Crimea, situated on the northern coast of black sea, though internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, has been controlled by Russia since 2014. The Russian authorities in Crimea revealed their plan to sell around 100 Ukrainian properties, one among which belongs to Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine.
According to report, the sale contracts has reached more than 815 million roubles ($8.51 million). Speaker of the Crimea parliament, Vladimir Konstantinov stated that the authorities had held eight auctions for the properties of the Ukrainian business figures and the nationalised properties would be sold “soon”.
In February 2023, the Russian-installed authorities in Crimea reported that they had nationalised around 500 Ukrainian properties which included properties belonging to senior Ukrainian politicians and business figures. The properties included “wineries and large banking structures”.
Sergei Aksyonov, Crimean governor, earlier listed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky”s $800,000 apartment to be on the list of confiscated properties in Crimea, all of which belonged to “unfriendly people and entities”.
Meanwhile, Ukraine”s counteroffensive is gaining strength. Ukraine claimed its attack on Russian petrol ships operating in the Black Sea and the destruction of Russia”s advanced surface-to-air missile defence system, “Triumf”, in the Russian-occupied Crimea on Thursday. Russia announced the loss to be “tactical failure”.
The alleged weaponry deal with Russian and North Korea is also on the plate currently. Since his arrival in Russia, North Korean President, Kim Jong Un has been visiting several aircraft factories, nuclear bombers and warplanes of Russia. In exchange to information on advanced technologies on spy military satellites and nuclear submarines, North Korea will provide Russia artillery shells and other weapons. If North Korea provides Russia its conventional weapons, it will enable Russia to prolong its war in Ukraine.
Since the Russian invasion started, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, vowed to take back Crimea under Ukraine”s power.
With inputs from agencies.