paramilitary) 3 wounded | ||||||
Notes: Cause of deaths disputed |
Russian media and Crimean authorities stated the day after that a 17-year-old Ukrainian had been detained, but on the day following that the Crimean prosecutor denied any detentions.
None of the accounts of this event could be verified independently. The Ukrainian and the Crimean authorities provided conflicting reports of the event. The two casualties had a joint funeral attended by both Crimean and Ukrainian authorities. The event continues to be under investigation by both the Crimean authorities and the Ukrainian military.