August 24, 2025

Anthem of a Disputed Land


Anthem of a Disputed Land
Something to listen to while enjoying a summer getaway. Wikimedia Commons, Alexxx1979.

On August 22, the head of the Crimean parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov, announced via Telegram that the region had adopted a new anthem. According to Konstantinov, the new anthem "emphasizes the struggle of generations of Crimeans to return to their homeland [and] the inseparable connection of Crimea with Russia."

The new anthem was adopted on Russia's Flag Day and was composed by a local poet and a former regional senator. While audio recordings of it are scarce online, its final line reportedly reads, "Heroic Crimea is the honor and pride of Russia."

Crimea was invaded by unmarked Russian troops in 2014, following a westward turn in Ukraine, and it was subsequently "annexed" by an act of the Russian Duma. All but a few members of the international community have failed to recognize Moscow's claim.

In recent years, Crimea has come to symbolize Russian belligerence, as it, along with the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, remain under Moscow's rule, even as Russia's full-scale invasion simmers. The full integration of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk remain key parts of a potential Russia-approved peace plan.

As such, the new anthem is part of a larger effort by Kremlin-approved authorities to bring Crimea further into the Russian fold. The anthem is slated to be played in schools on Sept. 1, a major holiday marking students' return to the classroom. It replaces a previous song adopted in 2000 that left out any mention of Russia.

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